Dilin Jones has become LSU’s lead back this season, but he’s not looking at Harlem Berry’s emergence as a threat to the room. If anything, Jones sees it as the kind of push that keeps everybody sharp.
That was on display Saturday against Texas A&M, when Berry got more chances and made the most of them. He ran seven times for 58 yards and popped off several eye-catching runs in the fourth quarter.
Jones said Tuesday that moments like that don’t create friction in LSU’s running back group. They raise the standard.
“I mean, it’s the same thing at practice,” Jones said. “We see Harlem make a big run, nobody’s sitting there hating, or there’s no animosity.
You be like, ‘All right, he did that. Now I’ve got to go do this.’
“We just have to make plays. And I feel like no matter who’s out there, if you’re making plays, you deserve to be out there. And that just pushes the next guy to do better.”
Jones has lived through that kind of competition before. After dealing with injuries last season, he stepped into a crowded LSU backfield and eventually earned the top spot.
“It was a long process, but of course I’m gonna bet on myself. I feel like coming here, having that competition is really what drives you to push yourself to be a better person.”
He also pointed to LSU’s offensive line as a major reason the ground game has worked.
“I’ve got to give all the credit to the O-line,” he said. “They help me go out there and be able to do what I do.”
And Jones’ role hasn’t stopped at running the ball. In Lane Kiffin’s system, he’s also leaned into pass protection.
“You’ve got to keep the quarterback safe,” Jones said. “When I go out there, it’s like being another lineman. I’m going out there hunting, looking for somebody to get.”
In Other News...
LSU Suddenly Has Real QB Intrigue Before McNeese
LSU heads into Saturday nights game against McNeese with more uncertainty at quarterback than anyone expected this week. The Tigers are set for a 6:45 p.m. kickoff in Death Valley, but the main storyline isnt the matchup itself so much as who Lane Kiffin will put behind center after Sam Leavitts recent left hamstring injury opened the door for questions about the depth chart.
Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet have both entered the conversation, and Kiffin still has not made a decision on the starter. McNeese brings its own established signal-caller in Devin Lippold, a third-year quarterback with a steady season to this point, but for LSU the intrigue is all about whether the Tigers can navigate the week cleanly enough to get the right answer before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Quarterback Situation Just Got More Interesting Before McNeese
McNeese will head into its matchup with LSU without third-year quarterback Devin Lippold, who is out with a right wrist injury and will be replaced by Jake Strong. On LSUs side, the quarterback picture is still taking shape as the Tigers prepare for the game, with Sam Leavitt expected to start while working back from a left hamstring injury.
The bigger question for LSU is how much the offense might need to lean on depth behind Leavitt if he is not fully ready to handle his usual workload. Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet are both candidates to see the field, which gives the Tigers a little more insurance but also leaves some uncertainty in a position group that will be closely watched once kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
LSU May Have Found A New Defensive Contributor Fans Should Watch
Jhase Thomas is starting to look like more than just a special teams piece for LSU. The defensive back saw his playing time rise against Texas A&M after spending most of his first season in that familiar off-to-the-side role, and his growth has been building quietly in the background as he settled into college football and worked his way toward a bigger defensive opportunity.
Thomas prepared for the expanded look by studying film and leaning on veteran teammates, while also drawing on the guidance of his father, former NFL defensive back Fred Thomas. For LSU, it is the kind of progression coaches like to see from a young recruit becoming a real contributor, and it gives the defense another name worth tracking as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]