With kickoff against Clemson now 29 days away, LSU’s countdown has reached the point where the jersey numbers start telling their own story. No. 29 brings together two very different Tigers: a running back who already has production on the board and an EDGE with big-time pedigree who’s still waiting to turn promise into pressure.
Caden Durham’s return wasn’t exactly a given. He even entered the transfer portal before Lane Kiffin made keeping both Durham and Harlem Berry a priority for next season. That push worked, and LSU gets Durham back after two seasons that produced 1,258 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground, plus 44 receptions for 351 yards and two more scores through the air.
Durham’s first year flashed the kind of upside people expected. His role was naturally squeezed a bit once Berry arrived, and last season he also looked a step slower and not as explosive.
Still, the fit in this offense is obvious. Running backs have a chance to pile up numbers in the Lane Kiffin system, and if Durham is fully healthy, LSU could have a very complete ground game.
On the other side of the ball, Jordan Ross arrives with a different kind of buzz. He hasn’t piled up eye-popping college numbers yet, but the ceiling is what makes him one of the more intriguing transfers in the room.
Ross was ranked No. 22 nationally, the No. 3 EDGE and No. 4 player out of Alabama in high school, with only Dylan Stewart and Colin Simmons rated ahead of him among pass rushers.
At Tennessee, Ross logged 5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks across two seasons with the Volunteers. That modest production doesn’t hide why LSU wanted him, especially after Gabriel Reliford went down with an ACL tear. If the Tigers can unlock what Ross has in him, the pass rush has a chance to become dangerous.
In Other News...
DJ Pickett Gives LSU Fans A Reason To Trust The Secondary
DJ Pickett gave LSU plenty to feel better about on the back end in 2025. The freshman defensive back played in all 13 games and made three starts, quickly turning himself into one of the more important young pieces on a defense that led the SEC in interceptions. With 37 tackles, three picks and two sacks, Pickett showed the kind of versatility and playmaking ability that can change the feel of a secondary, especially for a program that has spent plenty of time trying to stabilize that part of the field.
The early return also came with recognition, as Pickett earned Freshman All-American and Freshman All-SEC honors after arriving as a highly rated recruit out of Zephyrhills High. LSU now looks at him as a projected starter at cornerback in 2026, which gives the Tigers a young cornerstone to build around as they try to keep that takeaway production rolling. For a unit that needed impact from the start, Pickett became more than just a promising newcomer, he became part of the reason for confidence heading into next season. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs Defensive Front Is Already Fueling Serious Fall Camp Buzz
LSUs defensive front is drawing plenty of attention as fall camp gets going, and it is easy to see why. The Tigers have built a deep, intriguing group around a blend of returning pieces and newcomers, with names like Dominick McKinley, Malik Blocton, Deuce Geralds, Lamar Brown, Jordan Ross, Princewill Umanmielen, Whit Weeks and TJ Dottery all part of the mix. Add in the fact that several of those defenders have already landed on the Bronko Nagurski early watch list, and the front has the look of a unit that could set the tone for the entire defense.
Early camp reports have only added to the buzz, with both veterans and transfers drawing praise for how they have shown up since practices began. For LSU, that matters because this is the kind of group that can change how the whole season feels if it lives up to the hype. The front is expected to be one of the Tigers biggest strengths, but the real test will come as the staff figures out how all those pieces fit together once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]