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After a massive staff shakeup on Wednesday, Brian Kelly is looking to fill nearly an entire defensive staff.
Early reports indicate that Missouri defensive coordinator Blake Baker is the leading candidate for the defensive coordinator role. Baker coached linebackers at LSU in 2021, and that’s the group he’d likely work with if he got the defensive coordinator job.
That leaves LSU needing assistants for the secondary and defensive line after Robert Steeples and Jimmy Lindsey were also let go.
LSU will need to fill the defensive coordinator spot first, but here are some names that could potentially fit in the secondary.
Corey Raymond
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Raymond, along with Baker, left LSU after Kelly got the job in late 2021.
Raymond spent the last two years on Billy Napier’s staff at Florida before exiting in December.
That leaves Raymond looking for a job, and LSU fans continue to speculate about a potential return to Baton Rouge. For so many years, Raymond built some of the best secondaries in college football at LSU. Some were among the best the sport has ever seen.
Raymond produced several first-round picks and a Heisman finalist in Tyrann Mathieu.
He’s an ace recruiter and LSU needs an influx of talent in the secondary. Kelly would be foolish not to entertain the idea.
Antonio Fenelus – Illinois
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Fenelus took the Illinois job in 2023 after serving as an analyst at LSU for two years. That gives Fenelus a familiarity with Brian Kelly’s program, as well as potential DC Blake Baker’s.
He’s with Bret Bielema now, his former collegiate coach, so it could be tough to sway him right back to Baton Rouge.
A more proven option could be a better fit, but after Illinois lost a lot in the secondary, Fenelus’ group still ranked top 40 nationally in yards per pass allowed….
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/5-names-watch-lsu-defensive-181028722.html
Author : LSU Tigers Wire
Publish date : 2024-01-04 18:10:28
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