Barryn Didn’t Have Posters—But Got 43 Thank You Notes from Opponents

Barryn Sorrell never had his face on posters. No billboards. No viral clips dancing across social media. But after every game, there was something different—notes.

Forty-three handwritten thank-you messages from opponents over the course of his college career. Defensive ends aren’t supposed to receive letters from rival quarterbacks. But Sorrell did—because he played with something rarer than talent: dignity.

Coaches across the Big 12 would tell their teams, “Play tough, but play fair.” Sorrell embodied that. Even in the heat of competition, he picked up players he tackled. He didn’t gloat. He didn’t trash-talk. He respected the game—and everyone in it.

One opposing running back wrote:
“You hit harder than anyone I’ve faced. But you helped me up, smiled, and said ‘Respect.’ I’ll never forget that.”

What Sorrell lacked in highlight reels, he made up for in humanity. He shook every hand after the whistle. He called out protections mid-play—not to show off—but to make the game better.

It’s rare for a player to earn unanimous respect from both teams. But Barryn Sorrell became that rare figure—the kind you remember long after the clock hits zero.

The Packers didn’t just draft a defender.
They drafted a standard.