Lane Kiffin’s arrival at LSU is going to bring plenty of attention, but the most immediate upgrade may come in the part of the offense the Tigers needed most: the run game.
LSU is just a week away from opening the Lane Kiffin era, and the program is making a major bet that his offense can help turn the Tigers into a true contender. That push included a talented roster build this offseason and real investment in the transfer portal. But the simplest fix might be the one Kiffin is best equipped to deliver.
Last season, LSU averaged only 104 rushing yards per game, the fewest in the SEC. That kind of production left the Tigers searching for someone who could breathe life into the ground game, and Kiffin’s track record suggests he’s up for exactly that job.
He’s often labeled as a coach who wants to throw it all over the yard, but that’s only part of the picture. Kiffin made clear on the first day of fall camp that the run game matters to him.
"I think that running the ball is very critical," Kiffin said. "Each year is different based on your team, your situation, your personnel you have for us...To me, when we've been really good, you've got to be able to run the ball in critical situations."
That philosophy showed up consistently during his Ole Miss run. Since 2020, the Rebels ranked in the SEC’s top six in rushing yards per game, and Kiffin led the conference twice, in 2020 and 2022. Along the way, he helped develop productive backs such as Kewan Lacy and Quinshon Judkins.
LSU has pieces in place for him to work with. The Tigers can rotate three backs - Dilin Jones, Harlem Berry and Caden Durham - with Durham and Berry handling much of the rushing load a year ago. Jones arrives from Wisconsin and has become an interesting name to watch.
How the carries get divided is still up in the air, but Jones made a strong impression on the coaching staff during fall camp and could emerge as the leader of the room, with Durham and Berry sharing work behind him.
For Berry and Durham, the issue wasn’t talent so much as the situation around them. With a better offense around them and a dual-threat quarterback in Sam Leavitt, LSU’s backs should find more space to work with.
Kiffin has been brought in to change the program, and that goes far beyond one season or one side of the ball. Still, if LSU gets the rushing attack back on track, that could be the clearest early sign that the hire is working.
In Other News...
Former LSU Standouts Are Turning Preseason Chances Into Real NFL Momentum
Training camp headlines can blur together fast, but a handful of former LSU standouts have given themselves a much better shot at sticking in the NFL with strong preseason showings. Jack Pyburn, Barion Brown and Zavion Thomas all made noise in different uniforms, and each turned early opportunities into production that caught attention beyond the usual August noise.
Pyburn finished with four sacks for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brown chipped in multiple catches and a rushing touchdown for the New Orleans Saints, and Thomas was especially productive for the Chicago Bears with five receptions for 140 yards and a score. For LSU fans, it is the kind of preseason development worth tracking closely, because performances like these can be the difference between a practice-squad wait and a real roster spot. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Kellys First Post-LSU Move Will Spark Plenty Of Reactions
Brian Kellys first fall away from the sideline came with a headset instead of a play sheet, as he made his debut as a college football color commentator on CBS for the North Dakota State-Jacksonville State game. For a coach who had not spent a season outside the profession since the late 1970s, the shift was a notable one, and it immediately gave LSU fans a different way to watch the former Tigers coach start his next chapter.
Kelly said he knows there is work to do on the broadcasting side, but he also sounded appreciative of the help he received from his CBS colleagues. The move comes after a long coaching run and his recent departure from LSU, so seeing him in the booth instead of on the sideline is bound to draw reactions in Baton Rouge and beyond as his post-LSU path begins to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Could Get A Huge Pass Rush Boost Right Before The Opener
With NFL teams trimming down to their 53-man rosters, former LSU defensive end Jack Pyburn is suddenly in play again. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived him as they finalized their roster, and if he clears waivers, the plan is for him to head back to Baton Rouge just before the Tigers open the season.
For LSU, the timing could hardly be better. The SECs recent decision to allow players on NFL rosters to return to college football opened the door for Pyburn and other former NFL players to rejoin the Tigers, giving the defense a chance to pick up a significant boost right as the opener approaches. The only question now is how quickly everything falls into place. [Read more 🡒]