We've put it out there that I'm expecting to hear some changes with the LSU staff. As I mentioned previously in The Situation Room, I've already been hearing some names in connection with positions that are not yet open at LSU. To add to that, Willie Fritz taking the job at Houston, could potentially remove one of those options. One of the names I heard mentioned was Missouri defensive coordinator Blake Baker. I talked to multiple sources about Baker and one source told me that Brian Kelly has been in communication with him multiple times over the last five weeks. I'm going to be honest and tell you I don't know the details of those conversations or how frequently they occurred, just that I was told they happened. I was told by a different contact that Blake Baker would absolutely be interested in the LSU defensive coordinator position if it opened up. Would he take it? I don't know. Would he listen and have those conversations? Absolutely. The thing I can tell you though is that I was also told that he would actively pursue the Tulane job if Willie Fritz left for Houston, which appears to be all but finished at this point. Houston is closing in on signing Fritz, but Tulane is fighting to keep him but from the sounds of it I think Houston is going to win this battle.

I don't know if Baker would be on Tulane's short list or if they would even consider him, but I can tell you that Baker's name was brought up in connection to Houston at least very briefly but that talk died down pretty quickly because they wanted to bring in someone more established and proven to rebuild the program. But one thing is for sure and that's that Baker will certainly throw his hat in the ring and pursue that job.

With that said, he is not the only name I heard in connection with a possible defensive coordinator position there's at least one other power five coordinator with Louisiana ties that has been tied to a potential opening. What I don't know is, if Kelly was communicating with him as often as I was told he was communicating with Baker. So, we don't know 100% one way or another if Kelly is going to fire House or not. To be completely transparent, I have not been told that. What I was told is that I should expect some defensive staff changes. Should Matt House be one of those changes, there's two guys that would be at the top of that short list and have already been in contact with Brian Kelly.

There were a few position coaches I heard in connection with one of them and that's Corey Raymond which we've previously discussed in The Situation Room. Don't really have anything new to add to that. There's still one other position coach that was mentioned to me, he too has Louisiana ties. But he could potentially be making a deep playoff run depending on how the CFP shakes out.

One name that was brought up by a poster previously in regard to a potential defensive line opening (I can't remember which poster it was) was Karl Dunbar. I had mentioned that I was told two years ago (maybe longer than that) that he would be interested to come back home and would love to coach at LSU. I followed up on that to see if he was still interested and was told very shortly with not much elaboration that "He loves Pittsburgh", so I wouldn't expect him to be one of the options and to be honest I hadn't heard his name in any of the other conversations I've had just said I'd follow up on it from something a poster had mentioned so I figured I'd throw that in there as I'm typing this out.

I just wanted to share a little more on what I've been hearing. We'll continue to monitor the situation and as more becomes available; I'll pass along what I can.

From @Luke Hubbard

JD to play the entire game, kick Whisky's ass?
JD as Mr. Heisman to start the game, help Nabers break the record and go to the bench?
Nuss to start the game and get a head start on next year?

thoughts?

We will get a safety and WR/punt returner who both are starters at other SEC schools.

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The Tigers offered former Kansas State cornerback Will Lee III on Monday, the official opening of the transfer portal. Lee totaled 42 tackles and two interceptions in his sophomore season.

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Jaden Hamlin, who visited LSU for the Texas A&M game, posted to X this afternoon that his recruitment is still 100% open. There was a lot of buzz after his visit that the Tigers were out in front.

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Rivals.com released its postseason update for five-star recruits in the Class of 2024 on Monday. LSU target and Texas A&M commit Terry Bussey came in at No. 16 on the list:

What a way to end it. After managing to dodge controversy for most of the 4-team because things just worked out in the end, we have not only the weakest, least interesting field we've ever had, but we've seen blatant snubs of more deserving teams in favor for the usual horse-shoe-up-his-ass Saban.

