So far Mel Tucker’s staff at Michigan State looks a lot like Mark Dantonio’s 2019 staff, but that could be changing.
Well, sort of.
Tucker has hired two assistant coaches–that we know of–and both were a part of Mark Dantonio’s 2019 group of assistants, defensive line coach Ron Burton and former defensive coordinator Mike Tressel. Tressel’s role has yet to be announced, but there is speculation he could return to coaching linebackers, a position he coached in addition to his defensive coordinator duties. As Tucker continues to fill out his staff, speculation around a former Michigan State defensive assistant is ramping up thanks to a photo from the Michigan State basketball team’s game against Maryland.
Yes, that’s former Michigan State co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett sitting with Burton at the Michigan State vs. Maryland game Saturday. If you look closely, Barnett is wearing a Michigan State shirt under his jacket. Could a return to East Lansing be imminent for Barnett?
A potential Barnett return would be welcome by many Spartans. A number of his former players publicly campaigned for him to get the head coaching job last week. Michigan State had two corners get drafted in the first round under Barnett and Darqueze Dennard won the Thorpe Award as the top defensive back in the country in 2013. Barnett was rated the 32nd-best recruiter in the country in 2019 by 24/7.
Barnett left Michigan State after the 2017 season to be the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Florida State. Barnett was not retained after former FSU coach Willie Taggart was fired and is currently without a coaching job.
