Grimsley cornerback Kosci Barnes, one of the top defensive backs in North Carolina’s 2026 class, committed to South Carolina over the weekend, becoming the fourth in-state prospect to join Shane Beamer’s latest recruiting haul.
A rising senior, Barnes is rated a 3-star prospect by both 247Sports and the 247Sports Composite, checking in as the No. 30 player in North Carolina and the No. 60 cornerback nationally.
Barnes chose the Gamecocks over a top six that also included Kentucky, Miami, Mississippi State, UNC and Rutgers, taking official visits to all six this spring/summer. According to 247Sports, he held 25+ scholarship offers, including from in-state programs like NC State, ECU, Charlotte and App State.
🗣️ “I just love how they are a family,” Barnes told 247Sports after his official visit to Columbia. “Everything is family-oriented. Everything that they do is like family. It’s together. They are really genuine. There was no fake love. Everything that they said, they meant. Showed me a great time.”
As a junior, Barnes helped lead Grimsley to a 16-0 record and the 4A state championship, finishing with (per MaxPreps stats):
- 59 tackles
- 6 tackles for loss
- 5 pass breakups
- 3 interceptions
📈 Scouting Report:
247Sports analyst Andrew Ivins describes Barnes as a “late-blooming cornerback” with promising tools:
“Displays natural coverage skills with his instincts and route recognition … Will take his fair share of risks, but has the deep speed to recover in most cases … Embraces the role of an open-field tackler and should only get more effective as a run defender with a few semesters in a developmental lifting group.“
Barnes joins a strong South Carolina 2026 recruiting class that now includes four players from North Carolina high schools:
- DL Aiden Harris (Weddington)
- DL Noah Clark (Jordan)
- LB Andrew Harris (Weddington)
- CB Kosci Barnes (Grimsley)
🏟️ Opening Night Spotlight:
Grimsley opens the 2025 season at Bank of America Stadium in the Keep Pounding High School Classic vs. defending 3A champ West Charlotte. In the new NCHSAA realignment, West Charlotte will jump to 8A classification, while Grimsley will compete in 7A.
Barnes’ commitment means that 44 of 247Sports’ top 50 players from North Carolina’s Class of 2026 have now given verbal pledges to collegiate programs. See where all 44 have committed and who’s still left on the recruiting board HERE.
📌 More 2026 Recruiting Coverage:
- 🔁 NC High School Commitment Tracker – Where top NC prospects are committing (in-state & out-of-state)
- 🎯 NC College Commitment Tracker – Who’s heading to North Carolina college programs (from NC and beyond)
