Georgia should have its eyes on Clemson DB who plans to enter the transfer portal

It makes too much sense not to try and make it happen. Although the transfer portal does not officially open up until early in January, many college football players have started to announce their intentions of entering the portal. One player of great intrigue for Georgia would have to be Clemson Tigers safety Khalil Barnes. This three-year starter was named a Freshman All-American in 2023.

Even more interesting, Barnes played his high school ball just up the road at North Oconee in Bogart.

Hayes Fawcett's tweet of Barnes likely entering the portal caught his colleague Rusty Mansell's eye.

Coming out of high school, Barnes was never seriously recruited by Georgia. He was only a three-star at North Oconee. Barnes ended up picking Clemson out of high school, where he put forth a strong first three years there. During his Clemson career, Barnes amassed 139 total tackles, 11 passes defended, seven interceptions, three forced fumbles, and a sack while starring for Dabo Swinney.

Now that Barnes intends to enter the portal, could Georgia be the team to bring the safety on home?

Khalil Barnes would be a tremendous fit in Kirby Smart's UGA secondary

Regionally speaking, Georgia are rivals competing for the same territory. The lines start to be blurred in and around Commerce between Red and Black and Orange and Purple. Even though Clemson is coming off a year from hell, this program still carries a ton of weight in and around college football. What is important to understand is the stranglehold Swinney used to have over the ACC is no more.

Given that Barnes grew up locally, starred not that far away in Clemson, and happens to play in the same position group that Kirby Smart knows best, it is quite easy to connect the dots. Over the last few years, Smart and his staff have been aggressive in the transfer portal at certain positions of note. They have done a great job of pursuing players particularly at wide receiver throughout the portal era.

Depending on what Barnes wants to do, there is a chance he could play his final college footabll season minutes away from where he grew up. This is assuming that Georgia will have interest in the player. One would think that Barnes would only intend to enter the portal at this juncture to go to a program he believes may be better than Clemson. Georgia would be on the very shortlist of all that.

If Barnes and Georgia were to connect in the coming weeks, it would make all the sense in the world.