Cooper Barkate ’26 didn’t always envision himself playing football at the collegiate level. Hailing from Southern California, he initially thought lacrosse would be his sport. “When I was growing up, I played lacrosse and liked it. Freshman year, I went into lacrosse season thinking I was gonna get recruited for it,” he shared. However, during his freshman year of high school, everything changed. “I ended up playing football that year and got my first college offer. I thought it was more fun, so I transferred to Mater Dei and played football there.”
His family’s connection to the game influenced him growing up. “My dad got me into football. Ever since a young age, my whole family on my dad’s side played football,” Barkate recalled. Despite playing flag football for as long as he could remember, he didn’t start tackle football until fifth grade. Even then, it wasn’t until high school that he realized football might be a route for him as he pivoted his way into becoming a standout player at Mater Dei, one of the most well-known high school football programs in the country.
When the time came to choose a college, Barkate had multiple offers, but his decision ultimately was deeply personal. His sister had just started playing lacrosse at Harvard, and her experience gave him special insight into the school. “Seeing how unique it was for her, I wanted a similar experience,” Barkate explained. That connection, along with the prestigious academics and football program, ultimately led him to Cambridge.
Since joining Harvard’s football team, Barkate’s role has grown significantly each season. “I’m taking on a bigger role every year, and I’m glad I’m progressing,” he said. This season, the team welcomed new head coach Andrew Aurich, who Barkate has been excited to play under. “He’s the perfect man for the job in a lot of ways—not only the discipline, but what he’s done to change the program and improve on it since coming in,” Barkate shared. “He’s a first-time head coach, very hungry and passionate about the game—that’s the energy he radiates on a day-to-day basis, and it’s the kind of energy the team needs.”
One of Barkate’s favorite aspects of being on the Harvard football team is the tight-knit group of players. “Harvard football is a special place, and there’s no bad apples. Everyone is interesting,” he said. That camaraderie is something Barkate values highly as he continues to develop on and off the field.
Looking ahead, Barkate hopes to see where football can take him, but he remains open to other possibilities. “I would play here and then see what the options are with football and beyond. I’m trying to take it as far as possible,” he said. Barkate is looking to the future while continuing to live in the moment and enjoy every game this season.
When it comes to game day, no experience compares to the annual Harvard-Yale game. “It’s a pretty decent-sized game; 35 to 40,000 spectators, 50,000 at Yale. A football season is week to week, so you go from playing in front of maybe 2,000 people, and then the next week, there’s suddenly a lot of fans,” Barkate explained. He added that Harvard Stadium itself adds to the atmosphere: “It’s built like a colosseum, so it’s very vertical. It feels like a quidditch match—a very interesting viewing experience for the fans.”
One of the standout moments of Barkate’s career came in his thrilling game against UPenn last year, which stretched into a third overtime. In a unique play, dubbed the “Philly Special,” Barkate threw the game-winning touchdown to quarterback Jaden Craig ’26. “That was one of the coolest moments,” he said. “Early in my career, I threw the touchdown as a sophomore to win the game. It was a crazy experience.”
As for how he handles the attention that comes with being a key player, Barkate keeps things in perspective. When asked if he reads the Sidechat comments after games, he responded with a laugh, “No, never.” Instead, his focus remains on the field, especially keeping an eye on his quarterback. “Just watch our QB, Jaden Craig—what he’s gonna do. He’s been balling out.”
With a combination of talent, passion, and a deep connection to his team, Barkate is poised for more success both at Harvard and in his future football career, as he looks to expand on his 26 receptions for 465 yards and 6 touchdowns this season.
Denny Gulia Janovski ’27 (dguliajanovski@college.harvard.edu) writes Sports for the Independent.