Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
By Hunt Palmer
Harlem Berry’s return was a priority for Lane Kiffin’s staff.
The former five-star showed flashes of excellence in 2025, and the room around him dissolved. Ju’Juan Johnson and Kaleb Jackson quickly hopped in the transfer portal. Caden Durham followed, and a week into January LSU had one running back on the roster.
Durham’s current status is in question, but without a freshman back incoming it was imperative for LSU to add to the position.
Baton Rouge is an attractive spot. Kiffin’s system has finished in the top six in the conference in rushing all six years at Ole Miss. Playing time is available. It’s clearly Kiffin prioritized one this with his first two portal additions at the spot — speed.
WHAT WE KNOW
Rod Gainey hasn’t played a ton of college football at Charlotte.
As a true freshman, he played in four games and carried the ball 1o times. In 2025, he carried 74 times for 260 yards and a score. That’s the resume.
At 6 feet tall and 180 lbs., he’s not an imposing back. He is fast. But that’s pretty much all we know.
Gainey was a three-star back coming out of Tampa Bay Tech. On3 called him the No. 58 running back in the class. 247sports had him at No. 83. He took visits to Florida and Florida State but ended up at Charlotte.
THE FIT
Some of the fit depends on what Durham decides to do. Right now, Berry is the featured back, and Gainey slots in behind him alongside Raycine Guillory.
If Durham returns, he becomes the second back. If he doesn’t, that role is up for grabs.
Gainey has some upside and a lot of tread on the tires, but he’s unlikely to be a star. He averaged 23 yards per game at Charlotte while leading the 49ers in carries. What LSU is banking on here is scheme.
Kewan Lacy and Quinshon Judkins weren’t household names when they showed up in Oxford. They became that at Ole Miss partly because of the offense they played in.
HUNT’S PROJECTION
I’m not ruling out a Durham return. And I think Harlem Berry is going to run for 1,000 yards in the fall. With those two things in mind, I see a limited role for Gainey.
Guillory is an intriguing prospect that I think has a little more upside.
Gainey feels like a third down back with the ability to catch the ball and hit a home run. As limited as LSU’s depth become when the portal opened, Kiffin and Kevin Smith had to take some players who didn’t demand starting reps.
Gainey has three years of eligibility left, so he may have a larger role in the future at LSU. Many of the players LSU has added this cycle have multiple years remaining. It’s not like the 2025 team that brought in a load of 1-and-dones.
Gainey won’t be a headliner in this class, but he’s got some traits that may fit well into LSU new-look running game.
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