Tag: trey holly

LSU football depth chart: Projecting Tigers’ 2025 running back room

Here’s an early look at how LSU’s running back room is shaping up in 2025

LSU football’s 2024 campaign is in the rearview mirror. The Tigers capped off Brian Kelly’s third year with a win over Baylor in the Texas Bowl, wrapping up with a 9-4 record.

It’s only January, but it’s never too early to look at 2025.

LSU struggled to run the ball in 2024 — but the blame didn’t fall squarely on the backfield. LSU missed the dual-threat ability of quarterback Jayden Daniels and the offensive line was inconsistent. The offense ranked 87th in EPA/rush and 88th in rushing success rate. Both marks were well below where LSU expected them to be.

LSU is losing four starters on the offensive line, including All-American tackle Will Campbell. That makes fixing the run game a challenge, but the Tigers hit the transfer portal to beef up the interior.

At running back, Caden Durham returns after an exciting true freshman campaign.

Here’s an early look at LSU’s 2025 running back depth chart.

RB1: Caden Durham

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Durham was one of the top recruits in LSU’s 2024 signing class. According to Rivals, he was the No. 4 ranked running back in the class. LSU’s running back room was thin in 2024, especially after John Emery tore his ACL. That gave Durham an immediate opportunity to make an impact.

Durham’s breakout came in week three at South Carolina, where he ran it 11 times for 98 yards and two scores. From that point on, he was a key figure in LSU’s offense.

With 752 rushing yards, Durham finished 2024 top 10 among SEC RBs. He was a factor in the passing game, too, and crossed the 1,000 total-yard mark in LSU’s bowl win over Baylor.

RB2: Kaleb Jackson

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Jackson was a blue-chip recruit in 2023, but he’s yet to stake a claim in the offense. He saw limited action as a freshman in 2023 and wasn’t involved in 2024. Through two years with the Tigers, Jackson carried it 75 times for 315 yards and two scores.

Entering the year, offensive coordinator Joe Sloan hinted at an emergence from Jackson, calling Jackson “a punishing back.”

That emergence never came in 2024, but Jackson will get a chance in 2025. LSU values experience at the running back position, and while Jackson doesn’t have a ton of it, he’ll be a veteran in his third year of college football.

RB3: Harlem Berry

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Berry was the consensus top running back in the 2025 recruiting class. All four major recruiting services slotted Berry No. 1 at his position. That gives him a chance to hit the field right away for LSU.

Berry has all the tools to be a star at the next level. The expectations are high, but so is Berry’s talent. This guy can be a game-changer for LSU.

Berry will have to earn a full-time role but look for LSU to come up with creative ways that get the ball in his hands.

RB4: Ju’Juan Johnson and Trey Holly

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After Berry, the picture is less clear. The remaining pieces are talented, we just don’t know much about them.

Ju’Juan Johnson played quarterback in high school, signed with LSU as a DB, but made the switch to RB early last year. Trey Holly was away from the team for some time as he dealt with a legal issue off the field. Holly returned but didn’t see the field in 2024.

Both are talented and can add an explosive element to LSU’s offense. We should get a better idea of where Johnson and Holly fit when LSU begins spring practice.

RB5: JT Lindsey

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Rounding out the room is another true-freshman. With Berry and Lindsey, LSU signed the top running back class in the nation in 2025.

According to 247Sports, Lindsey is the No. 8 ranked running back of the cycle and all four recruiting services slot Lindsey as a four-star.

There may not be a path for Lindsey to play right away, but you can’t rule it out if he impresses in the offseason. He’s talented and will be an important depth piece while potentially redshirting.

What impact will LSU running back Caden Durham make as a freshman?

What impact can LSU freshman RB Caden Durham make in 2024?

The running back spot is an intriguing one for LSU in 2024. The Tigers have no clear No. 1 with several players battling for carries.

You have the veterans, [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] The sophomores hoping for a breakout, [autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag] and [autotag]Trey Holly[/autotag]. Then you have [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag], one of the top recruits in LSU’s 2024 class.

Three of the four major recruiting services ranked Durham as a top 10 back in the class. Rivals was the highest, slating Durham No. 4 at his position.

Running back is a position where players can make an impact as a true freshman. There’s a chance for Durham to do that in 2024.

For now, the bulk of the carries are set to go to sixth-year senior Williams and sophomore Jackson. LSU’s offense will rely on the backs much more in 2024 than it did in 2023. Without [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag]’ explosive rushing ability at QB, the Tigers have look elsewhere for their ground production.

LSU will need more than just Williams or Jackson to get through the year. Williams is a solid player, but he’s not a feature back. Jackson has the talent to be a centerpiece, but might still be a year away from reaching his ceiling. Expect a good amount of rotation here.

