Cooper Barnum

Montana Grizzlies linebacker Cooper Barnum #40 and Montana Grizzlies linebacker Levi Janacaro #37 run towards #46 of Ferris State during a college football game between the Montana Grizzlies and the Ferris State Bulldogs at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Montana on September 16, 2023.

Photo by: UM Photo/Coral Scoles-Coburn

Class:
Senior
Height:
6-2
Weight:
225
Position:
LB
Hometown:
Vancouver, Wash.
High School:
Skyview HS
Prev School:
Washington State

2024 (Sr.): Could compete for a starting job as a senior linebacker after a standout junior season.

2023 (Jr.):
• Academic All-Big Sky
Made the switch from safety to linebacker and excelled primarily as a backup and on special teams, seeing action in all 15 games… Logged 14 tackles (seven solo) and recorded his first career sack against Delaware in the playoffs… Also logged two TFLs for a loss of nine yards and one quarterback hurry

2022 (Montana – So.):
• Academic All-Big Sky
Transferred to Montana in time for fall camp from Washington State where he played baseball for the Cougs… Saw action in seven games in his first season of football at UM as a backup safety and on special teams… Logged two tackles, one solo against Cal Poly.

2022 (Spring, Washington State baseball): Made nine appearances, two as a starter… Posted a 3.14 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 14.1 innings… Worked 1.1 scoreless innings of relief at Hawaii (2/20)… Struck out two in two scoreless innings in game one of doubleheader against Long Island (2/25) in Arizona… Struck out two in two innings of work against Wichita State (3/5) at the Frisco Classic… Set career highs with four strikeouts in three innings against No. 4 Oregon state (3/11)… Made first career start at Santa Clara (3/23)… Worked two scoreless innings against Utah (4/2)… Worked perfect inning with pair of strikeouts at No. 15 Gonzaga (4/5)… Started, worked an inning in win over No. 15 Gonzaga (4/26)… Named to Pac-12 Conference Spring Academic Honor Roll (Sport Management).

2021 (Washington State baseball): Appeared in two games as a true freshman, both out of the bullpen… Made collegiate debut in game two of doubleheader at UC Davis (2/20), allowed five runs on three hits… Struck out two in scoreless inning at Dixie State (2/27)... Played summer ball for Amsterdam Mohawks in Perfect Game Collegiate League… Named to Pac-12 Conference Spring Academic Honor Roll (Undeclared).

High School: Had his senior football season canceled due to Covid-19… In football, was a named the Greater St. Helens League Defensive Player of the Year as a junior and was a first-team all-conference safety… Helped lead Skyview football and baseball to state 4A semifinals as a freshman… Also had football offers from Idaho, Idaho State, and Portland State, as well as baseball offers at U. of Portland and WSU… In baseball: named All-Greater St. Helens League first team and All-Clark County first-team as a sophomore … As a JUNIOR, named 4A All-State first-team, All-Clark first-team and All-Greater St. Helens League first-team… Struck out 58, allowed eight earned runs and posted a 1.34 ERA in 41 innings… Selected to play for Royals Area Code Team… As a SENIOR, ranked among Top-500 High School prospects in the country including the No. 164 right-handed pitcher by Prep Baseball Report… Rated fourth overall 2020 prospect in Washington by Prep Baseball Report… Named to Preseason All-State First Team by Scorebooklive.com.

Personal: Parents are Bruce and Shawna… Dad, Bruce is the head football coach at Portland State… Older brother, Brody was a right-handed pitcher at Washington State (2018-21)… Majoring in Communication Studies.

Single season career highs
Tackles: 3 (vs Delaware, 2023)