Coach’s Take: 4-star TE Ethan Barbour ‘checks every box’

Georgia has landed Alpharetta (Ga.) 2025 four-star tight end Ethan Barbour on Friday. Barbour, the No. 192 overall prospect in the 2025 On3 Industry rankings, is the second tight end to join the class of 2025 for the Bulldogs.

He joins four-star Elyiss Williams.

Barbour has earned a reputation as a high-flying playmaker in the passing game. His coach Jason Kervin feels he’s that and some more.

Barbour drew high praise from his head coach.

“They’re getting a complete player and a complete person,” Kervin said. “He checks every box. He’s going to play physical, he’s going to play smart and be a leader. He’ll be the guy wherever he goes that they put up on the podium after the game in SEC media days and an ambassador for the program. He’s a kid who likes the big lights, the bigger the moment is, the bigger he comes out to play. They’re getting the total package.”

Ethan Barbour the positionless tight end

Barbour has lined up in a lot of spots for Alpharetta in the last three seasons. He’s been in at the traditional tight-end spot.

He’s played wide receiver on the outside being guarded by cornerbacks. Barbour occasionally slides down to slot receiver.

He inserts and blocks linebackers and defensive linemen. Barbour doesn’t have to come off the field outside of rest.

For Kervin as a coach drawing up a gameplan Barbour answers a lot of questions simply due to his skillsets.

“There’s not a single play that we run where we don’t know where he is and he is there by design,” Kervin said. “He can in-line block, he can insert on linebackers, he can split out, play all three wide receiver positions, know the routes, read coverage. He’s nasty in the red zone, he’s good on 50-50 balls. He’s a guy you trust in a lot of areas and I think he runs better than people give him credit for. You’re going to know everywhere he is even if it’s just him dictating coverage for somebody else to get a hitch. He dictates every game. I guarantee every coach knows where he is before we snap it.”

There’s more to it

Barbour has also made an impression on Kervin in the way he attacks the game and life.

“He’s comfortable with who he is, he knows who he is and he doesn’t try and be like other people,” Kervin said. “He just wants to play ball, win and he works hard at it. He loves the game and he understands what it takes to be great. Ethan enjoys the process more than most kids even if it’s just taking care of your body in season and in the offseason. He’s really mature and he sees the big picture. That’s one thing that separates him from a lot of kids having that understanding of what’s at stake. He doesn’t have bad days. He doesn’t take days off and he’s always there and ready to go. Whether we’re winning or losing, if he’s getting the ball or not, Barbour is always ready to go.”

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