Syracuse football has landed a commitment from four star Chattanooga (TN) McCallie School cornerback Marcellus Barnes. Barnes jumped on the Syracuse radar shortly after Fran Brown was officially introduced. An official visit was quickly scheduled and that trip sealed the deal. Barnes made the announcement on Saturday during the first quarter of the All-American Bowl on NBC.
Following the commitment, the official Syracuse football X (formerly Twitter) account posted the addition of Barnes. That means he signed during the earlier period but announcing his inclusion in the class was held so that Barnes could make his intentions public during the All-American Bowl.
Previously, Barnes listed Georgia and Ole Miss as his top two and he was looking to visits to each school prior to National Signing Day. Coach Brown was his lead recruiter at Georgia, but the 5-11, 170 pounder also had strong relationships with Will Muschamp and Kirby Smart. Syracuse, though, got the first crack to make a big impression and did enough to earn his commitment.
Barnes is rated a four star prospect by On3 and the 192nd best prospect overall. Rivals also has Barnes as a four star. 247Sports and ESPN rate him as a three star recruit.
Besides the Orange, Barnes holds offers from Baylor, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Wake Forest among others.
Fran Brown was only been the coach at Syracuse for a matter of weeks when the effect of his recruiting prowess was already being felt with high profile, elite prospects taking a much more serious look at the Orange. That includes taking official visits with National Signing Day rapidly approaching.
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