The South Carolina Gamecocks have bolstered their coaching staff with the addition of Deion Barnes, formerly the defensive line coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions. Barnes, who will serve as the defensive ends and outside linebackers coach, is set to bring his extensive experience in player development and recruiting to head coach Shane Beamer’s program. His arrival comes in the wake of Sterling Lucas’s recent departure, who left to coach the defensive line at LSU.
Barnes joins the Gamecocks after a successful tenure at Penn State, where he significantly contributed to developing one of the Big Ten’s most formidable defensive lines. Over his six seasons—with three spent as a graduate assistant before taking on the role of defensive line coach—Barnes showcased his talent for nurturing students and improving performance metrics.
During his inaugural season as defensive line coach, Barnes oversaw the development of Odafe Oweh and Shaka Toney, both of whom earned All-Big Ten first team honors. This pair became the first defensive end duo from Penn State to achieve such recognition since 1998 and were notably both drafted in the same year for the first time since 1975.
The impact of Barnes’s coaching extends to several players who have gone on to make their mark in the NFL. He played a vital role in the development of talent like Arnold Ebiketie, who currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons, and Chop Robinson, now with the Miami Dolphins. Additionally, his work with Abdul Carter, who transitioned from linebacker to defensive end, culminated in Carter receiving accolades as a Unanimous Consensus All-American and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. Under Barnes’s guidance, Penn State has led the nation in the number of defensive ends drafted, with a total of seven since 2020.
As a former player for Penn State, Barnes not only understands the program from a coaching perspective but also has firsthand experience as a three-year letterman and former Big Ten freshman of the year. After his collegiate career, he spent two seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs.
This appointment marks a promising new chapter for the Gamecocks, revitalizing their defensive strategy as they aim for greater success in the upcoming seasons.