South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer now has his full coaching staff in place heading into the offseason, with the final piece falling into place following the Board of Trustees’ approval of Deion Barnes as the new defensive ends and outside linebackers coach. With that, the Gamecocks officially have all hands on deck.
Barnes and fellow newcomer Stan Drayton, who will coach the running backs in Columbia, both wrapped up their duties with Penn State before making the move. The two stayed on through the Nittany Lions’ Pinstripe Bowl matchup against Clemson - and they didn’t just show up, they helped deliver a statement win. Penn State handled Clemson 22-10 at Yankee Stadium, and both coaches’ position groups played a big role in that outcome.
Drayton, who stepped in for the Gamecocks after the departure of Marquel Blackwell, had to get creative with his backfield. With a couple of key running backs unavailable, he turned to freshman Quinton Martin - a player who hadn’t logged a single snap all season. Martin responded like a veteran, carrying the ball 20 times for 101 yards in a breakout performance that gave a glimpse of Drayton’s ability to prepare young talent for the spotlight.
On the defensive side, Barnes’ unit brought the heat. The Nittany Lions’ defensive front racked up six tackles for loss, including four sacks of Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik.
It was a fitting sendoff for Barnes, who coached the entire defensive line and now steps into a more specialized role with the Gamecocks. He replaces Sterling Lucas, who left for a position at LSU.
Both coaches took a moment to express their gratitude to Penn State before heading south.
“On my way. Can’t wait,” Drayton posted on X.
“PSU Lawn Boys, thank you for allowing me to coach you all. I love each and every one of you.
Myself and my wife are here for you for life. OGT.”
Barnes echoed that sentiment in a message that highlighted senior Dani Dennis-Sutton’s performance and his appreciation for his alma mater.
“Proud of @thedanidennis - he gave everything he got and went out playing out of his mind,” Barnes wrote. “#younghunters I appreciate y’all, max effort every time we stepped on the field. I’m thankful for my time coaching at my alma mater Penn State. I love y’all and I appreciate everyone.”
Now, both coaches turn their attention to Columbia, where Shane Beamer has quietly assembled a staff with a blend of experience, energy, and proven player development chops. With Barnes and Drayton officially in the fold full-time, the Gamecocks are poised to hit the ground running as they prepare for what’s shaping up to be a pivotal year in the SEC.