There’s safety in numbers, and Clemson football has added a third safety to its number of commitments for next season.
Khalil Barnes of Bogart, Georgia, on Friday picked the Tigers over Notre Dame, making his decision known during a ceremony at North Oconee High School. He is Clemson’s 25th commitment for the 2023 recruiting class.
Barnes (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) originally committed to Wake Forest but backed out in September after getting an offer from Clemson and being in attendance as the Tigers beat the Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He also picked up offers from Oklahoma and Georgia Tech.
The 3-star safety is ranked as the No. 51 athlete nationally and the No. 67 player in Georgia, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Barnes played cornerback in high school but projects as a safety in college. He will join Kylen Webb of Riverview, Florida, and Robert Billings of Alpharetta, Georgia, as early signees at the position Wednesday and enroll in spring semester classes beginning Jan. 8. They are all considered three-star prospects.
Clemson (11-2) will play in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30 (8 p.m., ESPN) against Tennessee (10-2) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
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With the latest commitment, Clemson moved past Florida and into the top 10 of recruiting rankings by 247Sports for the 2023 class. The Tigers now have seven players considered three stars and 17 considered four stars. They also have a five-star commitment in defensive lineman Peter Woods.
Clemson’s list also includes defensive linemen Tomarrion Parker, Stephiylan Green, David Ojiegbe, Vic Burley and AJ Hoffler; linebackers Jamal Anderson and Dee Crayton; cornerbacks Shelton Lewis, Branden Strozier, Avieon Terrell and Misun Kelley; quarterback Christopher Vizzina; running back Jarvis Green; wide receivers Noble Johnson and Tyler Brown; tight ends Olsen Patt Henry and Markus Dixon; offensive linemen Harris Sewell, Zechariah Owens and Ian Reed; and athlete Ronan Hanafin.
Alabama leads the rankings by 247Sports with 24 of its 25 commitments being four or five stars. Georgia is second, followed by Texas, Miami, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
Todd Shanesy covers Clemson athletics for the USA TODAY Network.
