Evaluation: What Does Junior Tight End Ethan Barbour Offer Georgia?

Georgia's newest 2025 commit tight end Ethan Barbour boasts a lot of great potential for Todd Hartley and Georgia to use even in the middle of his junior season for Alpharetta.

The junior tight end from Alpharetta High School in metro Atlanta, 4-star Ethan Barbour, announced his commitment to Kirby Smart and the University of Georgia this afternoon. He boasts a lot of great skill and potential in the passing game that UGA TE coach Todd Hartley won't be able to wait to get his hands on and develop Barbour into one of the country's best athletes. 

Frame: Barbour already has a great frame as a high school junior. He stands at a solid 6' 3" and weighs an impressive 235 pounds. When you watch his tape, you notice a sizeable difference from him compared to everyone else on the field. One thing Barbour's tight end coach at Alpharetta mentioned to me when speaking about his success to this point was that Barbour "takes just as much pride at being an elite blocker as a pass catcher," and he proves it on tape. Driving defenders out of the back of the endzone against Milton, chipping off double teams working to the next level, patiently waiting for the linebacker to make a move, and attacking him to the sidelines against Cambridge. Barbour utilizes his great frame in the passing game and running game well.

Athleticism: Barbour has shown flashes of good athleticism. Usually receiving the ball in the middle of the field, either in the seam or running digs and outs, Alpharetta does a good job trying to get their star into open space. When he is in open space and running the outs/dig routes, you see Barbour's background with playing basketball. Barbour has excellent hips, which is uncommon amongst tight ends. He can sink his hips in routes and flip them quickly to continue his route on a sharp cut. In open space, it is like a fast break for Barbour and his ability to weave through defenders at the last second, so they have no chance of getting him another credit to his fluid hips. 

Instinct: You see an immediate want to be physical whenever you cut on Barbour's tape. There is a physicality about Barbour's play, whether in his blocks, how he runs with the ball, or even how he plays when the ball isn't going to his side. In multiple blocks, Barbour is literally driving his defender through the whistle, something coaches always preach but can't teach because it is an effort thing. Effort is not taught or coachable; it is instilled, and clearly, it is instilled in Barbour. 

Polish: As a whole, Barbour is most polished in the passing game. Alpharetta's tight end coach said he "doesn't think there is a better receiving tight end in the 2025 class. He is so good at receiving that I think his blocking gets overlooked." Barbour is one of the most refined route runners in the country, just as a junior, and is even more aggressive when he goes to get the ball from a defender. Although some may want more height from Barbour, 6' 3" and 235 pounds is perfect for his age. According to his 247Sports profile, Barbour won't turn 18 until he is on campus at Georgia in his freshman year. Barbour will reach the peak of his physical capabilities and join an elite development program. 

Here’s a take for you,

Ethan Barbour would have the most natural hands in the TE room today.

What he lacks in the freakish traits that some of the others in that UGA room have had,

He’s the most immediately refined guy they’ll have.

— Brooks Austin (@BrooksAustinBA) September 22, 2023

Bottom Line: The bottom line is that Georgia is already building an upper-echelon tight-end room around Barbour, Elyiss Williams, and Jaden Reddell. All of them provide great qualities, but Barbour provides possibly the best qualities within the passing game. Barbour has the potential to grow into a future NFL prospect and could be comparable to Kyle Pitts or Darren Waller. 

How to Watch Georgia vs. UAB

• Gameday: Saturday, Sept. 23. 2023
• Game time: 7:30 pm ET
• TV: ESPN 2
• Location: Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium (Athens, Georgia)
• Live stream on fuboTV: Start with a 7-day free trial!
• Stream on ESPN - HERE

How to Listen

The Georgia Bulldogs Radio Network is readily available with Scott Howard on the call.

Other Georgia News:

• WATCH: Kirby Smart Previews Week 2, Talks Carson Beck's Performance
• Kirby Smart Updates Injury Report Heading Into Week 2
• LSU Finds Out it Isn't the "Two-Time National Champion Georgia Bulldogs" in Loss to FSU

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