Marshall Faulk Adds Former Pro Bowl Offensive Lineman to Southern Coaching Staff

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Marshall Faulk Adds Former Pro Bowl Offensive Lineman to Southern Coaching Staff

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pro Bowl offensive tackle Donald Penn is joining Marshall Faulk’s staff at Southern as the Jaguars’ offensive line coach.

Penn, who turns 43 in April, has never served as a position coach at any level. His only coaching experience came during the summer of 2024, when he worked with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive line as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.

Although Penn lacks formal coaching experience, he brings extensive playing credentials to Southern. A Utah State Hall of Famer, Penn played 13 seasons in the NFL, spending his first seven years with the Buccaneers before joining the then-Oakland Raiders ahead of the 2014 season. He finished his career with Washington in 2019 and signed a one-day contract to retire with the Raiders in 2021.

A Southern official confirmed Penn’s hire to The Advocate (La.) on Sunday, Dec. 28. Another former NFL player, Bennie Logan, will coach Southern’s defensive line. Logan, an All-American at LSU, recorded seven sacks and forced three fumbles over six NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, and Tennessee Titans from 2013 through 2018.

Oakland Raiders offensive tackle Donald PennRich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Faulk also added a familiar face to his staff, hiring Josh Covington as running backs coach. Covington previously worked with Faulk at Colorado.

What to Know About Donald Penn and the Southern Jaguars

Despite earning all-Western Athletic Conference honors as a left tackle at Utah State, Penn went undrafted in 2006. He went on to become a durable NFL starter and earned more than $60 million over the course of his professional career. Penn also occasionally lined up as a goal-line target, catching six passes for four touchdowns.

Penn joins a Southern program seeking its first conference championship since 2013 and its first Black national title since 2003. Former Sacramento State offensive coordinator Ken Merchant is expected to hold the same position with the Jaguars, while Faulk’s former Rams teammate, Todd Lyght, will serve as defensive coordinator.

Southern is also expected to add Curtis Johnson as general manager/assistant head coach, Ben Miles as tight ends coach, and Anthony Balancier as defensive backs coach. Miles, a former Kansas fullback and the son of longtime LSU coach Les Miles, previously coached at Florida State and Texas A&M.

Southern went 2-10 (1-7 in SWAC play) last season, its first losing record since 2021. Faulk replaces Terrence Graves, who was fired after a 1-6 start; the Jaguars went 1-4 under interim coach Fred McNair.

As of publication, only two games have been confirmed on Southern’s 2026 schedule: a Sept. 12 matchup against Houston and a Nov. 28 meeting with Grambling State in the Bayou Classic.

Related: Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk Makes Surprising Staff Hire at Southern

Related: Tulane Set to Hire Former Kirby Smart Assistant After College Football Playoff Loss

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the College section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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