Tag: Brian Kelly

Brian Kelly says Brian Thomas Jr. is ‘ascending,’ has only scratched surface of ability

Brian Thomas Jr. has been one of the biggest risers during the pre-draft process.

As draft day is now upon us, there are three clear wide receivers at the top of the class in Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and Rome Odunze.

However, once you get beyond that group, the next man up could be another LSU star: [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] Thomas has been seen as a first-rounder for most of the cycle, but his stock has soared over the last couple of months after a very impressive NFL combine showing.

Appearing on Good Morning Football with Peter Schrager on Thursday morning, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said he sees Thomas as an incredible athlete who is just starting to realize the full potential of his abilities.

“Ascending in my eyes,” Kelly said. “This is a guy that is just breaking onto the scene. He won a state championship in basketball, he’s just an incredible athlete who I think is scratching the surface. Tall, athletic. He’s not just a guy that runs nine routes. He can run after the catch, he’s very slippery after he catches the football, he can make people miss, I just think he’s a guy who continues to get better and better.”

Thomas has a pretty wide range with which he could be picked, though he is almost certainly going to be a first-round pick. Some mocks project him going in the top 15, while other have him falling toward the end of the round.

But regardless of how long he’s on the board, he’s going to provide a very high-upside receiver for whichever team selects him.

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Brian Kelly had to take away Malik Nabers’ equipment during bowl game because he wanted to keep playing

NFL draft prospects rarely play in bowl games. For Malik Nabers, Brian Kelly had to actively try to keep him off the field.

Heading into the 2024 NFL draft, there are three receiver prospects who are seen as can’t-miss, elite players: Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze and LSU’s [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag].

Nabers is widely projected as a top-10 pick, and [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] explained during an appearance on Good Morning Football ahead of the first round of the draft on Thursday morning that while Nabers has all the athletic ability you look for, his drive is what really sets him apart.

“He can do everything, he’s a Swiss army knife,” Kelly said. “You can play him in the slot, you can play him outside, he can beat you one-on-one, all of those things. But he is an ultra-competitive player.”

Kelly relayed an anecdote from the ReliaQuest Bowl when Nabers made the somewhat surprising decision not to opt out. He ultimately set the program’s all-time receiving record in the game before sitting the rest of the way.

But now we know that wasn’t his choice. Kelly had to take away his equipment to keep him from checking back into the game.

“I had to take his equipment from him in the bowl game when most guys, you can’t even get them to play in a bowl game,” he said. “So this is a guy who loves to play the game of football, and in this day and age, sometimes it’s about guys that love to play. And he just loves to play the game.”

It’s clear motivation is not a problem for Nabers, and that will certainly be a desirable trait as he looks to make it at the next level.

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Brian Kelly explains what NFL teams will be getting with Jayden Daniels

“You can turn on the film and you can find the extraordinary things. But I think he does the ordinary things extraordinarily well,” Kelly said.

As we prepare for the start of the 2024 NFL draft, [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] is likely to hear his name called early.

The former LSU quarterback and 2023 Heisman winner is widely considered the class’ No. 2 quarterback behind Caleb Williams, and most mock drafts have him going second off the board to the Washington Commanders.

On the morning of the draft, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] made an appearance on Good Morning Football with Peter Schrager, and he explained what exactly Daniels brings to the table at the next level.

“You can turn on the film and you can find the extraordinary things,” Kelly said. “But I think he does the ordinary things extraordinarily well. And that’s the thing that you look at. He doesn’t turn the football over, he manages the game extremely well… he’s a guy that’s going to work from 5:30 in the morning until late at night.”

Kelly was asked about what is perceived to be the biggest question about Daniels: his ability to sustain hits. He had some issues with taking unnecessary hits in college, which led to fumbles and, a couple of times, injuries.

However, Kelly said that is a much more preferable concern to have than something like Daniels being turnover-prone.

“If that’s the only thing we’re worried about, I think that’s a good thing,” Kelly said. “If you’re saying at times he maybe needs to learn how to slide, I’ll take that.”

