Deion Barnes Revamps Gamecocks Defense

South Carolina’s football program is poised for a defensive revolution as new coach Deion Barnes, ranked among the nation’s top defensive ends coaches, takes the reins. Hired in December 2025, Barnes brings a proven track record from Penn State, where he developed elite pass rushers and helped send seven defensive ends to the NFL draft over five seasons — including two in the most recent draft. With a player-first, talent-adjusted coaching philosophy and a background as a former Penn State standout and NFL veteran, Barnes is expected to elevate the Gamecocks’ defense and propel star prospect Stewart toward a top-ten 2027 NFL Draft pick. The stage is set for a breakout 2026 season. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/3c43c9ac2239ddf4