LSU set to hire South Carolina's Jimmy Lindsey as defensive line coach

Brian Kelly has filled the opening on his defensive coaching staff at LSU.

Kelly is set to hire South Carolina’s Jimmy Lindsey as the Tigers’ new defensive line coach, sources tell On3.

Lindsey worked at South Carolina the last three seasons after previously working as defensive ends coach at Illinois (2020) and as a defensive line coach at places such as Western Kentucky (2017-19), Georgia Southern (2016) and Furman (2012-15).

He has a longstanding relationship with Tigers’ defensive coordinator Matt House that goes back to the two working together as part of the defensive staff at Gardner-Webb in 2005.

In recent years, Lindsey has coached standout players like Zacch Pickens at South Carolina and others like 2020 All-Big Ten selection Owen Carney at Illinois.

Pickens, who could go in the early rounds of the NFL draft this weekend, recorded 42 tackles and 2.5 sacks for South Carolina last season after compiling 38 tackles and four sacks in 2021. Carney’s breakout under Lindsey came after serving as a backup his previous two years at Illinois. He finished 2020 with 28 tackles and five sacks in eight games. He ranked sixth in the Big Ten in sacks per game (0.63).

At LSU, Lindsey will be the replacement for Jamar Cain, who left LSU to take a job as a pass rush specialist coach in the NFL with the Denver Broncos. He’ll inherit a talented group led by star redshirt sophomore and potential 2024 NFL first-round draft pick Maason Smith as well as others such as junior Mekhi Wingo, who posted 47 tackles and three sacks last season.

Defensive analyst Gerald Chatman had been handling the coaching of the Tigers’ defensive line group on an interim basis since Cain’s departure for Denver.

LSU is entering its second season with Brian Kelly as its head coach. The Tigers finished last year 10-4.

LSU opens its season against Florida State Sept. 3.