Lee County’s Chris Barnes commits to Georgia

LEESBURG — Lee County standout left tackle Chris Barnes verbally committed to the University of Georgia over the weekend.

The 6-foot-4, 285-pound junior offensive lineman was also recruited by Kentucky, South Carolina, Alabama, and Wake Forest. Barnes is a member of the ESPN 300 and one of the top offensive line prospects in the state.

According to Barnes, it was the Georgia coaching staff that made the difference.

“It was the love I received from the coaches,” Barnes said. “It was the atmosphere. That’s what drew me to Georgia.”

According to Lee County head football coach Dean Fabrizio, Barnes’ abilities to excel at his position were seen three seasons ago.

“Chris has started every game at left tackle since he stepped on campus here as a ninth-grader,” Fabrizio said. “To have that kind of stability at that position is just huge.”

While Fabrizio is proud of Barnes accomplishments, he is even prouder of what he has meant to the Lee County program off the field.

“The thing about Chris that not only is he a great football player, he’s a great kid,” Fabrizio said. “It seems like he’s been playing here forever. He started since he was a freshman. He’s had a big, big impact on our program.”

Barnes was at the Georgia G-Day spring game Saturday with his parents. It was after the game that he decided to commit to the Bulldogs.

“Coach Richt called me into his office and we were talking about my dad and how he’s doing,” Barnes said. “A couple of months ago, Coach Richt asked me, ‘Chris Barnes, how would you like to be a Dawg?’ I said to Coach Richt, ‘Coach, a couple of months ago, you asked me if I wanted to be a Georgia Bulldog.’ Here’s your answer — I’d love to be a Georgia Bulldog.”

In addition to football, Barnes is also a member of the basketball team as well. In addition to sports, Barnes loves being out in the country and he likes to hunt and fish. He fondly remembers a fishing story with his cousin.

“My cousin was with me and he’d never been fishing before,” Barnes said. “From him trying to cast, somehow, he hooked me in the ear, and I don’t know how he did that, but he hooked me in my ear lobe. I have a little hole in my ear.”

Barnes said that Georgia plans to use him as a guard and center. Barnes gives high praise to Fabrizio and the Lee County coaching staff for preparing.

“Coach Fabrizio has helped me out a lot,” Barnes said. “Our practice is more like a college practice in high school. Having him [Fabrizio] and his coaching staff coach me has really made me ready for college right now.”