Lane Kiffin’s arrival is set to reshape LSU’s offense in a way fans may not fully appreciate until the Tigers line up in 2026. The biggest change might not be at quarterback or wide receiver. It could be in the backfield, where LSU is counting on a complete reset after finishing with the SEC’s worst ground game in 2025.
That’s the challenge Kiffin is taking on as he brings in offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. and pushes LSU toward a faster, more aggressive style. The Tigers have long been known more for defense than offense, with only the rare exception of the two Heisman-winning quarterbacks they had over the last decade. Now the expectation is different, and the run game is central to making it work.
LSU’s top three backs for 2026 are sophomore Harlem Berry, junior Caden Durham and Wisconsin transfer Dilin Jones. Behind them sit Stacy Gage, Joseph Ebun, Rod Gainey Jr. and Raycine Guillory Jr. The depth is there, but the real question is how Kiffin uses the group and which traits become most valuable in his system.
Physicality is going to matter a lot. With run-pass options built into the offense, the backs won’t just be asked to carry the ball - they’ll need to handle blocking responsibilities when the play turns into a pass. That kind of all-around work is part of the job now.
Durham looks like the most natural fit in the passing game. He had a disappointing sophomore season and had started to be overshadowed by Berry, but he enters what could be his final year at LSU with something to prove.
In 2024, he caught 28 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns. Last season, that dropped to 16 receptions for 91 yards.
Even so, his receiving production still stands well above the other backs who have a real chance to start.
Berry and Jones should carry a heavy load on the ground, and LSU will likely rotate them to keep both fresh. They are the team’s best pure runners, and the pace of the offense will make that rotation even more important. Both had begun adjusting to the tempo during spring practices.
Jones, in particular, looks built for the system. Gap blocking is a major piece of Kiffin’s run game, and his quick decision-making and patience should serve him well there. Berry brings similar traits, which is why he also projects as a strong match for what Kiffin wants from his backs.
LSU’s running game has to be different this time around. Based on the personnel and the system, it looks like it will be.
In Other News...
Lane Kiffin Is Chasing A Recruit LSU Fans Cannot Lose
LSUs new recruiting push under Lane Kiffin has already zeroed in on one of the biggest names in the country, and Easton Royal sits near the top of that list. The five-star receiver from New Orleans is committed to Texas, but he remains a player the Tigers are watching closely as they try to build momentum in Kiffins first cycle and land a centerpiece for the 2026 class.
Royals profile alone makes him hard to ignore. He is ranked as the No. 1 receiver and No. 3 overall prospect in the 2027 class, and his Louisiana roots only add to the appeal for LSU. The interest has not faded, either, with Royal continuing to show signs that the Tigers are still very much in the mix as this recruitment develops. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Just Planted Another Flag In Nikes Elite Future
Nikes inaugural Blue Ribbon Elite Football roster already has a distinctly LSU feel to it. The company announced 11 Tigers are part of the first wave, the biggest group from any school, giving LSU another marker of how much national attention its roster continues to draw. The mix includes returning players and newcomers, with names such as Harlem Berry, Caden Durham, TreyDez Green and Jordan Seaton among the early selections.
For LSU, the headline is less about a single player than the breadth of the programs presence in Nikes new push. The roster is built to grow, and the full list of Tigers set to participate in 2026-27 is expected closer to the start of the school year. Even so, landing the largest share of any school in the launch group is another sign LSU keeps showing up where the sports biggest brands want to plant their flag. [Read more 🡒]
What LSU Fans Need To Know About Tre Brown III
LSU added another transfer portal piece to its receiver room in Tre Brown III, a former Old Dominion standout who arrives with the kind of profile this offense can use on the outside. Brown took the JUCO route before landing at Old Dominion and then put together his first FBS season there, building a reputation for winning contested balls and creating chunk plays down the field.
For LSU, the appeal is pretty clear: Brown looks like a receiver who can work primarily out wide and stretch defenses vertically while giving the Tigers a target who is comfortable playing through contact. He was graded as one of the better receivers available in the portal, and his fit in Baton Rouge will come down to how quickly he can translate that big-play ability into a new system. [Read more 🡒]