Georgia football expected to target Clemson transfer

The Georgia Bulldogs are expected to be in the mix for elite transfer safety prospect Khalil Barnes, who plans to enter the transfer portal after spending the first three seasons of his career with the Clemson Tigers. Barnes is a 2025 All-ACC honorable mention pick.

The talented safety has a lot of experience. Barnes will have one year of eligibility remaining. He posted 40 tackles and two pass deflections during the 2025 college football season with Clemson. Barnes has 139 tackles, three forced fumbles, seven interceptions and 11 pass deflections in his career. The 6-foot, 200-pound defender was a freshman All-American in 2023 and has 30 career starts.

The productive defensive back has a strong local connection to Georgia. He played high school football for North Oconee and is from Athens, Georgia. The Bulldogs are expected to be interested in Barnes when the transfer portal opens on Jan. 2. Georgia will be far from the only team interested in Barnes, but the Bulldogs have a strong pitch to try to persuade the former Clemson defensive back to stay home.

Barnes has College Football Playoff experience and won the 2024 ACC championship with Clemson. He is not currently ranked in the transfer portal, but stands out as a player that should have a four-star rating.

The Clemson transfer would be projected to immediately compete for a starting role with Georgia opposite of KJ Bolden next season. Georgia has strong connections to North Oconee, which was home to Georgia freshman receiver Landon Roldan along with Georgia edge signee Khamari Brooks.

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This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Hometown transfer, former Clemson star emerges as target for Georgia