A promising California high school football star has tragically died suddenly at the age of 17. Ryder Barnes had already committed to play college football for Cal Poly Mustangs and his future coach, Tim Skipper, posted an emotional statement on social media this week. It read: 'On behalf of our entire Cal Poly football family, we are deeply saddened by the passing of Ryder Barnes. Promising California high school football star Ryder Barnes has tragically died at the age of 17Barnes had already committed to play college football for the Cal Poly Mustangs eventuallyBarnes had been making waves within the California high school football system. In another tribute, posted on social media by his high school Crean Lutheran, they said: 'There are no words big enough to capture the loss we feel.

Source: Daily Mail April 11, 2026 21:07 UTC