Barlow listed his home town as Corry, Pennsylvania and played one season of college football at the University of Michigan.
He was a quarterback for the 1905 Michigan Wolverines football team, starting five games at the position.
[1] On November 8, 1905, Barlow was Michigan's starting quarterback in a 40 to 0 victory over Ohio State.
Barlow returned a missed dropkick from five yards deep in Michigan's endzone.
Almost tackled at the 40-yard line, Barlow was aided by his teammates' blocking and returned the ball all the way for a touchdown.