Lane Kiffin Zeroes In on Sterling Lucas to Anchor LSU’s Defensive Line
BATON ROUGE - Lane Kiffin is steadily piecing together his first on-field staff at LSU, and one of the final puzzle pieces on the defensive side could be close to falling into place. Multiple reports indicate that Kiffin is targeting South Carolina’s Sterling Lucas to coach LSU’s interior defensive linemen. While no deal is finalized yet, momentum is clearly building.
Lucas brings a strong résumé to the table. Since 2022, he’s been part of Shane Beamer’s staff at South Carolina, initially overseeing edge rushers and more recently serving as the Gamecocks’ defensive run game coordinator under defensive coordinator Clayton White.
His work has helped develop some serious SEC talent - including Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart, both of whom earned All-SEC recognition during their time under Lucas. This season, Stewart and Bryan Thomas Jr. both made the All-SEC team, a testament to Lucas’ ability to elevate his players to elite levels.
At LSU, Lucas is expected to shift his focus from the edge to the interior, complementing current defensive ends coach Kevin Peoples. With Peoples handling the outside and Lucas potentially anchoring the inside, Kiffin is crafting a defensive front with depth, experience, and proven player development.
This would also mark the final full-time defensive staff hire for Kiffin, who’s largely choosing continuity for his first season in Baton Rouge. Defensive coordinator Blake Baker - fresh off a new three-year, $9.3 million extension - remains the centerpiece of the defensive brain trust. That deal makes Baker one of the highest-paid assistants in the country, and it signals Kiffin’s commitment to building around a stable, experienced defensive core.
Also expected to stay on board: Peoples, cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond, and safeties coach Jake Olsen. That trio, along with Baker, provides a strong foundation of familiarity and expertise - something Kiffin clearly values as he transitions into his new role.
On the offensive side, the final piece of the staff puzzle is the running backs coach. Interim head coach Frank Wilson currently holds that title and will lead the Tigers in the Texas Bowl against Houston later this month. However, Wilson is expected to join the Ole Miss staff following the bowl game, leaving that position open heading into 2026.
As for Lucas, his coaching path has taken him through some respected stops. Before South Carolina, he spent time in the NFL, coaching with the Jacksonville Jaguars and spending five years with the Baltimore Ravens - two organizations known for their defensive pedigree.
If LSU does finalize the hire, Lucas would bring NFL experience, SEC player development success, and a clear understanding of what it takes to build a dominant front. For a program like LSU - where trench play has long been a calling card - that kind of addition could be a major win.