LSU Tigers football coach Brian Kelly gave up his personal wealth for the program’s 2025 Transfer Portal class through his “Million Dollar Match Challenge” this offseason. He needs to get a return on the NIL investment from the proven entities he and the program’s donor base helped buy.
But what exactly is the return Kelly is looking for?
As Geaux247’s Glen West explains, Kelly wants more “adults in the room” after the Tigers crumbled late against USC on opening night on a neutral field, in the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field, and in the Swamp in a brutal fourth quarter against the Florida Gators a week after being blown out against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
“LSU’s 2025 roster building strategy was pretty concise. Yes, it wanted veteran players with experience and past production who would be able to handle any situation thrown at them,” West wrote.
“It wanted future NFL players, which this roster appears on paper to have plenty of going into the 2025 season. But more than anything else, it wanted some more adults in the room who would absorb what the ultimate goals are for this team and use them to fuel a more businesslike mentality.”
Kelly alluded to needing players built for big moments during a Monday press conference, something every single outbound transfer could take as a shot after a disappointing 8-4 season that forced the head coach into desperation mode.
“When you’re putting together the DNA of a football team, it’s not just about talent acquisition,” Kelly prefaced before saying, “It’s making sure that you have the pieces necessary to compete in those moments. When there’s a turnover, when there’s sudden change, when momentum is not going your way, what’s the makeup of your team?”
At this point, Kelly is being questioned for the same reason. If LSU continues to take steps back from his debut season in 2022, Kelly’s control over the locker room will be a narrative.
Simply put, there’s too much talent not to turn it around. And now, that talent is notably highly compensated and was known to have been recruited specifically because of their ability to unite the locker room.
If the 2025 team can’t be united, perhaps no Kelly-coached squad in Baton Rouge can be.
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