Chris Barnes, a 3-star offensive lineman from Lee County High School, committed to UGA after Saturday's G-Day spring football game.
The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Barnes is rated as the state’s No. 56 overall prospect. He is commitment No. 10 for UGA’s 2016 recruiting class.
OL Chris Barnes (Elite Junior Classic)
Here are five things to know about Barnes committing to UGA:
1. Falling in love with UGA. Barnes fell in love with UGA when he made an unofficial visit a few weeks ago. "It felt right in my heart, and it just felt right in my mind," he said. "I talked to my parents, and I talked to my coaches. Before I went back to Georgia this weekend, my family and I prayed about it. Every morning since I was a little kid, we've been saying the Lord's prayer before I go off. We just asked the Lord to help me with my decision, guide me in the right direction, and give me peace about it. Georgia just felt like my second home. It felt like home already. So that's why I committed."
2. Stockpiling linemen. UGA has 10 commitments, and Barnes is the third for the offensive line. The other two are state's No. 1- and No. 2-rated prospects at the position, Ben Cleveland of Stephens County High School and E.J. Price of Archer High School. Where will Barnes play at UGA? "They told me guard or center," Barnes said.
3. Good genes. Even though Barnes already has excellent size, he could get even bigger. His father is 6-9 and 345 pounds, and he's a former college football player at Albany State.
4. Beating Alabama. UGA edged out Alabama for Barnes, who took an unofficial visit with the Crimson Tide last week. "I had a good visit to Alabama, but it just didn't jell right with me in my heart," he said. "I felt like Georgia was a better place for me."
5. Other visits? After Barnes committed to UGA on Saturday, he also mentioned to Mark Richt that he'd still like to take his five official visits as a senior. "But it depends," he said. "I'm not sure yet. I would love to take those five official visits and go see the whole West coast. I want to see what they have to offer and see all those places, but I'm not sure yet. I told Coach Richt." What was Richt's reaction? "He just said 'We'll see.'"
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