All good things must come to an end, or at the very least, everything ends. After spending the last three seasons at Clemson, former Tigers safety Khalil Barnes transferred to play for his hometown Georgia Bulldogs. Having grown up just down the road in Athens in Oconee County, it was as good an opportunity for a fresh start for him. It really came down to Kirby Smart needing a starting safety.
“When we went in there, we had to find a starter,” Smart said. “We had some good young players up and coming, but we needed a veteran.”
Although Dabo Swinney was not happy to see him go, he does not seem surprised he transferred out.
“Certainly didn’t want to (lose him),” Swinney said. “Listen, you’re gonna always have transfers in today’s world. I don’t know if there’ll be a team without one.”
For Barnes, he joins a Georgia defense anchored by its secondary. Defensive backs KJ Bolden and Ellis Robinson IV have first-round potential. As the first player to commit to Georgia out of the transfer portal, Barnes has quickly established himself as a viable piece in the back end of Smart's defense.
Although Clemson wishes he had stayed, there is belief in what their two transfer additions could provide to the defensive backfield. Jerome Carter III out of Old Dominion and Corey Myrick out of Southern Miss are expected to start next to each other at both safety spots. After how badly things went in the secondary last season, Barnes and Clemson going their separate ways was for the best.
Clemson and Georgia will be better off with Khalil Barnes switching teams
Even if Avieon Terrell ended up being a top-50 pick by the Atlanta Falcons, last year's defensive backfield left so much to be desired in Clemson. Although Ashton Hampton carries a ton of promise coming into this season, he also, in a way, carries the burden of being part of the worst secondary Swinney has ever seen at Clemson. Barnes received his fair share of criticism for his performances.
Frankly, Clemson not having the season it wanted a year ago may have played a part in all this. Barnes got on the wrong side of fans for not hustling on a touchdown vs. SMU, as well as looking disengaged when Swinney ripped the entire Clemson defense during the Duke game. Clemson moving on from longtime safeties coach Mickey Conn could have been the straw that broke the camel's back for him.
In the end, Barnes heading back home to Georgia should help both secondaries out tremendously. Smart has a role for him in the back end of his defense, while Tom Allen can reshuffle the deck a bit with Carter and Myrick playing alongside Hampton in Clemson's secondary. For whatever reason, the pieces didn't fit last year as they envisioned at Clemson. That doesn't mean they can't fit elsewhere.
Right now, we have to accept that both parties can win after their breakup. Barnes can have success at Georgia, just like Clemson will have success without him around. Since these regional rivals do not play in the same conference, the only way they can meet is in the postseason this year. If Clemson were to face Georgia in the playoffs or a bowl game, we'll cross that bridge if and when we get there.
As Barnes suits up for the Red and Black. let's try our best to remember all that he gave for The Paw.
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