Overview
- ESPN reported that Penn State defensive line coach Deion Barnes is expected to be hired by South Carolina as its DE/OLB (EDGE) coach, with On3’s GamecockCentral also reporting the move.
- Barnes’ departure diverges from prior expectations he would be retained at Penn State, leaving a defensive-line vacancy as Matt Campbell finalizes his staff.
- Barnes, 32, is a former Penn State letterman who rose from graduate assistant in 2020 to full-time defensive line coach in 2023 after John Scott’s exit.
- He is credited with key Philadelphia recruiting ties and development of top pass rushers, with eight Penn State defensive linemen or edge players drafted since 2021, including first-rounders such as Micah Parsons and Odafe Oweh.
- At South Carolina, Barnes would join former Penn State running backs coach Stan Drayton, and news of the hire was followed by edge rusher Dylan Stewart announcing his return for 2026.