Bryson Barnes

Bryson Barnes is an American football quarterback who plays for the Utah State Aggies. He previously played for the Utah Utes.

Early years
Barnes hometown is Milford, Utah and he attended Milford High School. In Barnes’ high school career he completed 661 of his 1,136 pass attempts for 11,344 yards and 137 touchdowns to 29 interceptions. Barnes also rushed for 1,951 yards 47 touchdowns, while also bringing in a receiving touchdown. On defense as a safety he notched 115 tackles, nine pass deflections, four interceptions, and a forced fumble. Barnes decided to walk on to the Utah football team.

Utah
Barnes made his collegiate debut in the 2022 Rose Bowl, replacing an injured Cameron Rising in the fourth quarter to throw the game-tying touchdown to tight end Dalton Kincaid with 1:54 left in the game, though the Utes fell to Ohio State 48–45. In the game Barnes went two for two passing for 23 yards and a touchdown and also rushing for a first down on the touchdown drive.

In week two of the 2022 season, Barnes completed all six of his passes for 98 yards, as he helped Utah beat Southern Utah 73–7. In week eight, Barnes earned his first career start going 17 for 27 on his passes for 175 yards and a touchdown, as helped the Utes edge out Washington State 21–17. In the 2023 Rose Bowl, Barnes again entered the game as relief after Cameron Rising went down with an injury, but in this Rose Bowl, Barnes struggled completing 10 of his 19 passes for 112 yards a touchdown and an interception, as Utah lost to Penn State 35–21. Barnes finished the 2022 season going 37 for 57 on his passing attempts for 430 yards and four touchdowns to two interceptions.

Barnes was expected to start in the Utes' 2023 week one matchup versus Florida. He entered the NCAA transfer portal on December 4, 2023, although he still played for the Utes in the 2023 Las Vegas Bowl later that month.

Utah State
On January 9, 2024, Barnes announced that he would be transferring to Utah State.