Awards and Honors:
Athletics Director's Honor Roll (S24)
2024: Started all six games he appeared in before missing the final six games of the season due to injury… Made three tackles and broke up two passes against Southern Illinois (Sept. 7)… Had a season-high six tackles, including four solo stops, at West Georgia (Oct. 5)… Finished the season with 18 tackles and seven solo stops.
Prior to Austin Peay: Began his career at Shaw University (2021-22) before transferring to Notre Dame College (2023) for one season. 2023: Played in five games for the Falcons… Had a season-best five tackles and a fumble recovery in his debut against Ohio Dominican (Sept. 2)… Had two tackles and a tackle for loss against West Virginia Wesleyan (Sept. 9)… Had four tackles and a tackle for loss at Glenville State (Sept. 16)… Recorded three tackles and a tackle for loss against Fairmont State (Sept. 23)… Picked up four tackles in his final appearance at Frostburg State (Sept. 30)… Finished the season with 18 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery. 2022: Played in 10 games for the Bears… Recorded five tackles in the season opener against Wingate (Sept. 3)… Added five tackles and a tackle for loss at Wayne State (Sept. 10)… Picked up five tackles against Bowie State (Sept. 17) and Virginia State (Oct. 1)… Totaled five tackles and half a sack against Johnson C. Smith (Oct. 8)… Tallied six tackles and a 1.5 tackles for loss at Winston-Salem (Oct. 15)… Posted a career-best 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and a pass breakup at Fayetteville State (Oct. 29)… Added six tackles, a tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery at Saint Augustine’s (Nov. 5)… Finished the season with 54 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and a fumble recovery. 2021: Played in eight games in his first season at Shaw… Had a tackle in his collegiate debut at Wingate (Sept. 2)… Picked up two tackles at Lincoln (PA) (Sept. 25)… Added two tackles and a tackle for loss at Livingstone (Oct. 16)… Tallied a season-bst three tackles against Johnson C. Smith (Oct. 23)…. Finished the season with 10 tackles and a tackle for loss.
High School: Played offensive and defensive line for head coach Joe Nixon at Mooresville High School in Mooresville, North Carolina… Twice named an all-conference and all-county selection as a defensive lineman… Also competed in wrestling and track & field for the Blue Devils. Â
Personal: Za’Heir Barnes-Vaughn is the son of Eboni Barnes and Qu-ran Vaughn… Birthday is Oct. 19… Has two siblings, IBN Barnes-Vaughn and Qu-ana Vaughn… A general studies major with a survey of health concentration.
