Ex-Penn State football assistant’s NFL stint ends after one season

Less than one year after he left Happy Valley for the NFL, John Scott Jr. will be looking for a new job. The former Penn State football assistant coach was replaced as the Detroit Lions defensive line coach last week after just one season. Scott spent three years with James Franklin and the Nittany Lions before moving on to the NFL last February. 

Former Penn State football assistant John Scott Jr. let go by Detroit Lions after one season

Last week, the Detroit Lions announced several changes to its defensive staff, including the addition of Terrell Williams to coach the team’s defensive line. The move means the organization is parting ways with John Scott Jr. after just one season. 

Although the Lions made a run to the NFC Championship game in 2023, Detroit struggled to generate a pass rush, ranking in the bottom half of the NFL with 41 sacks on the year. The Lions have removed John Scott Jr. from the team’s staff directory since Williams’ hiring was made official last Wednesday.

John Scott Jr. went to the NFL after three seasons with James Franklin on the Penn State football staff. During his last season with the Nittany Lions in 2022, Penn State finished No. 16 in total defense and ranked top five in sacks and tackles for loss. 

“I would like to thank John for everything he has contributed to our program over the past three years,” James Franklin wrote following Scott’s departure last February. “This was a great opportunity for him in the NFL, and I wish him and his family nothing but the best.”

Deion Barnes “way ahead of expectations”

Of course, James Franklin replaced John Scott Jr. with Penn State football letterman Deion Barnes last March. In his first season as a college position coach, Barnes exceeded expectations by all accounts. 

“His players love him. He’s very, very, very demanding,” Franklin said of Barnes during preseason camp. “He’s very transparent and authentic with them, which I think is important.

“There’s an adjustment period, but he’s handled it extremely well. He’s probably way ahead of where most people would expect and anticipate. That’s coaching 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.”

The Nittany Lions fielded an elite defensive unit in 2023, ranking top five in practically every major statistical category. Barnes coached two potential early-round NFL Draft picks on the line this fall in Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac, who combined for 23.5 tackles for a loss. 

Deion Barnes has also seen early success on the recruiting trail. Penn State football signed a top 15 class in 2024, including Liam Andrews, one of the highest-rated defensive line prospects in the region. 

The Nittany Lions currently have the No. 5 class in the 2025 cycle, according to 247Sports. Franklin and his staff will look to push for multiple top prospects in the coming months, including top 10 defensive lineman Trent Wilson, who is locked in for a visit for April’s Blue-White Game and use Roobet promo code.

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