2024 CB Marcellus Barnes Talks Notre Dame Visit, What's Next

Marcellus Barnes Jr.‍ made his first trip to Notre Dame last weekend and the 2024 Tennessee cornerback left impressed with what he saw.

“It was great,” Barnes told Irish Sports Daily afterward. “It was great. I loved it. My first time in South Bend, there was a lot to take in, but I loved the whole experience.

“The facility, the staff. Honestly, all of them were generous about everything and open. I love the brotherhood and the unity that the coaching staff had.”

The McCallie School standout had the opportunity to meet with Notre Dame cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens.

“It went really well,” Barnes said. “I felt like I was at home already.

“He gave me a whole presentation on everything that the University is about education-wise and athletically. It was really personal. It was just me, him and my parents, so that was also a great thing about it. He has great energy, pays attention to details. I love that.”

Barnes also had a brief chat with head coach Marcus Freeman.

“He stopped in on me in Coach Mickens' meeting and asked me how the visit was going so far,” Barnes explained. “It was generous. I felt like he really cares about his players as a person outside of football and he still wants to win. He's very competitive. I love that.”

Barnes also enjoyed his campus tour.

“Campus was great,” the 6-foot, 175-pounder said. “It was actually snowing while I was there. Campus was great, though. I love the facilities in general. Like I said, everybody is generous and feels like they're having a great time while being at school. It's like a school I've never seen before though. I love the purpose.

He was impressed with the energy during Saturday’s practice session.

“It was their first day of pads, so it got a little feisty, but I just loved that part, how they were competing, getting better, making each other better,” he said.

Barnes currently has offers from schools like Vanderbilt, Virginia, Wake Forest and Minnesota among others. He’s still waiting on an offer from the Irish, but is hopeful one could come soon.

“It would mean everything, honestly,” he said. “I loved the visit. The visit was great. It had a huge impact on me.

“It was my first time up there, so it was everyone's first time seeing me,” he said. “They were pretty surprised that I had the size that I had.”

Barnes visited Virginia Tech on Tuesday, when he landed an offer from the Hokies. Next up are stops at Virginia and Wake Forest followed by a visit to Baylor.

He’s planning to return to South Bend in the fall.

“I'll be back for a game pretty soon, hopefully a night game. I know that's a different experience.”

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