Darius Eubanks, a Georgia Southern alum and a former outside linebacker in the NFL, serves as the linebackers coach and the defensive run game coordinator for the Eagle football program. He returned to Statesboro after stops at Liberty and Georgia State during his early coaching career.
In 2024, Eubanks moved to the linebackers coach and the results were immediate. Marques Watson-Trent led the conference in tackles and was named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year while fellow starter Davon Gilmore also earned all-conference honors.
In 2023, Eubanks served as the defensive secondary coach and led a group that finished in the top 30 nationally in passes intercepted. The group was led by all-conference safety TJ Smith who had three picks and cornerback Shemar Bartholomew tied for the league lead in pass breakups and went on to play for the Carolina Panthers.Â
In 2022, Eubanks was part of the Liberty staff that led the Flames to an 8-5 record, including an appearance in the Boca Raton Bowl. As the defensive backs coach, Eubanks helped mentor Robert Rahimi, who was 11th in the country with five interceptions.Â
The Flames finished 14th in the FBS in turnovers gained, 22nd in interceptions, 23rd in passing efficiency defense and 35th in total defense.Â
Eubanks coached at Georgia State in 2021, helping the Panthers to an 8-5 record, including a win over 51-20 win over Ball State in the Camellia Bowl. The Panthers ranked No. 15 in the country in tackles for a loss (7.1 per game) and No. 23 in sacks (2.92). Georgia State had 10 interceptions in 2021 and ranked No. 30 nationally in turnovers gained (21).
While at Georgia State, safety Antavious Lane was a first-team All-Sun Belt honoree after finishing the year fourth in the country in interceptions with five.
Prior to his stint in Atlanta, Eubanks spent three seasons (2018-20) on the defensive staff at Samford under former Eagle head coach Chris Hatcher but landed at Georgia State from Western Carolina, where he was hired in the spring of 2021 as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
At Samford, Eubanks coached the safeties for two seasons (2018-19) and then served as the defensive backs coach and assistant special teams coordinator in the 2020 season that was played in spring of 2021 due to COVID.Â
Under Eubanks’ coaching, Samford’s Chris Edmonds earned All-America honors and was a first-team All-Southern Conference selection after ranking second nationally in the FCS in interceptions with four.
Eubanks began his coaching career as the defensive line graduate assistant at Arkansas in 2017.
Following a stellar career at Georgia Southern, Eubanks signed with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent in 2013. He spent his NFL career (2013-16) with the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A four-year starter at linebacker and defensive back at Georgia Southern (2009-12), Eubanks started 50 of 52 games played for the Eagles. He totaled 260 tackles, including 12.5 for loss, recorded four interceptions and broke up 18 passes during his career. The Eagles made it to the FCS semifinals in his final three seasons.
Eubanks ranked in the top five on the team in total tackles every season with a career-best 77 as a senior in 2013 en route to First-Team All-Southern Conference honors from the league’s head coaches.
A native of Thomson, Georgia, Eubanks earned his bachelor’s in sport management from Georgia Southern in 2013.
THE EUBANKS FILE
Personal
Hometown: Thomson, Ga.
Born: July 12, 1991 in Fort Knox, Ky.
College: Georgia Southern (2013)
Playing Experience
Georgia Southern (2009-12)
Minnesota Vikings (2013)
Cleveland Browns (2013–2015)
Dallas Cowboys (2015)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2016)
Coaching Experience
2024-: Georgia Southern (linebackers/run game coordinator)
2023: Georgia Southern (safeties & nickels)
2022: Liberty (defensive backs)
2021: Georgia State (safeties)
2021 (spring): Samford (defensive backs/assistant special teams coordinator)
2018-19: Samford (safeties)
2017: Arkansas (defensive line G.A.)
College Bowl/Playoff Experience
Coach
2024: New Orleans (GS vs. Sam Houston)
2023: Myrtle Beach (GS vs. Ohio)
2022: Boca Raton (Liberty vs. Toledo)
2021: Camellia (Georgia State vs. Ball State)
Player
2012: FCS Semifinals (Georgia Southern)
2011: FCS Semifinals (Georgia Southern)
2010: FCS Semifinals (Georgia Southern)
Prominent Pupils
McTelvin Agim (DL) - Indianapolis Colts
Daijahn Anthony (DB) - Cincinnati Bengals
Shemar Bartholomew (DB) - Carolina Panthers
Chris Edmonds (DB) - Cleveland Browns
Armon Watts (DL) - Chicago Bears
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