Few LSU players enter this season with more pressure on their shoulders than Harlem Berry.
The sophomore running back arrived in Baton Rouge with the kind of résumé that turns heads fast: a former five-star recruit and Louisiana’s Gatorade Player of the Year. That kind of pedigree brings expectations with it, and Berry’s freshman year gave LSU just enough to believe while still leaving plenty on the table.
He did not take the easy way out in the offseason, either. Berry had the option to enter the portal and decided against it, staying at LSU after the coaching change and returning to work under Lane Kiffin’s staff with a new backfield coach. He also turned down transfer interest from Ole Miss, choosing competition in Baton Rouge over a reset somewhere else.
Now the spotlight is on what he does next.
Berry’s first season was uneven, but the upside was real. He finished second on the team with 491 rushing yards and 104 carries, and he led LSU in yards per rush at 4.7.
Halfway through the year, he became the Tigers’ most productive runner, then really started to settle in over the final six games. He led LSU in rushing in four of those contests and looked like a back growing more comfortable inside the offense.
That production mattered even more because of the environment around him. Berry put up those numbers behind one of the worst offensive lines in program history, in what was also one of the least effective LSU offenses in recent memory. In that light, the efficiency stands out.
The bigger question now is what that efficiency looks like over a full season.
LSU’s new staff has a strong history with running backs. Kiffin’s offenses have produced a 1,000-yard rusher in three of the last four seasons.
But none of that guarantees anything for Berry. He still has to prove he belongs near the top of the depth chart.
He spent the spring battling daily for the starting job and rotated through LSU’s first three units as the competition played out. On top of that, he added more than 10 pounds during winter workouts, giving him a stronger frame heading into a season that feels like a turning point.
For Berry, the next few months are about turning promise into production. If he doesn’t, there’s a real chance he gets buried on the depth chart by the end of the year.
In Other News...
LSU Just Won Another Big In-State Battle In The Secondary
LSUs push to stay ahead of the curve in the secondary picked up another important in-state win, and this one fits the long view the staff has been selling. The Tigers have been working not just on the upcoming season, but on the 2027 cycle as well, and adding a highly regarded Louisiana defensive back keeps that pipeline moving in the right direction.
The latest commitment also gives LSU a chance to think beyond the immediate depth chart. The prospect arrives with plenty of room to grow and should have time to develop before he is asked to make a real impact, and there is at least some built-in familiarity around the program with his brother already on the roster. For a team trying to stack talent in the state and keep the secondary stocked for years to come, it is the kind of move that can pay off in more ways than one. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Opener Already Has Clemson Facing Massive Pressure
Clemsons season opener against LSU is already carrying the kind of weight that usually comes later in the fall, with ESPN and ACC Network analyst EJ Manuel calling it a must-win game for the Tigers playoff hopes. With LSU on the other sideline, the matchup gives Clemson an early chance to build a rsum that could matter plenty if the ACC schedule gets messy down the line, and it also arrives with plenty of attention on how the offense will look under returning coordinator Chad Morris.
The quarterback picture is part of why the buildup feels so unsettled. Christopher Vizzina is viewed as the favorite to start, but Tait Reynolds is considered a real challenger, and Clemsons decision not to send a quarterback to ACC Kickoff only added to the sense that the competition is still open. For a team trying to make a statement right away, the opener now feels like more than just a high-profile game - it is also an early test of how quickly Clemson can settle its most important position. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs Running Back Battle Just Took A Frustrating New Turn
LSUs running back room has become one of the more interesting parts of the roster heading into the fall, and not just because of the names on it. Dilin Jones arrives from Wisconsin with a rsum that includes seven starts, 300 rushing yards and two touchdowns before a toe injury ended his season, while Caden Durham and Harlem Berry both bring their own flashes from last year. Add in the extra portal help LSU brought in, and there is no shortage of bodies for a staff that wants competition to sort out the depth chart.
Still, the frustration comes from how hard it is to know what the Tigers will actually get once the games start. Durham never topped 70 rushing yards in any of LSUs final nine games after his 95-yard outing against Florida, and Berrys best moments were often swallowed up by game flow, including the Texas A&M matchup when he was rolling before the run game faded from the plan. Lane Kiffins approach is to give everyone a fresh chance, but for LSU, the real question is whether that reset leads to clarity or just a longer wait for answers. [Read more 🡒]