LSU is turning back the clock - and bringing back a key figure from one of its most dominant seasons in recent memory.
Former offensive line coach James Cregg is expected to rejoin the Tigers’ staff, returning to Baton Rouge five years after helping engineer one of the most celebrated offensive seasons in college football history. Cregg was the man behind the trenches during LSU’s 2019 national championship run - the same year the Tigers’ offensive line won the Joe Moore Award, given annually to the best unit in the country.
Now, after a stint in the NFL and a recent role as an offensive analyst at Ole Miss under Lane Kiffin, Cregg is back in purple and gold. His return comes at a critical time for LSU, as the Tigers look to rebuild a once-dominant offensive line that’s fallen short of expectations in recent seasons.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Cregg first arrived at LSU in 2018, and while his three-year tenure had its ups and downs, there’s no denying the impact he made.
His 2019 group was the engine behind Joe Burrow’s Heisman campaign and Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s breakout season. That line - featuring future NFL talent like Lloyd Cushenberry, Ed Ingram, Damien Lewis, Saahdiq Charles, and Austin Deculus - was as physical as it was intelligent.
They gave Burrow time, opened lanes for CEH, and set the tone for a record-breaking offense that steamrolled its way to a title.
Cregg’s coaching résumé is deep. He’s worked on offensive lines at nearly every level - from college blue bloods like USC and Tennessee to NFL stops with the Raiders, Broncos, Chargers, and 49ers. He’s known for developing tough, technically sound linemen, and perhaps just as importantly, for identifying talent early.
That’s exactly what LSU needs right now.
The Tigers have already brought in Eric Wolford as the new offensive line coach, but this unit needs more than just a fresh face. It needs a reset in attitude, in development, and in execution.
LSU is expected to be aggressive in the upcoming transfer portal window, targeting instant-impact linemen who can step in and solidify the front five. Cregg’s experience and eye for talent could be a major asset in that process - even in an off-field role.
But Cregg’s first stint didn’t end on a high note. In 2020, amid a tough post-championship season, he was found to have violated NCAA recruiting rules by arranging a neighborhood tour for a prospect during the recruiting dead period and handing over a bag of used LSU gear - a move that ultimately cost him his job and led to a three-year show-cause penalty. That incident pushed him toward the NFL, where he spent the next few seasons before resurfacing at Ole Miss.
Now, with that chapter behind him, Cregg returns to a program that’s searching for toughness and consistency in the trenches. While he won’t be the primary offensive line coach, his presence on the field will be felt - especially in player development and evaluation.
The timing couldn’t be more important. LSU’s offense is in transition, and the line is the foundation that needs the most attention. If Cregg can help rebuild that unit’s edge - the same edge that defined the 2019 group - this could be a pivotal move in getting the Tigers back to championship form.
For LSU, this isn’t just about nostalgia. It’s about bringing in a proven developer of talent who understands what it takes to win at the highest level.
James Cregg helped build one of the greatest offenses college football has ever seen. Now, he’ll try to help build the next one.