Tyden Barnes decided to go home.
The Cincinnati safety will return to New Mexico State after missing a season, he announced on Friday, Jan. 9. Barnes spent his first two seasons with the Aggies, redshirting the 2023 season before breaking out in 2024. He totaled 57 tackles that season and tied for the team lead in interceptions (two) and pass breakups (six), earning freshman All-Conference honors and All-American honorable mention.
Barnes never started a game for the Bearcats, but he appeared in all 12 games. He totaled 26 tackles and had a season-high seven tackles and forced a fumble in the season opener against Nebraska. Barnes announced that he will enter the transfer portal on December 11.
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This marks the second consecutive offseason that New Mexico State has signed a transfer player looking to return after a season away. Defensive end Gabe Peterson was an Aggie in 2022 and 2023 and returns in 2025 after playing for Utah State in 2024.
Cincinnati Bearcats safety Tayden Barnes (10) tackles Bowling Green Falcons tight end Jyrin Johnson (7) during the second quarter of an NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Bowling Green Falcons on September 6, 2025. on March 6 at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati.
Barnes, who can play either nickel back or safety, is the first FBS transfer New Mexico State has signed to date. The top five are from Division II or FCS schools.
This article originally appeared in the Las Cruces Sun News: Safety Tayden Barnes returns to New Mexico State after season ends in Cincinnati
