Overview
- South Carolina officially announced Deion Barnes as its DE/OLB coach, confirming earlier reports from ESPN and On3Sports.
- Barnes’ role in Columbia replaces Sterling Lucas, who departed earlier this month for a position at LSU.
- At Penn State since 2020 and promoted to defensive line coach in 2023, the former Nittany Lion built a reputation for developing elite pass rushers such as Abdul Carter, Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac.
- The departure leaves Matt Campbell with a defensive line vacancy as he assembles his 2026 staff, following veteran coordinator Jon Heacock’s retirement.
- PennLive reports that running backs coach Stan Drayton is also expected to join South Carolina, signaling further turnover for Penn State.