#5

Solo Barnes

S · UTEP · Sr. · #5

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

Solo Barnes

S · UTEP · Sr · #5

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
No recruit profile
CFB
College
UTEP
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025UTEP2-10HC: Scotty Walden · Balanced

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025UTEP59362.01.042--
Career59362.01.042--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 8 · 2025

W 35–17

at Sam Houston

4 TOT  ·  3 SOLO  ·  1 SACKS

How he plays

Play style

Moves between deep coverage and the slot.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

UTEP

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Safety · UTEP

Returning around him

  • 100% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
  • Transfer portal: +1 net (21 in / 20 out)

2026 Award watch

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

UTEP · Last season: 2-10 · Talent rank #101 · 2026 recruiting class #91

DNA match

Player DNA

Hybrid Nickel

Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB.

S

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Gavin Shields’s 2025 season.

Army · 2025

#2

VJ Payne

Kansas State · 2024

NFL Rd 7
83%
#3

Ja'von Hicks

Cincinnati · 2021

82%
#4

Tyrez Lindsey

Memphis · 2020

81%
#5

D'Angelo Hutchinson

Louisville · 2024

80%

Matches Gavin on

Class year
Tackle volume
PD rate

Differs from Gavin on

Height (higher)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Tyrez Lindsey's freshman season at Memphis (2020).

Memphis · 2020

#2

Christian Young

Arizona · 2021

79%
#3

Jonathan Alexander

Charlotte · 2021

73%
#4

Payton Wilgar

BYU · 2020

73%
#5

JJ Russell

Memphis · 2020

All-AAC
73%

Matches Tyrez on

TFL rate
PD rate
Weight

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #9440

Final rank
#10823
Avg #10350.3
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #9440 this season.