Career Summary

Barika Kpeenu developed from a West Fargo high-school two-way player into North Dakota State’s leading running back in 2025.

Kpeenu played five seasons in the North Dakota State program, including a 2021 redshirt season. He finished his college career with 47 appearances, 19 starts, 2,277 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns.

After becoming a regular contributor in 2023 and 2024, he started all 13 games as a senior in 2025, rushing for 1,005 yards and 20 touchdowns. He entered professional football as an undrafted rookie with Tampa Bay in 2026.

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Early Life

Born December 5, 2002, Kpeenu grew up in West Fargo, North Dakota, and also competed in basketball and track.

Kpeenu attended West Fargo Sheyenne High School and participated in multiple sports before continuing his football career at North Dakota State. His brother, Barry Kpeenu, joined the Bison football program in spring 2025.

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High School

At West Fargo Sheyenne, Kpeenu became a two-way contributor, team captain and two-time first-team all-state selection.

Kpeenu played running back and linebacker, started for three years and captained the team as a senior. In nine games during his final season, he led the Eastern Dakota Conference with 1,052 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 139 carries, along with 1,489 all-purpose yards and 16 total touchdowns.

His high-school career totals included 2,650 rushing yards, 29 rushing touchdowns, 25 receptions and 398 receiving yards, plus eight receiving touchdowns. He received the 2020 Eastern Dakota Conference Senior Athlete of the Year award and played in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl.

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College Career

Kpeenu progressed from a 2021 redshirt season to a full-time starting role at North Dakota State by his senior year.

North Dakota State signed Kpeenu in its 2021 recruiting class as a running back from West Fargo. He did not appear in a game that season, then played in three games in 2022, carrying 15 times for 52 yards and one touchdown.

His role expanded in 2023, when he played in all 15 games and rushed 96 times for 501 yards and four touchdowns. In 2024, he appeared in all 16 games, made six starts and recorded 132 carries for 725 yards and seven touchdowns, adding 15 receptions for 122 yards and one receiving touchdown.

Kpeenu started all 13 games in 2025 and averaged 5.3 yards per carry on 191 attempts, gaining 1,005 yards and scoring 20 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 20 passes for 247 yards and one touchdown. Across his college career, he played in 47 games with 19 starts and totaled 2,277 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns.

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Path to the NFL

After his senior season at North Dakota State, Kpeenu received an American Bowl selection before entering the NFL as an undrafted rookie.

Kpeenu was selected for the inaugural American Bowl after completing the 2025 season. He was not selected in the 2026 NFL Draft; Tampa Bay signed him as an undrafted rookie, and the club described the signing as his first NFL roster appearance.

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NFL Career

Kpeenu spent part of Tampa Bay’s 2026 training camp on its roster before being waived during the club’s final roster reductions.

Tampa Bay signed Kpeenu on August 16, 2026, after waiving/injured running back Kadarius Calloway. He wore No. 49 and was listed at 5-foot-10 and 213 pounds.

The Buccaneers waived Kpeenu on August 30, 2026. He was not listed on Tampa Bay’s active roster, reserve/injured list or practice squad in the official roster records accessed September 11, 2026.

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Career Accomplishments

Kpeenu’s principal honors came during his 2025 senior season, when he earned conference and national recognition.

Kpeenu was named first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2025. He also received third-team All-America recognition from FCS Football Central and Phil Steele that season.

Earlier in his college career, he was named to the MVFC Honor Roll in 2023 and 2024. His postseason honors also included selection to the inaugural American Bowl.

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Playing Style

Kpeenu developed into a primary rushing option at North Dakota State while also contributing as a receiving back.

His college workload grew from limited action as a freshman to six starts in 2024 and all 13 starts in 2025. As a senior, he handled 191 carries for 1,005 yards and 20 touchdowns, with three 100-yard rushing games and touchdowns in 11 of 13 contests.

Kpeenu also finished his college career with 35 receptions for 369 yards and two receiving touchdowns. His high-school experience included linebacker, but the professional record reviewed identifies him as a running back and does not establish defensive usage beyond high school.

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Legacy

Kpeenu’s college significance centers on his late-career rise and productive final season as North Dakota State’s starting running back.

After working into a larger role over three seasons, Kpeenu produced 1,005 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns in 2025. His 20 rushing touchdowns were the most by an NDSU rusher since 2014, according to the school’s biography.

He reached an NFL roster with Tampa Bay after college, although his professional tenure had extended only through training camp by the September 11, 2026 cutoff.

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