Marcellus Barnes Jr., a highly promising freshman on the Syracuse football team, has made a significant decision. By early Monday morning, he announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on social media. This move comes as a surprise as Barnes was projected to be a key piece in the SU secondary for at least the next two seasons.

Syracuse Football's Rising Star Takes an Unprecedented Step

Early Success and Injuries

Barnes cracked the starting lineup at cornerback in the second game of the season and played in five games this year. He made 11 tackles and three pass break-ups, earning his first start against Georgia Tech on Sept. 7. However, he dealt with injuries throughout the season, which limited his playing time. This setback likely influenced his decision to seek a transfer.

Despite the injuries, Barnes showed great potential and was one of the most high-impact freshmen on the team. Along with defensive tackle Maraad Watson, he brought a lot of energy and skill to the field.

Recruiting and Pre-Syracuse Days

A four-star recruit according to the 247Sports Composite, Barnes was first recruited by Fran Brown while Brown was coaching at Georgia. A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, he was one of four four-star recruits in Brown's 2024 recruiting class. He announced his intention to attend Syracuse during the high school All-American Bowl on NBC.

Before choosing Syracuse, Barnes had initially intended to sign with Virginia Tech but later reconsidered and decided on Syracuse. His early playing time and potential made him a highly sought-after recruit.

Seasonal Playing Time and Transfer Decision

Barnes played a substantial number of snaps in Syracuse's first two games but then played sparingly against Stanford and Pittsburgh as he recovered from back spasms. This pattern of playing time may have played a role in his decision to enter the transfer portal.

He is one of two Syracuse players (as of this writing) to make this move, along with linebacker Anwar Sparrow. The NCAA transfer portal window for football opened on Monday and will close on Dec. 28, giving Barnes and other players the opportunity to explore other options.