Barnes attended Valley High School, where he practiced football and basketball. He spent a year at Gordon Military Academy, before accepting a scholarship from Clemson University with the intention of playing both sports. Head coach Frank Howard convinced him to just focus on football and eventually named him a starter at split end as a sophomore, registering 9 receptions for 216 yards and 3 touchdowns. He had a 68-yard touchdown reception in a 23-7 win over the seventh-ranked Texas Christian University in the 1959 Bluebonnet Bowl. The next year, he posted 14 receptions for 256 yards and one touchdown. He was moved to halfback as a senior, finishing with 16 receptions for 247 yards, 8 carries for 31 yards and 3 touchdowns. In 2002, he was inducted into the Clemson University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2005, he was inducted in the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.
In 1963, he appeared in 12 games, registering 15 receptions for 195 yards. On June 18, 1964, he was traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for defensive endMaury Youmans.
Chicago Bears
In 1964, the Chicago Bears acquired Barnes for depth purposes and he only recorded 4 receptions for 61 yards. He was waived in August 1965.
In 1965, Barnes was the first player signed to a contract by the Atlanta Falcons in team history. He was asked to play for a semi-pro football team in Huntsville, to keep in shape since the franchise was still a year away from beginning play. The next season, he scored the first touchdown in Falcons history, with a 53-yard reception from quarterback Randy Johnson during a 14-19 loss in the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. On November 25, 1966, he was released to make room for rookie Richard Koeper. Barnes was re-signed in January 1967. He was released on September 4, 1968. Although he had an opportunity to try-out for other teams, he opted to retire, finishing with 60 career games, 41 receptions for 583 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Personal life
After football, he worked in the fiber division of Chevron Corporation. He also operated a textile business and was an investment adviser. In 1986, although he had no previous legal experience, he was asked by then-Clemson City Council member Gaston Gage to become Clemson's first full-time municipal judge. He spent 30 years in that job until retiring in 2015.
