Why Clemson football is now ‘one of the leaders’ for former Wake Forest recruit

Two weeks ago, Clemson football outlasted Wake Forest in a 51-45 double overtime shootout between ranked ACC opponents.

Based on recent recruiting developments, though, that might not be the Tigers’ last win against the Demon Deacons this fall.

Three-star 2023 athlete Khalil Barnes had been verbally committed to Wake Forest since late June. But on Monday morning, the North Oconee (Ga.) High School senior announced via Twitter that he was reopening his recruitment.

Barnes’ decommitment came a mere 11 days after Clemson, which had been recruiting him since February, extended him a formal scholarship offer via co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Mickey Conn.

The Tigers are now one of the most prominent Power Five schools in the mix for Barnes, who ranks as the No. 93 player in Georgia and the No. 81 athlete and No. 934 overall recruit in the class of 2023, per 247Sports.

Barnes, in a text message to The State, said Clemson is recruiting him to play at the “star” position, a hybrid safety/nickelback spot that’s been manned in recent seasons by reigning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Andrew Mukuba.

Other schools to reach out to Barnes since his Wake Forest decommitment include Auburn, Florida, Georgia Tech, NC State and UNC, he said. In-state power Georgia, the defending national champion, is also keeping in touch.

Clemson’s nearing the cutoff point in a 20-man recruiting class that ranks first in the ACC and eighth nationally for 2023, but the program has a few lingering positions of need as the December early signing period approaches.

The Tigers are still pursuing four-star recruit Kayden McDonald and four-star recruit Tomarrion Parker as a sixth defensive line commit, and three-star recruit Jamarion Wilcox at running back, where they have zero commits. Three-star recruit Barnes at defensive back now joins that list.

Barnes had no college offers entering his junior season at North Oconee last fall but turned heads as he compiled 30 tackles, 13 pass breakups, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and regional player of the year honors in 2021.

Barnes, listed at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, also had 975 total yards of offense and 12 touchdowns as a running back/wide receiver as North Oconee won a regional title.

Georgia State offered Barnes his first scholarship in January, and he verbally committed to Wake Forest in June over Duke, Purdue, Kansas State and a host of mid-major programs.

Clemson was one of a few larger programs who’d expressed interest in Barnes but ultimately didn’t offer him leading into his Wake Forest commitment (Georgia and Tennessee were also in that camp). Barnes visited Clemson for a junior day in March and a prospect camp in June.

Barnes announced his Clemson offer on Sept. 22 and attended the Wake Forest-Clemson game in Winston-Salem as a Demon Deacon commit on Sept. 24.

He announced Monday that he was backing off that pledge.

“First off I would like to thank the Wake Forest staff as a whole for everything,” Barnes wrote. “After talking with my family and many prayers I would like to take this time to reopen my recruitment. The Lord will lead me where I need to be.”

Barnes’ recruitment continues a noticeable trend in Clemson recruiting. The Tigers have pulled almost exclusively from Georgia to fill out their defensive backfield in the 2023 class.

Of Clemson’s five commits at cornerback and safety, four of them are Peach State products. That extends class-wide, too, as 10 of Clemson’s 20 commits hail from football-rich Georgia.

As for No. 11? No decision is imminent, as Barnes hasn’t publicly scheduled any new official visits for the fall and remains focused on his senior season with North Oconee, which is 5-0 entering Friday. But the Tigers, he said, will be a top contender.

“Clemson is one of the leaders,” Barnes told On3 Sports.

No. 5 Clemson is 5-0 and 3-0 in the ACC entering Saturday night’s game at Boston College (2-3, 1-2 ACC). The game is set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on ABC.

Clemson 2023 DB commitments

Four-star Westlake (Ga.) CB Avieon Terrell, No. 267 overall

Four-star St. Francis (Ga.) CB Branden Strozier, No. 342 nationally

Four-star Sumner (Fla.) ATH Kylen Webb, No. 405 nationally

Three-star Milton (Ga.) S Robert Billings, No. 527 nationally

Three-star Stockbridge (Ga.) CB Shelton Lewis, N/A nationally