LSU’s search for a new defensive coordinator may have finally come to an end. Like, for real this time.
A day after reports surfaced about LSU reaching out to Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones about filling the vacancy at defensive coordinator on the coaching staff, it appears the search has come to a close. Bruce Feldman of The Athletics reported, via Twitter, “Jones is expected to become the new DC at LSU.”
SOURCE: #Vikings DB coach Daronte Jones is expected to become the new DC at #LSU. Jones, a protege of Dave Aranda coached under the ex Tigers DC when he was at Wisconsin. Jones, who spent the day interviewing w/ Ed Orgeron, was DC for 5 yrs at Bowie St. and had the No. 1 D in D2.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 25, 2021
Jones spent the previous two seasons as the defensive backs coach for the NFL’s Vikings. He previously had NFL stops with the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals.
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Jones will be tasked with improving one of the worst defenses in LSU program history. Under former defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, LSU ranked 13th in the 14-team SEC in total defense, allowing 492.0 yards per game. Only Ole Miss allowed more yards per game. Opposing offenses averaged 7.26 yards per play against the Tigers, which was also the second-highest allowed per play in the SEC (Vanderbilt was the only other team to allow more than seven yards per play in the SEC last season). LSU also allowed 34.9 points per game in 2020, easily the most allowed per game in a season in over a decade.
There may be nowhere to go but up for the LSU defense, which could bode well for Jones as he loos to cure the defensive issues.
LSU has not formally announced the latest addition to the coaching staff. But as long as LSU conducted this interview without brushing the Vikings the wrong way as they did the New Orleans Saints, it appears LSU has its defensive coordinator ready to go. A previous attempt to hire Ryan Nielsen away from the New Orleans Saints fell through due to a contract issue between Nielsen and the Saints.
LSU’s six players appearing in Super Bowl LV is the most of any college program