Dilin Jones didn’t waste any time making LSU look smart.
In his first game for the Tigers, the former Wisconsin running back put together the kind of performance that turns heads fast: 23 carries, 113 yards and two touchdowns in a 51-10 win over rival Clemson. Every one of those numbers was a career high for Jones, who had only topped 70 yards once before in his college career.
That debut was a clean showcase of what Jones brings to the table. He spent the night grinding out tough yards between the tackles, stacking productive carries and helping LSU stay on schedule.
It wasn’t a flashy breakout built on explosive sprints; his longest run went for just 15 yards. But it was effective, steady work from a back who finally looked fully in control of a workload.
Jones had flashed ability during his time in Madison, but the transfer to LSU gave him a fresh opportunity after Wisconsin’s offseason shakeup at running back. With outgoing talent and new arrivals crowding the room, Jones ended up as one of the players squeezed out and entered the portal. LSU moved quickly, and the redshirt sophomore has already shown he can handle the lead role in that backfield.
For Wisconsin, the first question is unavoidable: did the Badgers let a good one get away? It’s a fair debate, especially after a debut like this.
But there’s also a reason Jones’ fit in Madison never fully clicked. His game is built on winning inside and leaning on the offensive line to create movement, and Wisconsin simply wasn’t doing that consistently.
The line wasn’t opening up enough, leaving him fighting through too many dead-end runs.
That’s part of why Darrion Dupree had more room to shine. His game is more explosive and better suited to outside-zone looks, while Jones needs cleaner push up front to really get rolling. At LSU, he got exactly what he needed on opening night, and he made the most of it.
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Former Wisconsin Starter Just Became A Name Badgers Fans Must Track
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Hills move has an immediate wrinkle, too, because his eligibility to play at Oklahoma was temporarily granted by a Cleveland County District Court restraining order, opening the door for him to potentially appear in upcoming games. For Wisconsin, it is another reminder of how quickly the portal can reshape familiar faces, and for Oklahoma it adds a veteran defender who is expected to join the cornerback rotation once the legal situation runs its course. [Read more 🡒]