That means a guy like Durham will get his chance. LSU hasn’t had a true speedster at RB with Durham’s talent in a minute. He has the wheels to take it to the house on any play.

That’s what Daniels had last year and what LSU needs to find again. Last year, 6.7% of LSU’s runs went for 20 or more yards. That led the Power Five. Without Daniels, that will be hard to repeat. But a breakout from Durham can get the Tigers close.

Durham doesn’t need to be a down-to-down back yet. LSU has veterans that know the scheme and know the system. Those guys will carry most of the load.

Durham can function as a true change-of-pace player. LSU can simplify the game and just let him run.

Don’t expect Durham to make a ton of noise early in the season, but he can certainly be a contributor down the stretch.

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LSU’s 2025 running back class is the best in the nation

LSU’s 2025 recruiting class at running back is the nation’s best.

LSU’s 2025 class is strong. It ranks No. 3 in the country overall and its 19 blue-chip recruits are tie Ohio State for most in the nation.

The strength is especially evident at running back, where LSU has the best class in the country.

[autotag]Harlem Berry[/autotag], a class headliner, is the No. 1 RB in country according to On3, ESPN, and Rivals. The lone site that has him off the top spot is 247Sports, but he still sits at No. 2 there.

Berry isn’t the only blue-chip running back in the class. LSU also has a commitment from Louisiana four-star [autotag]JT Lindsey[/autotag]. According to 247Sports, Lindsey is the fifth-best back in the class while the On3 Industry Rankings slate him No. 13 overall.

Running backs coach [autotag]Frank Wilson[/autotag] was one of Brian Kelly’s biggest hires when Kelly arrived in Baton Rouge. LSU’s depth was tested at RB after the head coaching transition, but Wilson has rebuilt the room into one of the SEC’s most talented.

Berry will be LSU’s top running back commit since [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] signed in 2019.

With young backs like [autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag], [autotag]Trey Holly[/autotag] and [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] already on the roster, the room is well-positioned for years to come.

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Brian Kelly updates Trey Holly’s status with program after attempted murder charges dropped

Brian Kelly said he hopes there will be a resolution by the end of the month, at which point the reinstatement process can start.

LSU running back [autotag]Trey Holly[/autotag] has been suspended by the program since his arrest in February on multiple felony charges that included attempted second-degree murder.

That attempted murder charge has been dropped after a grand jury declined to indict Holly, though he will still face a felony charge of unlawful use of a firearm, to which he intends to plead not guilty, per his attorney.

While that decision doesn’t entirely clear the way for Holly to return to the Tigers, Brian Kelly said Saturday that he hopes there will be a resolution by the end of the month, at which point the reinstatement process can begin.

“Like many of you, the first that I saw of it was I think somebody released it on social media,” Kelly said, per On3. “We had a coaches’ clinic. His high school coach came up to me, who was here at the clinic, and told me that the serious charges were dropped. So we were confident, based upon information that was shared to us. But you just don’t know.

“So we’ll be, obviously, monitoring and making sure that, I think they’re talking about sometime in the middle of April that we could see a full resolution to this. At that time we’ll begin the process in assisting him for reinstatement, and we’ll advocate for him on his behalf. And welcome him back.”

Kelly also added that Holly has maintained his eligibility throughout the process by taking classes online.

While it remains to be seen if and when Holly will be back with the Tigers, it seems things are moving in that direction after the most serious charge against him was dropped.

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Suspended LSU RB Trey Holly won’t face attempted murder charge, grand jury decides

A grand jury declined to charge Trey Holly with attempted second-degree murder.

A grand jury has decided not to charge suspended LSU running back [autotag]Trey Holly[/autotag] with attempted murder after his felony arrest in Union Parish on Feb. 15.

Holly was arrested in his hometown of Farmerville, Louisiana, stemming from a shooting several weeks prior. At the time, he was charged with attempted second-degree murder as well as singular counts of illegal use of a weapon and aggravated criminal damage to property, both of which are also felonies.

The grand jury still opted to charge Holly with illegal use of a weapon or dangerous instrumentality, a felony count to which Holly’s attorney said he will plead not guilty, according to Wilson Alexander of The Advocate.

Holly was suspended indefinitely from all team activities at LSU following his arrest. He has not practiced with the team this spring.

At the time of his arrest, Holly maintained his innocence, arguing that he was at home at the time of the shooting and was a victim of mistaken identity. It remains to be seen if Holly will be reinstated by the Tigers.

