Clemson signee Khalil Barnes a big riser in new On300 rankings

Bogart (Ga.) North Oconee four-star athlete Khalil Barnes’ college stock soared throughout the 2022 football season.

Barnes added offers from Clemson, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and others before committing and signing with Clemson. Barnes’ ranking has now reflected the jump he made as a senior. Barnes has moved up to No. 234 overall in the final 2023 On300 rankings.

Barnes had eight interceptions as a senior. He was also North Oconee’s leading receiver. On3’s Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power loved what he saw from Barnes.

Barnes was unranked in On3’s previous rankings. He was the No. 540 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus rankings.

Barnes is now ranked higher at On3 than he was anywhere else in the industry. Power feels Barnes’ ball skills and playmaking ability make him a prime prospect to be a big-time safety at the next level.

“What sticks out about Khalil is ball skills and just his versatility which I think bodes well with him at safety,” Power said. “He’s extremely productive on both sides of the ball. You love to see safeties make plays on the ball whether it’s on offense or defense. He also did a lot of that playing cornerback. You feel good about the coverage ability projecting to safety… The combination of the ball production, the versatility and the great senior season was a big reason why Khalil Barnes moved up for us.”

Barnes enrolled at Clemson in early January for the Tigers’ bowl practices after committing just before the early signing period opened.