10 days ago Bama needed an absolute miracle 4th and 31 to beat 6-6 Auburn. They probably should have lost a couple more games this season besides. It is an absolute travesty to see them going ahead of an undefeated FSU team, though ironically if they had included FSU the field of four would have been even weaker than it is, and it's the weakest I can remember.

Has their ever been a more uninspiring #1 than this year's Michigan? It wouldn't surprise me at all of Bama didn't pull it out and prove the committee 'correct' for including them.

Washington is undefeated. Great. Guess what? Their defense is ranked something like 96th in the nation right now and their offense has looked less inspiring every week while Texas finished strong, though admittedly in an equally weak conference.

Seriously, this year's Bama, Texas, Michigan and Washington teams might collectively be the weakest champions of their conference in the last 10 years, maybe in the last 20. Georgia, Ohio State, Florida State and any name you could draw from a hat would be every bit as interesting/uninteresting.

I never really had a problem with the four-team play-off but this year REALLY showed why we need to go to a 12-team format.

There are many mock drafts being posted lately

Several have the QB needy Saints selecting Jayden Daniels with their first pick as he shoots up the draft boards

It may seem at times that the Saints don’t pick LSU players but this time may be different

New Rivals250: https://n.rivals.com/prospect_rankings/rivals250/2024

Biggest movers: https://n.rivals.com/news/rivals-rankings-week-ten-biggest-risers-in-the-rivals250-13

Position-by-Position: https://n.rivals.com/news/tuesdays-with-gorney-new-2024-rivals250-released-4

The committee just announced their top four teams for the College Football Playoffs:

1. Michigan
2. Washington
3. Texas
4. Alabama

Undefeated FSU and Georgia left out. Drop your thoughts below

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Class of 2024 defensive end Gabriel Reliford moved his commitment date up one day to Friday at 9:45 a.m.

More on him here:


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That can tell QBs in the transfer portal that the last 2,QBs that transferred to LSU won the heisman. Just sayin…

@Kenny Van Doren checks in with Gabe Reliford following his official visit and decommitment from Texas A&M.

On day one for entering the portal there are several really talented , experienced QBs whose names are in starting with Dillon Gabriel from Oklahoma

When Jayden takes home the Heisman LSU will be a very very desirable destination for the best Transfer QBs

If a QB like Gabriel expresses interest it would be very tempting for Kelly to offer
Gabriel commits and the top WRs will be falling all over themselves to come to LSU

LSU cornerback coach Robert Steeples was named to the 2024 AFCA 35 Under 35 Class.

Hear from him:

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Gabriel Reliford announced his decommitment from Texas A&M on Sunday after taking an official visit to LSU this weekend. The Tigers look to be in front for the three-star defensive end. He will announce his commitment at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Evangel Christian Academy Cafeteria.

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From @Luke Hubbard

The gnashing of teeth, begging, pleading, bitching, crying, etc will be some entertaining over the next 24 hours!!!

Alright gang, I want to preface this with saying this is a very sensitive topic and given such I can’t go into a ton of detail on what I’ve heard because of the nature of things involved. I also just got off of two interesting phone calls and need to do a little more digging on the information I was told. I will also say I’ve heard some conflicting chatter from a couple of different sources, but that chatter was about a week apart and things can and do change. I’d like to do a little more digging before going into too much detail.

What I can say and I realize this probably isn’t going out on the limb here but, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some movement with the coaching staff, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. I’ve heard some chatter about potential replacements for multiple coaches and from what I hear it’s safe to assume that no job on that side of the ball is safe. I’m going to do some more digging, make some calls, etc. To reiterate, I have not heard anything that’s a definite and I don’t say that to cover my ass, I say that because that’s the truth. It’s that time of year in college football and these things happen every year somewhere so there’s always these types of chatter. So I’m going to make some calls, try to gather some more information and will hopefully have another update for you soon.

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Class of 2025 three-star cornerback Javion Holiday verbally committed to SMU on Sunday. He originally listed LSU, Oregon and Texas in his top three earlier this week. The Duncanville standout is staying close to home.

From @Luke Hubbard