James Franklin evaluates how Deion Barnes has adjusted to defensive line coach role

Penn State defensive line coach Deion Barnes has spent much of his adult life in the Nittany Lions system. First it was as a player for the program and then as a graduate assistant.

But now the 30-year-old Barnes is about to start his first season as a full position coach. Penn State head coach James Franklin has been impressed with how he is adjusting to the role.

“His players love him,” Franklin said. “He’s very, very, very demanding. He’s very transparent and authentic with them, which I think is important. There’s still some growth that’s happening every day with going from being a GA to a full-time coach at a top-10 program and a Power Five institution. There’s an adjustment period but he’s handled it extremely well.”

Barnes started his journey at Penn State career as an outside linebacker in 2011. After redshirting his first year on campus, he emerged as a force as a redshirt freshman. He was a consensus freshman All-American and won the Thompson-Randle El Big Ten Freshman of the Year award as the best freshman in the Big Ten.

He wasn’t as productive as a sophomore in 2013 before returning to his great production as a senior. He had 44 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and six sacks in 2014.

That 2014 season was Franklin’s first season as the head coach of the Nittany Lions.

Barnes went undrafted during the 2015 NFL Draft but spent two seasons in the NFL and one season in the AAF before starting his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 2020 with Penn State.

He stayed in the role for three seasons before earning his promotion to defensive line coach.

“He’s doing very well,” Franklin said. “I think the defensive staff has also done a really good job. But he’s probably way ahead of where most people would expect and anticipate. That’s coaches, guys on the field. That’s meeting room expectations. That’s teaching scheme. That’s recruiting. He’s doing really well. I’m proud of him.”

Barnes spoke with the media last week about his transition to becoming the defensive line coach. He said he feels like he is still growing but has made good progress in his development.

“It hasn’t really changed. They’ve always had the same respect for me when I was a GA. They listened to me, I just wasn’t the voice in the room that was the final voice,” Barnes said. “Now they’re going to the beat of my drum.