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Clemson football starting safety Khalil Barnes to enter transfer portal
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- Clemson football starting safety Khalil Barnes to enter transfer portal
CLEMSON — Clemson football starting safety Khalil Barnes announced on Dec. 9 that he plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 2.
"Thank you to those who have supported me throughout my time here, but as I have been praying on it for some time now, this is one of the hardest decisions I've had to make," he wrote on X.
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Barnes has one year of eligibility remaining.
This season, Barnes recorded 40 tackles and two pass deflections in 10 games, nine of them starts. He missed two games with a hamstring injury.
He was Clemson 's top safety entering 2025 after leading the team in interceptions in both 2023 and 2024. He has 139 tackles, seven interceptions, three forced fumbles and 18 pass deflections with the Tigers.
Barnes could give up his final year of eligibility and enter the 2026 NFL Draft, but has decided he will transfer for one more season in college.
With Clemson losing Barnes and suffering two defensive back decommitments in its 2026 recruiting class, safety will be area the Tigers likely will pursue in the transfer portal.
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Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at DCarter@usatodayco.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Khalil Barnes, Clemson football starting safety, to enter transfer portal
