Brian Kelly Couldn't Win a Title at LSU—Why He Thinks Lane Kiffin Will
The ex-Tigers coach assessed his successor in a Wednesday interview.www.si.com
Brian Kelly Couldn't Win a Title at LSU—Why He Thinks Lane Kiffin Will
The ex-Tigers coach assessed his successor in a Wednesday interview.
On Wednesday, Kelly—currently unemployed—sat down virtually with John Brice and Blake Toppmeyer of USA Today. During that conversation, he offered interesting thoughts on his LSU successor—well-traveled former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin.
Kelly thinks Kiffin can do what he could not—lead LSU to a national championship
“I think so,” Kelly said when asked whether Kiffin will win a national championship with the Tigers. “Here’s why I’d say yes. I think that they have invested in NIL for him. I think they have given him the opportunity.”
Kiffin has already started to do damage on that front, nailing down (per 247Sports’s rankings) the highest-rated transfer portal class in the nation. Though it’s early, he’s making strides in 2027 recruiting as well, convincing five-star tight end Ahmad Hudson of Ruston, La., to stay in his home state on Sunday.
“There’s a lot of good things moving in that direction. The recruiting classes, they’re really in solid shape,” Kelly said. “Lane’s a really smart football coach. I think it’s in a really good place, and I believe that because there’s been an investment in that NIL, he’s going to be able to be Lane Kiffin.... he’s not going to take the 18-year-old kid and develop him all the way through the ranks, and that’s fine.”
Re: Kelly said. “Lane’s a really smart football coach....he’s not going to take the 18-year-old kid and develop him all the way through the ranks, and that’s fine.”
Just sayin': OK, why didn't Kelly just try to do what Kiffin is doing?. Apparently Kelly is conceding that Kiffin is just a smarter football coach ....
Upvote
0
