Amare Barno

Born on April 26, 1999, Amaré Barno is an American native hailing from Blythewood, South Carolina. Today, he is known as a professional football linebacker, making a name for himself in the National Football League (NFL), currently playing for the Carolina Panthers. However, his tale is not simply about straightforward success. Instead, it’s a tale of myriad positions, institutions, and even obstacles Barno had to overcome in his journey to fame and excellence.

Barno’s interest in football started during his formative years at Westwood High School. Here, he took the initial strides toward his promising future as he played the safety position. However, his aspirations to play Division I football were temporarily dashed due to his academic qualifications. This setback, however, did not stifle his determination and love for the sport. Instead, he chose to enroll at Butler Community College.

From this initial setback, Barno started forging the path to his illustrious career. His stint at Butler Community College marked a significant alteration in his position: from safety to linebacker. His sophomore year witnessed impressive performance as he recorded 66 tackles, with 14 for loss, and 4.5 sacks. 2018 marked another significant milestone in Barno’s life. He committed to transfer to Virginia Tech, paving the way for a new chapter.

Upon his transfer to Virginia Tech, Barno only played in just three games in his first season in 2019 as an outside linebacker before redshirting the rest of the season. Despite the temporary halt, Barno returned stronger for his redshirt junior season. This time, however, another positional change awaited him as he was moved to a defensive end. Despite these changes, Barno emerged as the team’s top performer, notching 6.5 sacks and leading the Atlantic Coast Conference with 16 tackles for loss.

Continuing to stamp his authority in the game, Barno recorded 5.5 tackles for loss with 3.5 sacks in 2021. His exceptional performance left a resounding message: the time had come for him to take on the NFL. Following the end of the season, Barno declared his entry for the 2022 NFL draft. And, no rookie could make a better statement than running a 4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, setting a record for any linebacker or defensive lineman that year.

At the 2022 NFL Combine, Barno didn’t rest on his laurels. His time of 4.36 in the 40-yard dash tied with Odafe Oweh, who had set the same record the preceding year. Consequently, he was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round, 189th overall, in the 2022 NFL Draft.

In his rookie season, Barno played in nine games and finished with nine tackles and two sacks. In the following year, 2023, he made 21 total tackles in 15 games and had one start. However, he began the 2024 season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. Despite these challenges, Barno’s story remains an ongoing testament to hard work, dedication, and an unwavering love of football, promising more thrilling games in the future.