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Former Syracuse cornerback Marcellus Barnes Jr. has transferred to SMU, On3 reported Friday. The freshman totaled 10 tackles and three pass deflections in five games for the Orange in 2024.
A former four-star recruit from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Barnes established himself in a starting role from the get-go. He recorded two pass deflections in SU’s season-opening win over Ohio. In the next two games against Georgia Tech and Stanford, he totaled three tackles but exited early against the Cardinal with an injury.
Barnes missed the next three games and returned against Pitt, recording three tackles. He notched a career-high four tackles the following week against Virginia Tech but then suffered a season-ending injury.
The freshman phenom entered the transfer portal on Dec. 9, eventually narrowing his decision to Kentucky and SMU. He ultimately chose the Mustangs of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The loss of Barnes is the third among SU’s secondary due to the transfer portal. Jayden Bellamy and Jaeden Gould both transferred to UCF. The Orange will also lose cornerback Clarence Lewis and safety Alijah Clark to the NFL.
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