Barnes checks out options

Southlake (Texas) Carroll 2017 Rivals250 safety Robert Barnes recently hit the road with trips to Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas A&M.

The first stop on the tour was to Oklahoma with teammate Obi Eboh. The two made their way to Oklahoma for a Friday visit in late July.

"It was nice," Barnes said. "It was mainly a visit to see the academic side of the school because I had gone up there for the Junior Day. They ran us through the academic center but me and Obi wanted to see the business school and just how that was run over there. We got to see a little more in depth academic side of it and we got to see the plans for the new facilities and the new stadium which are about to look amazing. We got to have a sit down talk with coach Cooks and go over some defenses and where they want us and schemes. We got to have a good conversation with coach Stoops and some one-on-one time with him just for him to tell us what he thought about us. It was a good visit."

Barnes then turned around for a Saturday visit to Texas with teammate Lil'Jordan Humphrey.

"My dad's first cousin (Winfred Tubbs) went there and played. He was a defensive end for them," Barnes said. "It was really nice. It was good to meet coach Strong. It was good to meet the whole coaching staff. It was my first time in Austin, so it was nice to see the facilities and just what they're about. I could just tell the coaches are real genuine people and they focus not only on trying to develop your football skills but also trying to develop you as a person. It was really nice. It was probably hard for my dad to step in those buildings but he'll have to deal with it."

Then he closed the three trip tour with a Wednesday stop through Texas A&M.

"I'd been down there for a couple of things because I've been playing 7-on-7 for awhile and I just kind of got the fan tour I guess," Barnes said. "But to finally got inside the facilities and see the Aggie network and how far they've come since they've been in the SEC and overall the Aggie football life. I got to talk to Sabian (Holmes) a little bit to see how he likes it. It was a real nice place. I like what they're doiing with the facilities. All of the coaches I get that vibe that they're just good people too."

Earlier in the summer Barnes mentioned Oklahoma, Alabama, and Baylor as early leaders, but as the process has continued others have made a strong impression as well.

"Of course it kind of grows as they come just because I'll have this opinion of a school and go and visit the school and I'm like ok this could be a place I could end up," Barnes said. "I'm just keeping my options open so I couldn't tell you I have a set top three. It kind of changes."

Barnes already holds scholarship offers from Alabama, Baylor, Boston College, Duke, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Texas, and Texas Tech, and he feels a couple of schools could offer scholarships soon.

"I'm thinking (Texas) A&M because I didn't get a chance to talk to coach Sumlin when I was there," Barnes said. "When I was talking to coach Hagen he was like it's there it's just coach Sumlin likes to make all the offers, so I'm going down to the game Sept. 12. But probably A&M. I've been talking to Ohio State a little bit. I just can't wait to get the season underway and see what happens."