Deion Barnes lending football experience to Northeast

Former Penn State defensive end Deion Barnes is serving as a volunteer assistant coach at Northeast High, his alma mater, this season.

The 6-foot-4, 255-pounder, who signed a free-agent deal with the New York Jets in 2015 and spent a year with the club's practice squad, is working with the Vikings' defensive linemen and receivers.

"It's going well," said Barnes, sporting a full beard and looking in top physical condition. "I look forward to doing it every day. I like watching the kids grow as players and young men."

Barnes' final season at Penn State was in 2014. He registered 44 tackles, with 12 1/2 stops for loss, six sacks, and three quarterback hurries in 13 games. He was an all-Big Ten honorable mention selection.

Barnes finished his three seasons in State College with 98 tackles, with 26 1/2 for loss, and 14 sacks. He was named the conference's freshman of the year in 2012.

Barnes bypassed his last year of eligibility with the Nittany Lions to enter the NFL draft. He wasn't picked but received a call from the Jets to go to Florham Park, N.J., and vie for a roster spot as an outside linebacker.

Barnes was cut by the Jets before last season. Some questioned his decision to forgo another season at Penn State and a chance to improve his draft stock.

"That's how I felt at the time," the 24-year-old Barnes said. "That's what was in my heart. I feel like I made the right decision. I just didn't do enough to stick with an NFL team."

At Northeast, Barnes started overseeing weightlifting sessions three days a week in January.

"He's always kind of been around the program," Vikings head coach Phil Gormley said. "Although he graduated, he would regularly come back."

Barnes, who was an Inquirer first-team all-Southeastern Pennsylvania selection in 2010, graduated Penn State with a degree in recreation, parks and tourism management.

With his aid, Northeast is 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the Public League Independence Division. The Vikings topped host Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, 25-24, in a nonleague contest Friday afternoon.

Gormley credited Barnes with the considerable improvement of senior two-way end DeShawn McCarthy.

"He's made leaps and bounds since Deion came on board," the coach said.

Barnes, who lives near Temple University Hospital in North Philly, spent a week last October with the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad. He still trains and lifts weights at a King of Prussia facility.

"I'm in good shape," he said. "If a call comes from an NFL team, I'll be ready."

Former Neshaminy athletic director and field hockey coach Sheila Murphy will be inducted into the Bucks County chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame on Oct. 28 in Williamsport.

St. Basil Academy athletic director Hugh McGovern and La Salle lacrosse coaches Bill Leahy and Tony Resch will be among 10 persons inducted into the Montgomery County chapter Friday night at the Valley Forge Casino Resort.

McGovern, who was also the AD at Springfield-Montco, was a track and field standout at Father Judge (Class of 1964), concentrating on the 400- and 880-yard runs, before starring at Nebraska. He was an NCAA all-American in the 4×880 relay in 1968 for the Cornhuskers.

McGovern is in his 10th year as Basil's AD.

"It's a great place to be," he said. "I couldn't have picked a better place to end my career."

As head coach at La Salle, Leahy guided the Explorers to state titles in 2004, 2008, 2009, and 2013. He played for the Philadelphia Wings from 1994 to 1996.

Resch, who is a La Salle associate head coach, also played for the Wings and was named to the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame in 2008. The former Yale headliner coached the Wings from 1994 to 2001.

Marple Newtown's Anthony Paoletti became the all-time passing leader in Delaware County in Friday night's 34-31 loss to Central League rival Garnet Valley.

With 252 passing yards against the Jaguars, Paoletti upped his career total to 6,106. That broke the old mark set by Marple Newtown head coach Chris Gicking. Gicking threw for 5,897 yards for the Tigers from 1993 to 1995, according to the Delaware County Daily Times.

Lincoln's Sam Karr set a new Public League record with 416 rushing yards on just 21 carries in Friday afternoon's 48-22 road victory over National Division rival George Washington.

The 5-10, 185-pound senior halfback ran for seven touchdowns in the process. His scores covered 1, 10, 33, 15, 80, 55, and 50 yards.