Barnes adds offer, plans official

Madison (Miss.) Madison Central three-star wide receiver Keenan Barnes has already picked up offers from Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Memphis, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State over the course of the recruiting process. On Monday night he learned Southern Miss was also extending a scholarship offer.

"I don't take any of my schools lightly," Barnes said. "I thank God so I'm honored for them to think of me like that and it just makes me want to work harder and get more."

The offer is fresh on his mind and he is looking to see how his relationship with Southern Miss grows.

"Well, they kind of snuck up on me a little bit. I thought they had kind of put me to the side," Barnes said. "I wanted to get all the in-state offers. That was a goal I set in the eighth or ninth grade. Our relationship is young but as the weeks progress and we keep talking I'll see what going on."

While he is looking forward to seeing how everything progresses with Southern Miss, he already knows plenty about the program.

"Well, they're in a rebuilding stage right now," Barnes said. "I figure if I consider them they might be a good fit for me. I could earn playing time and stuff like that. Southern Miss is an in-state school and I've been around them since I was born. My brother was recruited by them when he was in high school, so I kind of got the background on how they treat the players and the recruiting process with them. It's a good school and I'll consider them."

He may be in the beginning stages with Southern Miss, but he does have more definite plans with a few other colleges

"I'm probably going to do an official visit to Louisville," Barnes said. "I can't remember the date, but it's when they play Wake Forest. I think me and Trey Smith are going to go up there. That's the only one I really know of right now. I haven't really talked to the coaches of other schools to see, but I plan on going to Ole Miss and Mississippi State on official visits. I don't know the other two yet."

It has been a little while since he last spoke to coaches at Ole Miss, but he continues to keep in touch with coach Knox of Mississippi State. He is looking to take an official visit to both schools, but he is also hoping to take an unofficial visit in the near future.

"Well I know I'm going to the Egg Bowl," Barnes said. "I circled that one this summer. I'm trying to see but I'm probably going to Ole Miss' next home game and Mississippi State's next home game."

In addition to his visit plans he also has an idea about making a college decision.

"In the coming weeks I'm kind of narrowing down to who I want to commit to. I'm probably going to make a decision before the end of the month, so I'm trying to gear down," Barnes said. "I'm going to still be open, I just want to have something set in stone so I can calm the recruiting process down so I can focus on the season. But I'm still open to all schools."

When it comes to his senior season at Madison Central, Barnes has been challenged but he feels good about the direction the team is heading.

"It's going well. We're undefeated right now," Barnes said. "Coming into the season my coach told me I had to be more of a leader and put the team on my back, and I feel I've accomplished that the last three games. We're just taking them one game at a time and we want to win and we don't want to lose. We're not going to lose."

Through three ball games Barnes has recorded 13 receptions for 308 yards and five touchdowns. As a junior in 2013 he recorded 76 receptions for 1,227 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is currently ranked No. 78 among the nation's wide receivers and No. 12 in the Rivals.com Mississippi Preseason Top 25.