LSU’s offense is leaning on Dilin Jones in more ways than one, and the Wisconsin transfer has become one of the Tigers’ most useful pieces as the unit keeps sorting itself out early in the season.
Through four starts, Jones has piled up 368 rushing yards and four touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. He’s also chipped in as a receiver, catching nine passes for 43 yards. That production has made him a steady presence in an offense that has been reshaped by elite transfer portal additions this offseason.
What stands out now is how LSU is using him beyond the obvious running back workload. Jones has emerged as a go-to option for Sam Leavitt to start drives, especially with tight end Trey'Dez Green out long term and the wide receiver group still developing. At the same time, Jones has also been asked to function almost like an extra blocker when the offense needs protection.
“I mean, we got to keep the quarterback safe. And then it's just like when I go out there, it's like being another old lineman. I'm going out there hunting, looking for somebody to get,” said Jones during Tuesday's media session.
That mindset fits the way LSU is deploying him. Jones is lining up where defenders have to account for him quickly, and when the Tigers open things up through the air, he becomes part of the protection plan that gives Leavitt time to operate. It’s a different kind of value than just carrying the ball, but it’s one that’s clearly important to the way this offense is being built right now.
Jones is also handling the quarterback rotation without making much of it. LSU has been mixing Leavitt and backup quarterback Landen Clark into specific play calls, with Clark later taking over the rest of the game in blowout wins. Jones says the transition is seamless.
“I feel like it's the exact same. It ain't no drop-off.....
He can do the same thing. He can run the ball.
He can throw. He's smart.
He prepares the exact same way Sam does,” said Jones.
For Jones, the name under center doesn’t change his approach. Whether it’s Leavitt or Clark, he’s been productive, versatile, and central to what LSU is trying to do on offense.
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LSU Suddenly Has Real QB Intrigue Before McNeese
LSU heads into Saturday nights game against McNeese with more uncertainty at quarterback than anyone expected this week. The Tigers are set for a 6:45 p.m. kickoff in Death Valley, but the main storyline isnt the matchup itself so much as who Lane Kiffin will put behind center after Sam Leavitts recent left hamstring injury opened the door for questions about the depth chart.
Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet have both entered the conversation, and Kiffin still has not made a decision on the starter. McNeese brings its own established signal-caller in Devin Lippold, a third-year quarterback with a steady season to this point, but for LSU the intrigue is all about whether the Tigers can navigate the week cleanly enough to get the right answer before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Quarterback Situation Just Got More Interesting Before McNeese
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The bigger question for LSU is how much the offense might need to lean on depth behind Leavitt if he is not fully ready to handle his usual workload. Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet are both candidates to see the field, which gives the Tigers a little more insurance but also leaves some uncertainty in a position group that will be closely watched once kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
LSU May Have Found A New Defensive Contributor Fans Should Watch
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Thomas prepared for the expanded look by studying film and leaning on veteran teammates, while also drawing on the guidance of his father, former NFL defensive back Fred Thomas. For LSU, it is the kind of progression coaches like to see from a young recruit becoming a real contributor, and it gives the defense another name worth tracking as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]