Blake Barnett never did steer far from the spotlight as the star quarterback at Erie High School.
His tenacity and improvisation could border on reckless and sometimes scared the daylights out of his coaches. That’s part of what made him marvelous.
Barnett became Colorado’s 11-man career touchdown leader in the fall of 2023 before leading the Tigers to the Class 4A state championship. He engineered the final scoring drive of his career on an injured leg as Erie defeated Palmer Ridge for the title. Then he exited CSU’s Canvas Stadium — and the high school stage — in perhaps the only way he knew how: dramatic, triumphant and on one leg, like a gladiator taking his final bow.
Will we ever see that version of Barnett again?
Since taking his final snap at Erie, Barnett has been behind the scenes at Kansas State as he tries to prove he can one day become the Wildcats’ starting quarterback. After redshirting in 2024, Barnett served as starter Avery Johnson’s backup last fall. He appeared in four games, rushing 14 times for 40 yards. He did not attempt a pass.
In 2026, Johnson is returning as the starter under new head coach Collin Klein, a Loveland High School grad. And if he chooses, he could potentially return for a fifth season in 2027.
Barnett, however, remains optimistic.
“Things are going great out here,” Barnett told BoCoPreps.com. “The goal this year is to just be my best self every day and play some meaningful snaps.”
Although Klein hasn’t named Johnson’s 2026 backup, Barnett is approaching the season intent on proving he’s the Wildcats’ quarterback of the future.
“I’m hoping I can get in and play with full access to the offense and show what I can do with my arm,” Barnett said. “If that’s this year or next year, I’ll be ready to help the ’Cats win.”
John Pastore, a senior offensive lineman for the Wildcats, for one, thinks Barnett has the makeup to do it. Pastore played alongside Barnett at Erie before coming to K-State, where it took him years to land a starting gig of his own.
“I think he’s got a great shot,” said Pastore, who was named to the preseason All-Big 12 Team earlier this week. “Every year, he’s becoming more and more confident in himself, which has allowed him to be more comfortable trying to lead the team.”
Though it wasn’t recognized as an official CHSAA record at the time, Barnett surpassed Christian McCaffrey’s 11-man career touchdown record in 2023. As a three-year starter for the Tigers, he accounted for 159 touchdowns while throwing for more than 7,500 yards and rushing for more than 3,400.