A running back for William Jewell College in Missouri died Saturday after suffering a medical emergency during the first quarter of his team’s season opener, shortly after scoring a touchdown.
MicahJo Barnett, a junior business administration major at the Division II school, had a health crisis on the sidelines following the score, according to a statement released by the college.
The home game against Fort Lewis College at Greene Stadium in Liberty, Missouri, was canceled after the incident.
Neither William Jewell athletics nor the NCAA, which also released a statement on Barnett’s death, disclosed the nature of his medical emergency.
Barnett was a Liberty native who played at Liberty North High School, where he helped lead the team to a state championship in 2023, according to records.
“Micah’s life was taken far too soon, leaving his family, friends, teammates, and community heartbroken,” read a message on a GoFundMe page set up for his family by one of his former youth coaches. The post described Barnett as “a talented and kind young man who was loved by so many.”
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