Clemson Tigers' star safety, Khalil Barnes, announced on Tuesday that he plans on entering the transfer portal.
With the 2025 college football regular season officially over, the Clemson Tigers are now set to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Pinstripe Bowl.
However, head coach Dabo Swinney may not have his star safety ahead of the final contest of the 2025 season.
According to On3Sports’ Hayes Fawcett on Tuesday afternoon, Clemson star safety Khalil Barnes plans to enter the transfer portal this offseason.
Barnes, a former four-star prospect out of high school, was part of Swinney’s incredible 2023 recruiting class, which included both EDGE rusher T.J. Parker and Peter Woods. Luckily for the program, however, Barnes would quickly become an instant-impact player for the Tigers.
As a freshman, the Athens, GA native recorded 38 tackles, six pass deflections, three interceptions, and one sack. This incredible season for Barnes earned him Freshman All-American honors, with hopes that he could become the next great defensive back out of Clemson.
His stout play as a freshman eventually rolled into his sophomore season last year, as he finished the year with 61 tackles and four interceptions in 2024. Unfortunately for Barnes, his dominant two-year stretch would not carry over into the 2025 season, as he missed three games this year. Still, Barnes finished his junior season with 40 tackles and two pass deflections.
With Barnes now set to enter the portal, this opens the door for rising redshirt senior Kylon Griffin to take over a majority of the workload in 2026. The Montgomery, AL native ended the 2025 regular season with eight tackles, one pass deflection, and one forced fumble.
In addition to Griffin, 2026 four-star safety Kentavion Anderson could be next up for Swinney and the Tigers. The in-state recruit is the second-highest rated prospect in Clemson’s current recruiting class, trailing behind four-star wide receiver Naeem Burroughs.
At 6-foot-2, 190 lbs., Anderson already possesses an elite frame for the position, which means Clemson’s coaching staff must develop the young talent this offseason.
For now, expect Griffin to take over the workload for the Tigers during their bowl game matchup against the Nittany Lions later this month if Barnes does not play.