Brian Kelly reveals 'bug' running through LSU roster, limiting work

College football teams across the country are ramping up for the 2024 season. They’re getting in the much-needed reps in fall camp practices and scrimmages. But the LSU Tigers’ players have been limited in some regard, due to a bug or virus that’s been traveling through the roster, according to head coach Brian Kelly.

In his Saturday press conference, Kelly revealed a number of his players have been dealing with the illness. “So, we’ve had a bug going around, a lower GI bug. Through the o-line. And Emery Jones was affected greatly from it today. You saw he was in and out. He probably shouldn’t have been out there, but you couldn’t keep him from practice. That’s what he was suffering from. We sent him home,” Kelly explained.

“I don’t know how Whit Weeks and West Weeks made it through practice. They had a similar bug. We’ve sprayed the offices. We’ve cleaned them down. But you know, we’re fighting that now with a number of guys,” Kelly said.

Kelly also explained that Tigers offensive lineman DJ Chester wasn’t at practice on Saturday due to the bug/illness, according to multiple reports on social media.

LSU has a stable of talented running backs

The good news for the LSU offense, is that they return an elite offensive line unit for the 2024-2025 campaign. It all starts up front in the game of football and the battle of the trenches is always the most critical. That’s going to help make life easier for the Tigers running backs: Jackson, Josh Williams, John Emery, and Caden Durham.

More on Kaleb Jackson’s college and high school career

Last fall in his freshman season for LSU, Jackson finished with 31 carries for 165 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Also, a weapon in the return game, he returned 10 kickoffs for 249 total yards. Jackson also hauled in six catches in his true freshman campaign.

A hometown product, he played his high school football for Liberty Magnet School in Baton Rouge. In the 2023 cycle, he was ranked as the No. 12 running back prospect in America and a four-star prospect, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He earned an invitation to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Jackson enjoyed a breakout season in 2021, rushing for 2,031 yards and 29 touchdowns, averaging 14.7 yards per carry. He averaged 184.6 yards rushing per game. As a receiver, he tallied 21 catches for 394 yards and four touchdowns.

Durham was a highly coveted recruit in the 2024 cycle, suiting up for the Duncanville Panthers, one of the more dominant programs in the nation. Blessed with tremendous speed and skill, Durham was a part of the Duncanville track team that shattered the national record in the 4 x 200-meter relay. According to Reel Analytics, his in-game athleticism score was 83.9. He was also clocked at a max speed of 21.6 miles per hour, ranking him in the 94th percentile of running backs across the country.

The LSU Tigers open up their 2024 season with a highly anticipated matchup against the USC Trojans. That one is slated for Sunday, September 1st. The game will be played in Las Vegas, Nevada in Allegiant Stadium–home of the Las Vegas Raiders.