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LSU RB Trey Holly releases statement after felony arrest

Trey Holly fully maintained his innocence, stating that he was “falsely identified, accused and arrested.”

LSU running back [autotag]Trey Holly[/autotag] is currently indefinitely suspended from the team following his arrest on three felony charges in his hometown of Farmerville, Louisiana, last week.

Among the felony charges is attempted second-degree murder as Holly is alleged to have been involved in a shooting in Union Parish earlier this month.

Holly finally broke his silence following the incident, releasing a statement on social media in which he maintained his innocence and insisted that he had been “falsely identified, accused and arrested.”

“I am 100% innocent and the people that know me know this is not my character at all,” he said in the statement. “I was not involved in the incident at all. I was home which is where the incident took place. I turned myself in because I was notified of an arrest warrant and wanted to fully cooperate.”

A record-setting high school running back in the state of Louisiana, Holly appeared in three games as a true freshman this fall.

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BREAKING: LSU suspends RB Trey Holly indefinitely following arrest in shooting

Trey Holly was arrested in Union Parish and reportedly faces three felony counts, including attempted second-degree murder.

LSU redshirt freshman running back [autotag]Trey Holly[/autotag] has been indefinitely suspended from the program and all team activities following his arrest Thursday on three felony charges relating to a shooting in his hometown of Farmerville, Louisiana, over the weekend.

Holly was charged with attempted second-degree murder in Union Parish as well as aggravated criminal damage to property and illegal use of a firearm. The news was first reported by Wilson Alexander of The Advocate.

Holly reportedly turned himself in on Thursday, and he’s being held at the Union Parish Detention Center on a $512,000 bond. Two others were arrested in conjunction with the alleged shooting, which reportedly left two people injured.

“We are aware that a student-athlete has been arrested in relation to a shooting in Union Parish,” LSU said in a statement Thursday. “This student-athlete has been suspended indefinitely from all team activities, in accordance with departmental policies. Out of respect for the judicial process, we will have no further comment.”

A record-setting high school running back in the state of Louisiana, Holly appeared in three games as a true freshman in 2023. He saw just 11 carries, which he took for 110 yards and a touchdown.

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LSU RB Noah Cain declares for 2024 NFL draft

Another one of LSU’s running backs is moving on as Noah Cain is off to the NFL.

Another one of LSU’s running backs has decided to seek greener pastures. [autotag]Noah Cain[/autotag] has decided to enter his name into the NFL draft.

The senior running back from Baton Rouge appeared in 27 games during his LSU career and had 113 carries for 590 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Cain spent the first three years of his career at Happy Valley, where he was the star running back for the Penn State Nittany Lions. With the loss of Cain, LSU has now lost four players — Cain, [autotag]Logan Diggs[/autotag], [autotag]Armoni Goodwin[/autotag] and [autotag]Tre Bradford[/autotag] — from last year’s running back room. The Tigers will look to a lot of young running backs to build the future.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] will lean on [autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag], [autotag]Trey Holly[/autotag] and [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag], as well as potentiall Josh Williams, who is yet to make an NFL decision, to tote the load for the Tigers in a tough SEC schedule.

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LSU running back Logan Diggs enters the transfer portal

Logan Diggs led all LSU running backs with 653 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023.

LSU’s running back depth will take a hit in 2024 as [autotag]Logan Diggs[/autotag] has entered the transfer portal, according to multiple reports.

News broke of Diggs’ decision on Friday, but with the deadline to enter passing on Tuesday, that choice would have been officially made earlier this week at the latest.

A transfer addition this offseason from Notre Dame, Diggs provided a major boost to a running game that struggled outside of [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] in 2022. While Daniels led the team in rushing once again with more than 1,100 yards, Diggs led all running backs in 2023 with 653 yards and seven touchdowns on 119 carries while appearing in 10 games.

Diggs will have one more year of eligibility at his final stop.

It’s a significant loss for the running back room, which is likely set to return at least one veteran still in [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag]. True freshmen [autotag]Trey Holly[/autotag], who redshirted, and [autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag] should see an expanded role, and 2024 signee [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] will likely also have an impact.

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How many freshmen received redshirts in 2023?

LSU signed 26 high school recruits in the 2023 class. How many of them were able to retain their redshirts?

Out of the 26 high school recruits who signed with the LSU Tigers in the 2023 recruiting class, how many of them were able to retain their redshirts so they could possibly play an extra year?

The answer is 13 players. Nine on the offensive side of the ball four players on defense. A lot of these guys saw action in multiple games this season and most of them will see action in the bowl game as it does not count towards losing your redshirt.

Here are the 13 players who will receive a redshirt and be classified as redshirt freshmen for the 2024 season.