Syracuse football may have its next Duce Chestnut: ‘He is about his business’

Syracuse, N.Y. — Duce Chestnut’s advice to Syracuse football’s rising star at his former position is simple.

Three years ago, Chestnut was the Orange’s hyped true freshman cornerback who ended up being a Freshman All-American and the runner-up for ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.

This year, Marcellus Barnes Jr. could enjoy similar success.

“You’re a great football player,” Chestnut said he tells Barnes. “Everybody gonna have something to say or try and push you or stuff, just be yourself. It’s gonna come to you easy.”

Barnes is the youngest of four cornerbacks who are near locks for the Orange’s depth chart. Alongside him are returner Jayden Bellamy, Buffalo transfer Devin Grant and Notre Dame transfer Clarence Lewis.

Chestnut was moved to safety upon his return from LSU, where he’s a projected starter alongside Justin Barron and Alijah Clark.

Barnes is one of the most mentioned young players by coaches and his veteran peers alike not just on defense but on both sides of the ball.

He is likely the true freshman who will leave 2024 with the most game reps under his belt.

At the most recent practice with a media viewing period Thursday, Barnes and Bellamy were the first to run with the defense. Earlier in the week, it was Barnes and Lewis.

“He’s probably the youngest guy in the room, but he’s extremely mature,” defensive backs coach Joe Schaefer said Thursday. “He is about his business. He shows up every day like an upperclassman.”

A four-star per the 247Sports Composite, Barnes was first recruited by SU head coach Fran Brown while he was coaching at Georgia.

Brown’s consistency and authenticity in his recruitment of Barnes made the recruit comfortable following him to Syracuse.

He said Brown will always be welcomed in his Tennessee home.

“I wanted somebody who was genuine and had a lot of integrity,” Barnes said. “He hasn’t lied about anything that he told me since I got here. As hard as the practices would be and how tough it would be in the classroom, too.”

Praise Barnes received upon his early arrival this spring has only increased through camp as he’s continued learning the playbook and adjusted to the speed of college play.

Coaches pushed for him to be an early enrollee so he’d have more time ahead of the season to do those things, an indication that even before his arrival the staff saw him as an immediate contributor.

Barnes, like the rest of his cornerback peers, is at somewhat of an advantage in improving technique for college and learning scheme because he works directly with Brown during practice.

But he is also learning from a solid group of veterans at his position.

Bellamy started six games in the back half of the season for Syracuse last year and appeared in four at the start. His 72.4% overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus was Top 10 on the team.

Lewis didn’t start last season at Notre Dame as a senior but appeared in 12 games. He had a pick-six, three pass breakups and nine tackles. He’s played 1,476 snaps over four seasons.

Grant switched from safety to cornerback upon his arrival at Syracuse, a move he said came just from the team’s needs and where he fit best. At 6-foot-4, he’s the tallest of the Orange’s top four cornerbacks, an important physical trait for playing outside.

He led the Mid-American Conference in interceptions last year and was first team All-MAC.

All three veterans have said Barnes’ energy keeps them on their toes at practice.

“You can tell he’s a guy who wants it, and as a freshman coming in, that’s great to see because those are guys that can play right now and will be great in the future,” Grant said.

Whether Barnes earns a spot on the first-string over one of his older peers remains to be seen. More likely, at least to start the season, he will be a No. 2 who rotates in regularly.

However he sees the field, Barnes is ready.

He said he feels the way Brown runs practice is close enough to game speed and energy that he won’t feel a difference his first rep out in a game.

“I’ll just be that young guy who’ll go out there, you’ll be able to depend on me to go out there and compete,” Barnes said. “Go out there and give it all I have.”

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