Casey Barner is an insane athlete that Georgia Bulldog head coach Kirby Smart is targeting in the 2028 recruiting class. Barner is a 5-foot-11, 190-pound safety out of Powder Springs, Ga. According to 247 Sports’ Composite, Barner holds a 5-star grade and currently sits as the No. 10 overall recruit in the country. He is rated the No. 1 safety nationally and the No. 1 overall player in Georgia for the 2028 class.
Recently, Barner posted a video on X of himself squatting 455 pounds, and made sure to clarify that the lift was not his max.
“455 not max,” the McEachern defensive back posted on X.
For a young defensive back, that level of lower-body strength is rare. It’s an early indicator of physical maturity and explosive potential that translates directly to closing speed, tackling power, and downhill play.
That physical development showed up on Friday nights. As a sophomore at McEachern, Barner played a major role in the Indians’ 10-1 season, which included an undefeated regular season. Contributing at safety in one of Georgia’s top classifications as a 10th grader speaks to both instincts and trust from the coaching staff.
Aside from playing safety in 2025, Barner also played some running back for the Indians. According to MaxPreps, he carried the ball 25 times for 252 yards, 10.1 yards per carry, and 2 touchdowns. He also caught 3 passes for 54 yards and 1 touchdown.
He was a MaxPreps Freshman All-American in 2024 as well. Prior to coming to McEachern, he played his freshman ball at Douglass and was a two-way player.
Barner has visited Georgia multiple times. In a recent interview with On3’s Jeremy Johnson, he praised the UGA coaching staff and mentioned the Dawgs have been recruiting him since he was in the eighth grade.
“They’re heavily on my list,” Barner told On3. “I’m looking forward to just seeing the coaching staff again. They’re good people. They’ve been messing with me since eighth grade, since I got into football. I’m going to go back out there and mess with them.”
