Amaré Barno Bio
Amaré Barno (born April 26, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker known for his rare combination of size, length, and straight-line speed. After beginning his college career at the junior college level, he transferred to Virginia Tech, where he developed into one of the top pass-rushing prospects in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Barno was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft and has continued his professional career in subsequent seasons.
Early Life and Background
Amaré Barno grew up in Blythewood, South Carolina, where he attended Westwood High School and competed for the school’s football team. During his high school years, Barno played the safety position in the secondary, showing the kind of athletic range and coverage instincts that would later attract the attention of college recruiters. Despite his physical tools, Barno did not initially qualify academically to play Division I college football, a setback that ultimately shaped the early portion of his athletic journey.
Because of his academic standing, Barno took the junior college route and enrolled at Butler Community College in Kansas. The move required relocation away from his hometown of Blythewood, but it provided a chance to continue developing on the field while working toward Division I eligibility. His time at Westwood High School and his transition to Butler Community College together represent the foundation of his football story, blending South Carolina roots with the Midwest path that launched his career.
Path to American Football
At Butler Community College, Barno made an important positional switch. Coaches moved him from safety, where he had played in high school, to linebacker, a transition that placed him closer to the line of scrimmage and allowed him to use his frame more effectively. As a sophomore, Barno posted 66 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks, numbers that demonstrated his growth as an edge defender and attracted the attention of four-year programs.
In 2018, Barno committed to transfer to Virginia Tech to use his remaining eligibility at the Division I level. He joined the Hokies for the 2019 season, appearing in three games as an outside linebacker before redshirting the remainder of the year. Going into his redshirt junior season, the Virginia Tech staff moved Barno once again, this time to defensive end, where his combination of length, quickness, and closing speed could be fully utilized as a pass rusher. The position change proved to be the turning point in his development.
Amaré Barno Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Barno’s early career unfolded at Butler Community College, where he spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Those two years gave him a chance to refine his skills at linebacker and build the strength necessary for the next level. His sophomore statistics, including 66 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks, established him as a disruptive edge player and set the stage for his transfer to a Power Five program.
After arriving at Virginia Tech in 2019, Barno split time between outside linebacker and a redshirt year. He appeared in only three games that season, but the experience allowed him to adjust to the speed and complexity of Atlantic Coast Conference football. The groundwork laid during this period was essential, because Barno would emerge as a full-time contributor the following year.
Virginia Tech Breakthrough (2020–2021)
Barno’s redshirt junior season at Virginia Tech in 2020 marked his true breakout. Now playing defensive end, he finished the year with a team-high 6.5 sacks and led the Atlantic Coast Conference with 16 tackles for loss. That production made him one of the conference’s most impactful edge defenders and helped push him onto the radar of NFL scouts. His length and ability to disrupt the backfield became defining traits of his game.
In 2021, Barno recorded 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks while continuing to serve as a key piece of the Hokies’ defense. Following the conclusion of the season, he declared that he would forgo his remaining eligibility and enter the 2022 NFL Draft. At the NFL Combine, Barno ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash, the fastest time recorded by any linebacker or defensive lineman at that year’s event. He tied Odafe Oweh’s previous mark of 4.36 seconds for the fastest 40 time by a defensive lineman at the Combine, confirming the rare athletic profile he had displayed on tape.
Carolina Panthers Era (2022–2024)
Barno was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round, 189th overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he played in nine games and finished with nine tackles and two sacks, an encouraging start given his draft position. The Panthers valued his developmental upside and speed off the edge, and his rookie season provided an opportunity to adjust to the speed of professional football.
In 2023, Barno took on a larger role, appearing in 15 games with one start and recording 21 total tackles. His second season showed continued growth and established him as a reliable rotational piece on the Panthers’ defense. Heading into 2024, Barno began the season on the reserve and physically unable to perform list, was activated on November 30, and contributed to the team for the remainder of that year. Through the 2024 season, his career NFL statistics included 37 total tackles and 3 sacks. He was later waived by the Panthers on July 25, 2025.
Columbus Aviators Era (2026–Present)
On January 14, 2026, Barno was selected by the Columbus Aviators of the United Football League, giving him a new professional home after his time in Carolina. The move to the UFL represented a fresh opportunity for the former NFL draft pick to continue his playing career and showcase the pass-rushing ability that first earned him league attention.
Driving Style and Strengths
Barno’s game is built on a rare blend of size, length, and elite straight-line speed for a defensive lineman. Standing 6 ft 6 in and weighing around 245 pounds, he has the frame to set the edge against the run and the burst to threaten quarterbacks off the corner. His Combine 40-yard dash time underscored the athletic upside that made him a coveted developmental prospect, and his college production in tackles for loss showed how disruptive he can be when attacking the line of scrimmage.
Notable Events and Milestones
The signature moment of Barno’s pre-professional career came at the 2022 NFL Combine, where he ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash, faster than any linebacker or defensive lineman at the event. He also tied Odafe Oweh’s Combine record for the fastest 40-yard dash by a defensive lineman at 4.36 seconds. His team-leading 6.5 sacks and conference-leading 16 tackles for loss at Virginia Tech in 2020 stand as his most decorated college accomplishments.
Amaré Barno Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Amaré Barno was raised in Blythewood, South Carolina, where he attended Westwood High School and developed his early athletic foundation. Public details about his broader family background, including parents and siblings, are not widely documented in available sources.
Personal Life
Barno has maintained a relatively private personal life away from the field, with limited public information available about relationships or family beyond his South Carolina upbringing. His professional focus has remained on continuing his football career after his time in the NFL, including his selection by the Columbus Aviators of the United Football League in 2026.
2025 Season Performance
Amaré Barno was waived by the Carolina Panthers on July 25, 2025, bringing his initial NFL tenure with the team to a close. The move created an opening for the next chapter of his professional career and set the stage for his eventual selection by the Columbus Aviators in January 2026. The 2025 calendar year therefore represented a transitional period between organizations rather than an on-season campaign.
Earlier in the 2024 season, Barno had been placed on the reserve and physically unable to perform list before being activated on November 30, limiting his available playing time that year. His career NFL totals through 2024 stood at 37 total tackles and 3 sacks across his appearances with the Panthers.
Looking ahead, Barno’s selection by the Columbus Aviators of the United Football League positioned him to compete in the spring football league as he continued his professional career beyond the NFL. The 2025 offseason transition and his subsequent UFL opportunity marked a reset point, offering him a fresh setting to showcase the speed and edge-rushing traits that defined his college profile at Virginia Tech.