We’ll soon know where Daniels is playing his professional ball, but all signs currently point to the nation’s capital.

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LSU makes final 9 for top 150 defensive lineman in 2025 class

LSU made the top nine for a 2025 defensive tackle.

LSU made the cut for 2025 three-star defensive lineman [autotag]Xavier Ukponu[/autotag].

Ukpuno released his top nine, which included LSU along with Arkansas, Oregon, Cal, Texas A&M, Florida, USC, Oklahoma State and Washington.

According to On3, Ukponu is the 69th-best defensive lineman in his class and 140th-rated player in the state of Texas. The On3 Prediction Machine has Texas in the lead, but the Tigers are a close second.

Ukponu would be the first defensive tackle addition to LSU’s 2025 class. It’s a position of need as head coach Brian Kelly and defensive line coach [autotag]Bo Davis[/autotag] look to rebuild LSU’s interior defensive line.

LSU’s 2025 class is among the best in the country, sitting second in On3’s rankings and third at 247Sports.

Ukponu isn’t the only defensive tackle on LSU’s radar. [autotag]Trajden Odom[/autotag], [autotag]Zion Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Dilan Battle[/autotag] are all set to take official visits next month.

With LSU chasing DTs in the portal, it’s critical to land some high school guys too, creating year-to-year consistency in the room.

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LSU defensive tackle transfer target commits to Auburn

LSU missed on a defensive tackle transfer prospect.

LSU came up short in landing one of its top transfer defensive tackle targets as [autotag]Philip Blidi[/autotag] committed to Auburn.

Blidi began his career at Texas Tech before transferring to Indiana. He hit the portal again after a year with the Hoosiers, this time garnering SEC interest.

According to On3’s Shea Dixon, Auburn made an impression on Blidi, and the buzz around his recruitment signaled Auburn following Blidi’s visit to the Plains.

Per PFF, Blidi was the 15th-best graded defensive tackle in the Big Ten last year while totaling 15 pressures and 11 run stops.

LSU needs to beef up its defensive tackle group and remains in pursuit of some of the portal’s top players, including DTs [autotag]Simeon Barrow Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag].

Blidi bolsters an already solid Auburn transfer class that ranks 10th in the country, according to On3.

LSU remains well positioned with the seventh-ranked transfer class, but Blidi is a loss given the Tigers’ need at his position.

Brian Kelly said defensive tackle is the only position LSU is after in the spring portal window. [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag] are the only two scholarship defensive tackles on the roster who saw time for LSU last year.

Despite the lack of numbers, Kelly feels good about where the position is headed with defensive line coach [autotag]Bo Davis[/autotag] leading the way.

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2025 4-star cornerback includes LSU in top 10

Missouri is a 49% favorite to land Charles Bass per On3.

One of the top cornerbacks in the 2025 recruiting class has narrowed his list of final schools down to just 10 schools. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and the LSU Tigers are still in the mix.

[autotag]Charles Bass[/autotag] is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound, 4-star cornerback from East Saint Louis, Missouri, where he plays for East St. Louis High School. The East St. Louis Flyers finished the 2023 season 10-3 with a loss to Cary-Grove in the 6A state championship game.

LSU joins Michigan, Oregon, Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Texas A&M and Kansas are the final 10 schools that are still in the running to land Bass.

There are currently no Crystal Ball projections for Bass but Missouri is a 49% favorite to land him per On3. LSU’s 2025 recruiting class is currently ranked as the No. 3 class in the country by 247Sports. The class is headlined by two five-star players, [autotag]Dakorien Moore[/autotag] and [autotag]Bryce Underwood[/autotag]. Bass would be a great addition to the class.

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Simeon Barrow and Damonic Williams offer LSU chance to rebuild defensive line

A couple of big name transfers could allow LSU to rebuild its defensive tackle room.

The spring portal window is open and one position is in especially high demand — defensive tackle. LSU head coach Brian Kelly even went so far as to say this is the only position LSU is looking to add.

Just a few days in, the Tigers already have a couple of key visits lined up. LSU will be hosting [autotag]Simeon Barrow Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] in the near future with the hopes of landing a defensive tackle that can make an immediate impact.

