Pick your problem.
Maybe it was a lack of commitment. Maybe it was a lack of execution. Maybe it was poor personnel. It was probably more of the first two. LSU’s running game has been atrocious for two seasons. There is no sound reason for LSU to finish last in the SEC in rushing attempts and rushing yards per game.
Six teams in America ran the ball fewer times per game than LSU. The Tigers were 114th in yards per carry.
You’ll never win like that.
Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr. produced strong rushing attacks in Oxford. Ole Miss was fourth nationally in rushing scores last year. They led the SEC in rushing attempts in 2023. They’re committed to it, and that’s step one to having a solid ground game.
Next on the list of objectives is to play well on the offensive line. Great tailbacks follow shortly thereafter.
WHO’S BACK: Caden Durham (Jr.), Harlem Berry (Soph)
WHO’S NEW: Dilin Jones (Transfer- Wisconsin), Rod Gainey (Transfer- Charlotte), Raycine Guillory (Transfer- Utah), Stacy Gage (Transfer- UCF)
WHAT WE KNOW
Durham’s emergence at South Carolina in 2024 came as a bit of a surprise to me. I didn’t think he was going to play much on that team, but he became the best back in LSU’s arsenal. Then came the foot injury, and he hasn’t really been healthy since.
Still, Durham has led LSU in rushing in back-to-back seasons. He’s a strong back with good speed. When he’s at his best, he makes it tough to take him down because of his low center of gravity and good balance. He’s made 44 catches in two seasons, the highlight being the swing pass he took 71 yards for a score against South Alabama two years ago.
Harlem Berry showed the flashes last year. As a freshman, he started LSU’s last six games. The second half against Ole Miss and the first half against Texas A&M were the brightest spots. He also busted free for a 43-yard run against Louisiana Tech.
LSU lists Berry at 5-foot-10 and 187 pounds. He’s not the most physically imposing back, but he’s smooth in space.
Dilin Jones had a strong spring. That’s a subjective statement in an objective portion of this breakdown, but it’s also inarguable. As the spring practices continued, Jones got more reps with the first team and produced some highlights running the ball in very controlled environments without tackling.
How about that opening drive?
Dilin Jones punches it in to give @BadgerFootball the early 7-0 lead at No. 20 Michigan.
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/vzFfHPqxf0
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 4, 2025
The Wisconsin transfer is 5-foot-11 and 211 pounds. So, he’s got about 25 pounds on Berry and three inches on Durham. He’s the biggest back on the roster. When he inked with Wisconsin, he was a four-star, and ESPN called him the No. 6 running back in the nation.
After a redshirt season with the Badgers, he was the starter last year. He ran for 67 yards and a score on Michigan and 69 yards against a stingy Iowa defense. A foot injury cost him the last five games.
Gainey was a three-star prep running back who played for two years at Charlotte. He’s 5-foot-9 and 183 pounds. Over two years with the 49ers, he played in 15 games with three starts. Somehow his 267 yards on the ground last year led the team. Charlotte only had five rushing touchdowns on the season last year. That was dead last in college football. Kiffin’s Rebels ran for four in the first game of the season last year. That was in August.
Guillory was an extremely young freshman at Utah last year. He reclassified to enroll a year early. He was a four-star recruit with a track background. As a Ute, he only played in one game and got one carry. He’s also on the shorter side at 5-foot-10 and 179 pounds.
HUNT’S TAKE
I really think Jones is going to lead LSU in carries. I believe running backs coach Kevin Smith likes his size and physicality. I think he’ll start the Clemson game.
That said, I do believe Berry and Durham will play large roles. There are going to be far more carries and yards available to LSU backs this fall. That’s a virtual certainty after two disastrous years on the ground.
I think Jones runs for more than 700 yards. Pencil Berry in for another 600 and Durham for just south of that. Add in Sam Leavitt’s ground total and the jet sweeps with Jayce Brown and Co., and you’re looking at about 2,300 yards which would have been in the top five in the SEC last year.
Kiffin teams love to run the ball between the tackles. Kewan Lacy and Quinshon Judkins became stars doing it. I don’t know that LSU has that level of an individual breakout. The committee approach feels more likely.
I know Tiger fans who grind recruiting rankings are expecting Berry to be an All-American candidate. I think he’ll have some runs that look the part. I just think his workload will be less than that.
HARLEM BERRY. TOUCHDOWN. pic.twitter.com/YNuBYDbpEn
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) September 27, 2025
Jones may hammer away at defensive fronts which would make a fresh Berry a nightmare for tired defenders dealing with Kiffin’s tempo.
Any way you slice the pie, LSU’s running game should be worlds better in 2026 than 2025. That’s truly the first step back toward championship-level football for this program.
