Penn State picks former end Torrence Brown to fill open graduate assistant job
Penn State football is bringing another former player back as a member of its staff. Onetime Nittany Lions’ defensive end Torrence Brown has been hired as the Lions’ new graduate assistant, BWI has learned.
Brown replaced Deion Barnes, who held the position previously. Barnes, of course, maxed out his time as a ‘GA’ and briefly moved into an analyst role before being hired as the defensive line coach on Monday.
Brown was previously a grad assistant under former Lions assistant Charles Huff at Marshall. He is expected to work in tandem with Barnes along the defensive line in State College. A Tuscaloosa, Ala., native, Brown saw his career end early after suffering an ACL tear early in the 2017 season. He made 52 tackles total in blue and white and recorded two sacks.
“[Medical retirement] can be a choice that you made, but it wasn’t my choice,” Brown told The Daily Collegian. “Mine was more of the damage to my knee. With all the damage to my knee over the years, the doctors thought it was in my best interest not to play anymore. They made the decision for me not to be able to play at Penn State anymore.”
However, Brown did return. He played one more season at Southern Miss before joining the Thundering Herd coaching staff. And, he looks at the injury as something that helped lead him into that part of his football life.
“When I got hurt, I kind of got a chance to see it from the other side,” Brown told The Daily Collegian. “I became an undergraduate assistant at Penn State where I helped out with practice a little bit.
“I knew that was something that I wanted to do. So, as of right now, it’s something I’m pursuing, and I’m all in.”
Tuesday BWI Live Show: Penn State lands on Deion Barnes for DL
Penn State coaching staff is now complete
Penn State’s on-field coaching staff is now complete with the hire of Barnes and Brown. The Lions do still have an off-field analyst role to fill with spring practice kicking off on Tuesday and continuing through the Blue-White game on April 15. But, the on-field part is done. And, it includes numerous former players, as does the team’s recruiting and analytics staffs.
“We are excited to have Deion represent his alma mater as our defensive line coach,” Franklin said of hiring Barnes. “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.”
