UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State head football coach James Franklin has announced the hiring of Deion Barnes as defensive line coach for the Nittany Lions. Barnes spent the last three years on staff as a graduate assistant working with the defensive line.
"We are excited to have Deion represent his alma mater as our defensive line coach," said Franklin. "I have really been impressed watching him grow as a coach and leader these last three seasons. Deion's passion for Penn State and the defensive line room has been a differentiator. It is clear to me that he wears his pride for this University through his work. The respect the players and staff have for Deion showed every day. I look forward to watching him continue to develop and inspire our defensive linemen. He was a great addition to our staff in 2020 and I look forward to watching him thrive in this new role."
"I am thrilled and honored to be the defensive line coach for my alma mater," said Barnes. "I am extremely grateful to Coach Franklin for giving me this opportunity to lead a room of tremendous young men who have worked so hard each and every day. I have a lot of pride and passion for Penn State University, and I am excited to go to work with this coaching staff, this team, my letterman brothers and the best fans in college football."
Coaching Accomplishments
- Following a professional playing career in the NFL and the AAF, Barnes joined the Penn State coaching staff in 2020 as a defensive graduate assistant.
- During his three seasons working alongside defensive line coach John Scott Jr., Barnes helped coach 11 All-Big Ten defensive linemen, including three first-team selections and a second-team All-American.
- Barnes tutored defensive tackle PJ Mustipher, who was a two-time captain for the Nittany Lions and a three-time All-Big Ten honoree.
- During the 2022 season, Penn State led the Big Ten with 104 tackles for loss (T-4th nationally) and 42 sacks (T-6th).
- Defensive end Adisa Isaac returned from an injury in 2022 earning third-team All-Big Ten honors.
- Among defensive lineman in the Big Ten, Isaac's 11 tackles for loss were tied for third.
- Pairing up with Isaac in 2022 was transfer defensive end Chop Robinson, who picked up All-Big Ten honorable mention honors, and according to Pro Football Focus, led Power Five edge rushers with a 91.6 pass rush grade.
- Barnes also worked with defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, a transfer, during the 2021 season and helped develop him into a first-team All-Big Ten selection and an FWAA second-team All-American.
- Ebiketie finished the year first among Power Five defensive linemen in tackles for loss (17.0).
- Under Barnes' tutelage, Ebiketie also paced the Big Ten in blocked field goals (2), was second in tackles for loss and third in sacks (9.5).
- Mustipher (second team) and linebacker-converted-to-defensive-end Jesse Luketa (third team) also earned all-conference laurels in 2021 for a defensive line unit which helped Penn State finish sixth nationally in points allowed (17.3).
- In his first season, Barnes worked with Odafe Oweh and Shaka Toney, who became the first Penn State defensive end duo to receive All-Big Ten first team honors since Courtney Brown and Brad Scioli in 1998.
- Oweh and Toney each earned 2021 NFL Combine invitations, while Toney accepted an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl.
- Oweh was picked in the first round (31st overall) by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2021 NFL Draft, making him the first Penn State defensive end selected in the first round since 2009 (Aaron Maybin).
- Toney was selected by the Washington Football Team in the seventh round (246th overall) as he and Oweh became the first defensive end duo to be drafted in the same year for Penn State since 1975 (Mike Hartenstine and Greg Murphy).
Accomplishments as a Player
- Barnes was a three-year letterwinner at defensive end for Penn State (2012-14) and earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors in 2012.
- He spent two years in the NFL with the New York Jets (2015) and Kansas City Chiefs (2016), and an additional season in the AAF with the San Antonio Commanders in 2019.
Prominent Penn State Players Coached
- Arnold Ebiketie (Penn State) – Atlanta Falcons; 2022 NFL Draft second-round pick
- Jesse Luketa (Penn State) – Arizona Cardinals; 2022 NFL Draft seventh-round pick
- Derrick Tangelo (Penn State) – NFL (2022)
- Odafe Oweh (Penn State) – Baltimore Ravens; 2021 NFL Draft first-round pick
- Shaka Toney (Penn State) – Washington Commanders; 2021 NFL Draft seventh-round pick
What They're Saying About Deion Barnes
"Deion is hands down one the best coaches and mentors I had. You are talking about someone who is going to constantly challenge you physically and mentally to be the best version of yourself every day. The future of the Penn State defensive line is in great hands." - Arnold Ebiketie, Atlanta Falcons
"Coach Barnes is by far one of the most technically and fundamentally oriented coaches in the game. I was fortunate enough to spend just a year with him during my last year in Happy Valley and I'll forever be grateful for it! I'm extremely happy for him and can't wait to watch how he takes his pupils to the next level!" - Jesse Luketa, Arizona Cardinals
"Deion is one of the best leaders and mentors of men I've ever been around. He dedicates his life to ensuring that we are successful on and off the field. He is extremely deserving of this opportunity and I am excited for the future of the Penn State defensive line room." - PJ Mustipher
"Deion's been my mentor since I was 16. I will never forget my first workout with him, he worked me day in and day out. He's detailed, honest and a huge part of my success. I wouldn't be here today without him." - Shaka Toney, Washington Commanders