With kickoff against Clemson now 25 days away, LSU’s jersey countdown turns to No. 25, and the Tigers have a couple of very different young pieces tied to that number.
On the current roster, the number belongs first to running back Rod Gainey Jr. LSU brought back its top two backs, but the room behind them got a full reset, and Gainey is part of that new layer of depth.
He arrives after leading Charlotte in rushing last season with 260 yards and a touchdown on 74 carries. The setting wasn’t exactly friendly - Charlotte had one of the worst offenses in the country - but Gainey still flashed enough to matter.
He may not get many touches this season, but he does have three years of eligibility left, and the chance to develop in LSU’s offense should serve him better than staying put with the 49ers.
The other current No. 25 is safety Aiden Hall, a name LSU fans will want to know. He comes out of New Orleans with the kind of upside that makes him a natural fit for the Tigers’ secondary.
At Edna Karr, Hall was a defensive difference-maker and a four-star recruit almost across the board. He shared the field with fellow freshman Richard Anderson on a defense that rolled to back-to-back Louisiana state titles.
That kind of winning background matters, and LSU clearly saw the value in landing one of the state’s best athletes rather than simply chasing rankings.
The list of former No. 25s brings a much bigger name: YA Tittle. From 1944 to 1947, Tittle was one of the program’s first true stars, long before Billy Cannon arrived.
He earned two All-SEC nods at quarterback and was named MVP of the 1947 Cotton Bowl, a 0-0 tie played through weather that made every trip inside the red zone a grind. Tittle later built a Pro Football Hall of Fame career in the NFL, where he played 17 seasons, won an MVP, earned three All-Pro selections and made seven Pro Bowls.
In Other News...
LSU Inherits A Quarterback Storyline Lane Kiffin No Longer Controls
Trinidad Chambliss arrived at Ole Miss as one of the more interesting quarterback additions in the SEC, a spring 2025 transfer from Division II Ferris State who quickly turned himself into a real storyline. His rise has already drawn plenty of attention, but not everyone around the league views it as simply a product of Lane Kiffins system. One anonymous SEC coach pointed to Chamblisss natural talent and playmaking ability as the bigger reason for his success, a reminder that the quarterback himself has done more than just benefit from the right play sheet.
That angle matters even more now that Kiffin has left Ole Miss for LSU, where the Rebels new offensive playcaller will be John David Baker. For LSU, the move created an unexpected subplot to keep an eye on, because Chambliss is no longer tied to the coach many people associated with his rise. The question hanging over the next chapter is whether his production travels with him when the architect of the old offense is gone and the new one takes over. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Faces An Early Receiver Concern As Clemson Prep Intensifies
LSU moved into its sixth fall-camp practice with the first full-pads session Wednesday, a useful checkpoint as the Tigers keep sharpening things for the season opener against Clemson. The wide receiver group is already getting a close look, and junior Malik Elzy has been a steady target as LSU works through its early camp rhythm. Elsewhere, injured players Gabriel Reliford and Aidan Anding were seen on stationary bikes, while freshman Jaiden Braker has been adjusting to a new home on the defensive side of the ball after switching from linebacker to defensive end.
The more immediate concern is at receiver, where Winston Watkins Jr. was absent again for a second straight practice. LSU does not have much time to let any camp absence linger with Clemson looming, so every rep matters now, especially as the Tigers try to sort out who is ready to handle the load when the opener arrives. Watkins availability will be worth watching as camp intensity rises and the depth chart starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]