Entering the 2024 season, LSU faced a lot of questions about the offensive skill positions after losing so much production to the NFL draft.
The ground game in particular was a concern with [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag]’ rushing production moving on, and things became even more dire after Week 1 when [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] tore his ACL in practice.
However, in recent weeks, true freshman [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] has emerged on the ground, making explosive plays and becoming the Tigers’ most efficient back. Asked how Durham handles that pressure as a freshman, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] explained that the moment is never too big for him.
“Freshmen playing, it’s a lot more about how they handle things mentally… The guys that I’ve always started as freshmen handle the moment beautifully. They’re not too high, they’re not too low. If they make a mistake they put it behind them and they move on to the next play. And he just has that ability to not let something detract him from the next play, and I think that’s what the secret is for young players.”
That’s the kind of mental element Kelly wants to see from a freshman, and it has resulted in solid production as Durham has 244 yards and three touchdowns despite seeing just 29 carries on the season so far.
Durham is listed as probable entering Saturday’s game against Ole Miss.
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