In 1933, he led Flint Northern High School to the Michigan Class A Championship.
[1] In 1934, he enrolled in the University of Michigan, where he earned varsity leaders in football (1935–37), basketball (1936–38), and golf (1936–38).
[2] On October 30, 1937, he intercepted a pass to set up Michigan's only touchdown in their 7–6 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini.
[6][7][8] Barclay scouted for the Harvard Crimson football team after his former Michigan teammate Arthur Valpey became head coach in 1948.
He made it to the final round of the 1959 New England PGA Championship, but lost to Bob Crowley.