Running back is shaping up as one of the more interesting rooms on LSU’s roster, and not just because of the names at the top. The Tigers came into the summer looking like Caden Durham and Harlem Berry would lead the way, with everyone else filling in around them. Instead, Dilin Jones has forced his way into the conversation and, by plenty of accounts, into the driver’s seat.
Jones arrived from Wisconsin with some buzz, but not with the kind of attention that usually follows a projected starter. He started seven games for the Badgers, ran for 300 yards and two touchdowns, and saw his season cut short by a toe injury.
In Baton Rouge, though, he has quickly changed the picture. His size has made him stand out, and that physical style should help him handle work between the tackles while also giving LSU more security in pass protection.
That matters because the Tigers needed a fresh start in this room. Getting a portal addition who looks ready to play right away, while still keeping Berry and Durham in the mix, is a strong sign for where the position stands. Berry and Durham are still very much part of the plan, but LSU has yet to see either one fully take off in a Tiger uniform.
Berry’s 2024 game against Texas A&M remains the kind of moment that leaves you wanting more. He was averaging 6.6 yards per carry, then the run game got shelved.
Under Lane Kiffin, that kind of thing feels less likely. Durham’s story is a little different, but the question is just as fair: has he ever fully gotten back to the form he showed as a freshman?
He rushed for 101 yards and three touchdowns against Arkansas that year and nearly reached 100 against South Carolina. Last season, after a 95-yard outing against Florida, he never got past 70 yards in any of the final nine games.
Through two seasons, Durham has 1,258 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, while Berry has 491 yards and two scores as a freshman.
LSU also added more depth through the portal with Charlotte transfer Rod Gainey, UCF transfer Stacy Gage, and Utah transfer Raycine Guillory Jr. None of them are expected to jump the top three, but Kiffin has already shown he will ride the hot hand, so their chances to carve out snaps should not be ignored.
The conversation around LSU’s offense naturally leads back to the 2019 team, and Joe Burrow’s July 2019 prediction at the Manning Passing Academy. He said, “I think we’re going to score a lot of points, and I don’t think a lot of people are used to LSU scoring 40, 50, 60 points a game.”
At the time, plenty of people doubted that kind of production was realistic. Then LSU went out and did it, scoring 60 or more in three games, including the CFP Semifinal against Oklahoma in Atlanta.
Burrow also set an NCAA FBS record with 60 touchdown passes, topping the previous mark of 58 set by Hawai’i’s Colt Brennan in 2006.
That 2019 team finished 15-0, won the College Football Playoff National Championship, and averaged 48.4 points per game. LSU’s offense last season was nowhere near that level, finishing at 22.8 points per game, 103rd in the nation. Kiffin’s Ole Miss offenses, by comparison, were among the nation’s best the last two years, averaging 38.6 points per game in 2024 and 36.9 last season.
The countdown to game day now sits at 60 days, and the question hanging over the new staff is simple: how close can this offense get to the kind of production LSU fans remember? The source also notes that Jayden is ranked No. 10 on the list of Top Louisiana Prospects and is a top 25 safety nationally, with the possibility of following in his brother’s footsteps and becoming a strong addition to LSU’s 2027 class.
In Other News...
LSU Just Won Another Big In-State Battle In The Secondary
LSUs push to stay ahead of the curve in the secondary picked up another important in-state win, and this one fits the long view the staff has been selling. The Tigers have been working not just on the upcoming season, but on the 2027 cycle as well, and adding a highly regarded Louisiana defensive back keeps that pipeline moving in the right direction.
The latest commitment also gives LSU a chance to think beyond the immediate depth chart. The prospect arrives with plenty of room to grow and should have time to develop before he is asked to make a real impact, and there is at least some built-in familiarity around the program with his brother already on the roster. For a team trying to stack talent in the state and keep the secondary stocked for years to come, it is the kind of move that can pay off in more ways than one. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Opener Already Has Clemson Facing Massive Pressure
Clemsons season opener against LSU is already carrying the kind of weight that usually comes later in the fall, with ESPN and ACC Network analyst EJ Manuel calling it a must-win game for the Tigers playoff hopes. With LSU on the other sideline, the matchup gives Clemson an early chance to build a rsum that could matter plenty if the ACC schedule gets messy down the line, and it also arrives with plenty of attention on how the offense will look under returning coordinator Chad Morris.
The quarterback picture is part of why the buildup feels so unsettled. Christopher Vizzina is viewed as the favorite to start, but Tait Reynolds is considered a real challenger, and Clemsons decision not to send a quarterback to ACC Kickoff only added to the sense that the competition is still open. For a team trying to make a statement right away, the opener now feels like more than just a high-profile game - it is also an early test of how quickly Clemson can settle its most important position. [Read more 🡒]