Garrett Nussmeier expects a big year for LSU's running back room

LSU had one of the most explosive offenses in the country last season, but the Tigers will look a lot different this year. Losing their offensive coordinator, their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, and two first-round draft picks at wide receiver.

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier now takes over the reins of the offense, and the more help he can get from the run game and his backfield, the easier his job will be in his first full season as a starter. At the Manning Passing Academy, Nussmeier spoke about his running backs and what he expects out of that unit this upcoming season.

“Yeah, I think all of our backs are gonna do a really good job for us this year. Kaleb [Jackson], and Josh Williams, and Caden [Durham], they’re all really, really good and they care. They care about us, they care about our team, they care about our offense,” Nussmeier said.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels was LSU’s leading rusher last season with 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Just behind Daniels was Logan Diggs, who entered the transfer portal and joined Ole Miss during the offseason.

Williams returns with the most experience for his sixth season with the Tigers, representing the only member of the team who was a part of LSU’s 2019 National Championship team. But overall, the mentality of the entire running back room gives Nussmeier confidence in the run game.

“They do things the right way and I think that makes a difference, especially when you have some running backs that care about what they’re doing to do things the right way,” Nussmeier explained. “It makes a total difference. They’re always where they’re supposed to be, they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing, and they’re doing even more.”

Williams may bring the experience, but Jackson returns following an impressive true freshman season where he rushed for 165 yards and four touchdowns on 31 carries. He also made an impact in the passing and return games with six catches for 53 yards and 11 kickoff returns for 249 yards.

“So I think all those guys, and Kaleb, you’ve seen him make people look stupid and make people look like the middle schoolers when he runs into him. But I think you’ll see a lot more of that too as well,” Nussmeier concluded.

Nussmeier is likely referring to Jackson’s highlight play against Mississippi State where he bulldozed over a defender and sent the LSU sideline in a frenzy last season. More plays like that are what Tiger fans are hoping to see more of from him and the entire offense this upcoming season.