#8

Brandon Barnes

S · Arkansas State · So. · #8

Returning to Arkansas State for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Brandon Barnes

S · Arkansas State · So · #8

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#1672 national
CFB
College
Arkansas State
2024–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2024Arkansas State8-5HC: Butch Jones · Balanced, fast tempo
2025Arkansas State7-6HC: Butch Jones · Balanced

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Arkansas State68322.50.021--
2024Arkansas State760.00.0------
Career75382.50.021--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 16 · 2025

W 34–28

vs Missouri State

6 TOT  ·  4 SOLO  ·  1 PD

Edged out Missouri State at home in a shootout.

How he plays

Play style

Plays like an extra linebacker near the line.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Arkansas State

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Safety · Arkansas State

Returning around him

  • 59% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
  • Transfer portal: -13 net (24 in / 37 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Arkansas State · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #88 · 2026 recruiting class #84

DNA match

Player DNA

Box Safety

Lives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker.

S

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Tao Johnson’s 2024 season.

Tao Johnson

79%match

Utah · 2024

#2

Carter Davis

Boston College · 2025

78%
#3

Da'Quan Johnson

Duke · 2021

76%
#4

AJ Brathwaite

Western Kentucky · 2021

76%
#5

Malcolm Lee

Ball State · 2022

75%

Matches Tao on

Tackle volume
Class year
TFL rate

Differs from Tao on

Weight (lower)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Kaj Sanders's sophomore season at Rutgers (2025).

Kaj Sanders

84%match

Rutgers · 2025

#2

Carter Davis

Boston College · 2025

84%
#3

Boen Phelps

Boise State · 2025

81%
#4

Marvin Burks Jr.

Missouri · 2024

78%
#5

Isaac Paul

Kennesaw State · 2025

All-Conference USA
78%

Matches Kaj on

Class year
Tackle volume
PD rate

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #11532

Final rank
#11737
Avg #11745.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #11532 this season.