North Carolina State University Athletics
Brody Barnhardt Named to 2026 Comeback Player of the Year Watch List
8/20/2026 3:00:00 PM | Football
RALEIGH, NC – After missing much of last season due to a season-ending injury, NC State safety Brody Barnhardt has been named to the 2026 Comeback Player of the Year Watch List by the College Sports Communicators, in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Sports Foundation.
Barnhardt is one of 94 college football student-athletes from 59 schools currently under consideration for the 2026 Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Last season, in his second year with the Pack, Barnhardt moved into the starting safety role in game three against Wake Forest, where he played a career-high 60 snaps and recorded seven tackles.
He appeared in three games last season before going down with a season-ending injury. Barnhardt joined the Pack in 2024 but did not see any action that season. He was named to the 2024-2025 ACC Academic Honor Roll.
A three-time first-team all-state performer in high school, he was named an Adidas Freshman All-American and invited to the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl. At Providence Day, he won NC Independent NCISAA state titles in 2021, 2022, and 2023. His squad posted a 32-5 record over the three-year span. He tallied 2,726 all-purpose yards, 339 total tackles, 10 TFLs, 14 interceptions, 25 pass breakups, four forced fumbles, and scored 19 TDs.
Since 2018, the award has recognized college football student-athletes who have overcome injury, illness, or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors votes to honor three college football student-athletes as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
Barnhardt is one of 94 college football student-athletes from 59 schools currently under consideration for the 2026 Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Last season, in his second year with the Pack, Barnhardt moved into the starting safety role in game three against Wake Forest, where he played a career-high 60 snaps and recorded seven tackles.
He appeared in three games last season before going down with a season-ending injury. Barnhardt joined the Pack in 2024 but did not see any action that season. He was named to the 2024-2025 ACC Academic Honor Roll.
A three-time first-team all-state performer in high school, he was named an Adidas Freshman All-American and invited to the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl. At Providence Day, he won NC Independent NCISAA state titles in 2021, 2022, and 2023. His squad posted a 32-5 record over the three-year span. He tallied 2,726 all-purpose yards, 339 total tackles, 10 TFLs, 14 interceptions, 25 pass breakups, four forced fumbles, and scored 19 TDs.
Since 2018, the award has recognized college football student-athletes who have overcome injury, illness, or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors votes to honor three college football student-athletes as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
Players Mentioned
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