Following the spring game, Kelly credited defensive line coach Bo Davis with bringing a different level of talent to campus. We’re seeing more evidence of that here even if there’s a way to go in both players’ recruitments.

As it stands, LSU has one proven player at defensive tackle in fifth-year DL [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag]. The Tigers need help there is this defense wants to take a step forward.

With Barrow and Williams, LSU has the chance to add an instant upgrade to its defensive tackle group. Relying on the portal is a tricky way to build a team, but LSU’s gotten lucky with some difference makers on the DL entering their names.

It will be tough for LSU to land both of these players, and fans shouldn’t expect that, but even one would go a long way toward shoring up the middle of this defense. Depth would remain a concern, but a starting two of Guillory and Barrow or Guillory and Williams will do the job.

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Former TCU defensive lineman to visit LSU

Damonic Williams would be a huge pickup for the Tigers if they were to land him.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] has repeatedly stated that he is actively looking for more defensive linemen in the [autotag]Transfer Portal[/autotag]. The Tigers have been linked to Michigan State defensive lineman, [autotag]Simeon Barrow Jr.[/autotag], and now they have been linked to TCU defensive lineman [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag].

Williams was honorable mention All Big-12 and honorable mention for Defensive Lineman of the Year while at TCU last year. In two seasons at TCU, Williams has played in 27 games and has registered 60 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.

Williams is a guy who could bring a lot of experience to a defensive line room that has some talent but lacks the experience of playing in big games. Williams would be a huge pickup for the Tigers if they were to land him. He will be visiting LSU from April 30-May 1. He will also visit Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Missouri and Oregon.

LSU’s 2024 recruiting class is currently ranked as the No. 8 class in the country by 247Sports.

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LSU to host experienced Michigan State defensive tackle transfer this weekend

The Tigers are clearly aiming to bulk up the defensive line’s interior in the transfer portal.

LSU has a clear need along the interior of the defensive line, and it’s clear addressing that is a priority in the second transfer portal window.

The Tigers have already offered one of the best transfers at the position in Kent State’s [autotag]CJ West[/autotag], and now they’re reportedly in contact with Michigan State defensive tackle transfer [autotag]Simeon Barrow Jr.[/autotag]

A redshirt senior from Grovetown, Georgia, who entered the transfer portal on Thursday, Barrow appeared in 34 games over the last three seasons with the Spartans, starting 30 of them.

He has 110 career tackles (18.5 for loss) and 10.5 sacks. He has also forced two fumbles with one recovery while blocking two field goals, and he was an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2022 and 2023.

According to On3, he’s down to six schools and expected to make a transfer decision quickly. On3’s Pete Nakos later reported that Barrow would visit LSU on Sunday.

LSU’s only two experienced returning players at the position are [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag] and [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag], and the depth behind them is lacking. LSU may be looking to add several bodies at defensive tackle, but Barrow would be a major pickup for coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag].

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Former LSU QB Zach Mettenberger joins Nashville high school as offensive coordinator

Former LSU QB Zach Mettenberger has a new home, calling plays for Father Ryan High School in Nashville.

A former LSU quarterback has found a new home coaching high school football in Nashville.

[autotag]Zach Mettenberger[/autotag] will take over as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and strength and conditioning coach at Father Ryan High School. It’s not Mettenberger’s first stop in the Nashville area. He previously worked as the OC at Hillsboro High School.

Mettenberger will have his work cut out for him. Father Ryan went 4-7 last year, including a 0-4 district record.

Mettenberger began his collegiate career at Georgia in 2009 before eventually landing at LSU. He was a two-year starter for the Tigers, leading LSU to double-digit wins both years.

Mettenberger threw for 5,783 yards and 35 touchdowns at LSU, ranking top 10 in program history in both categories.

He was drafted by the Titans and 2014 and played in the NFL for three years before a later stint with the AFL in 2019.

He was drafted by the Titans and 2014 and played in the NFL for three years before a later stint with the AFL in 2019.

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