4-star CB Marcellus Barnes locks in an official visit to Syracuse

Chad Simmons updated head shotby:Chad Simmons•12/05/23•

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When Marcellus Barnes decommitted from Virginia Tech last month, Georgia and Ole Miss looked to be the schools he would decide between around Dec. 20. His interest in Georgia had a lot to do with Fran Brown, and now that the former secondary coach in Athens has become the head coach at Syracuse, the Orange have jumped in this race.

Brown quickly offered the four-star cornerback out of Chattanooga (Tenn.) McCallie when he took the job and now Barnes is set to take an official visit to Syracuse this weekend.

Barnes does not know much about the program, but he has a connection with Brown, the two have been in communication for over a year and this weekend will be big for both parties.

Georgia and Ole Miss are still in the mix as well. Barnes has not scheduled an official visit to either school yet, but is likely to be in Athens or Oxford on the weekend of Dec. 15.

The No. 355 prospect in the On3 Industry Rankings committed to Virginia Tech in June before backing off that pledge in November. He will enter his visit this weekend with an open mind.

Barnes still has his eye on the SEC

“Nothing set just yet,” Barnes told Zach Berry last week. “But, I will take official visits to Georgia and Ole Miss for sure. Ole Miss and Georgia are my top two. I’m still thinking about when I will decide. I will probably know what I want after the visits.

“I love coach (Will) Muschamp, coach (Kirby) Smart and coach Fran (Brown),” Barnes said. “It hurt when Fran left for Syracuse but he offered me immediately. He wants me to come up there for an official visit. I might. Never been up there but I love him so I might go.”

He talked with OMSpirit about the tipping point for him when it comes to decision time. Barnes thinks he has an idea of what will help him pick a school later this month.

“I want to play in the SEC. I think I will really be developed in the SEC, mostly that,” Barnes said. “But, I think it’s crucial for me to have a connection with coaches and how my family feels with me going there. I have a great relationship with them all. They’re all really good schools. It’s a good problem to have.”