MicahJo Barnett Cause of Death: Division II college football player tragically passes away mid-game
William Jewell College confirmed the news following a game that Barnett took part in on Saturday.
Saturday was supposed to be a special day for all of college football. It marked the beginning of the 2026 season. But tragedy struck midway through the day that sent shockwaves throughout the college football world.
MicahJo Barnett , a running back for Division II William Jewell College in Missouri, tragically passed away during the team's game against Fort Lewis College . Barnett's death was confirmed by the school about two hours after the game was stopped due to Barnett experiencing a "medical emergency" on the sidelines .
MicahJo Barnett experienced "seizure like symptoms" before untimely death
Local Kansas City journalist Harold R. Kuntz reported that Barnett " suffered seizure like symptoms ". EMS responders attended to Barnett, on the field, and he was then transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. There still isn't an official cause of death .
Barnett had scored a one-yard touchdown for Jewell earlier in the game . He was a junior and a business administration major . Some of his teammates spoke to local media after the events unfolded, and they tried to keep their heads held high in honor of Barnett.
Barnett was born in Shawnee Mission, Kansas and had six siblings. He earned Academic All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors last season.
