Latest news with #LSUFootball
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
LSU Football Makes Historic Academic Announcement Under Brian Kelly
Brian Kelly wrapped up his third season as head football coach of the LSU Tigers with a solid 9-4 record, capped by a bowl game win over Baylor. But beyond the on-field success, LSU accomplished something even more impressive off the field near the end of the academic year. For the first time in program history, the LSU football team earned a perfect single-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) score of 1000, marking a major milestone in the classroom. This achievement places LSU Football amid the university's rising number of athletic programs that have reached similar levels of academic excellence. Advertisement The official LSU Football social media account celebrated the accomplishment on Tuesday, posting: "LSU Football has achieved a single-year 1000 Academic Progress Rate for the first time in school history!" The Academic Progress Rate is a term-by-term measurement of a team's academic eligibility and retention. Division I teams that fail to maintain an APR score of at least 930 may be subject to NCAA penalties. A 930 score is roughly equivalent to a 50% graduation rate. LSU's perfect 1000 APR followed an already strong showing in the NCAA's Graduation Success Rate (GSR), where the team scored an 89 last fall. That mark extended LSU's streak of scoring at least an 89 in the GSR to eight straight years. LSU Tigers head coach Brian Lew-Imagn Images Last season, the Tigers improved their multi-year APR score to 977, a significant jump after the previous season's score dipped below 930. Fortunately, LSU avoided penalties at the time due to the NCAA's temporary suspension of sanctions related to APR scores. In Ed Orgeron's final year in Baton Rouge, the team posted an APR of 897. Advertisement Since arriving at LSU, Kelly has posted a 29-11 overall record and gone 17-7 in SEC play. The Tigers have won bowl games in each of their three seasons. Over his career, Kelly boasts an impressive 292-107-2 record as a head coach. Related: Urban Meyer Calls for Rule That Would Get Michigan Coach Fired Related: New Preseason College Football Rankings Left Fans in Disbelief
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
LSU football reclaims top spot in 2026 recruiting class rankings
LSU football's 2026 class ranks No. 1 in the country again, according On3's Industry Rankings. The Tigers reclaimed the top spot after USC moved ahead for a few weeks. Five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin decommitted from the Trojans on Wednesday, which led to the team's drop to No. 2. Head coach Lincoln Riley's team still has the most committed prospects by far in the cycle with 27, including 16 four-stars. Advertisement LSU's group of nine prospects includes two five-stars, wide receiver Tristen Keys and defensive lineman Richard Anderson, and six four-stars. The group sets a new standard as the best recruiting cycle for head coach Brian Kelly during his LSU tenure. Homegrown talent separates LSU's 2026 class from the likes of USC and other highly-rated groups. Six of the Tigers' nine commits hail from Louisiana, including Anderson as well as four-star wide receivers Jabari Mack and Kenny Darby. More are expected to be added as multiple blue-chip prospects are scheduled to make official visits to Baton Rouge this summer. Whether or not LSU retains the top spot nationally, the cycle remains a large success due to the blend of five-star prospects and Louisiana natives, who will be less likely to flip their decisions. This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU football recruiting rankings: Tigers No. 1 in college football
Boston Globe
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
The No. 7 jersey at LSU goes to the top playmaker. For the last two years, it was left tackle Will Campbell.
All playmakers ― receivers or defensive backs. All Louisiana natives. 'The list goes on, and it always had been that way,' head coach Brian Kelly said. Kelly, who arrived in 2022, had a crazy thought for the 2023 season: Why couldn't No. 7 go to then-sophomore left tackle and Monroe, La., native Will Campbell? He doesn't score touchdowns, but Kelly thought Campbell was a baller. Advertisement 'I'm a bit of an outsider, talked to a few people about this, but I said, 'He is our best player. All he does is make plays for us so we can win,' ' Kelly said. 'I've been doing this 35 years. Playmakers help other players make plays, too. And so when we really looked at it and dug down, we said, 'This is our playmaker.' ' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Related : Kelly made Campbell the first offensive lineman to wear No. 7, and Campbell earned it again for his junior year in 2024. Offensive linemen can't wear No. 7 during games, but Campbell wore the number in practice, and wore a No. 7 patch on his game uniform. Campbell also wore No. 7 on his hoodie at LSU's pro day. Advertisement 'The premier guys at that school wear it, so for me to be able to wear it is an honor,' Campbell said. 'My school pictures from when I was in fourth grade are me doing the Heisman Trophy pose in the LSU No. 7 jersey. It means everything.' It's rare for a player to wear the number in two consecutive seasons ― not since Fournette in 2014-16. Even rarer for it to be an underclassman. 'Maybe you get it your senior year and that's it,' Kelly said. And of course, it was unprecedented for a lineman. 'He upheld the legacy of 7, that's for sure,' said Jordan Arcement, LSU's director of player development. 'He's a real athlete. Will played AAU basketball. When Coach kind of wanted to revamp 7, it was more playmaking ability, but also just best overall player. Clearly we saw him as our best player.' Related : With the blessing of his players past and present, Kelly changed the meaning of No. 7 to be not just the best playmaker, but the player who best exemplifies the program Kelly is trying to build. In 2024, Kelly awarded No. 7s on both sides of the ball ― Campbell on offense, linebacker Harold Perkins on defense. 'It was well received by our alums,' Kelly said. 'They loved the fact that we took 7, and it didn't have to be in such a narrow category that you had to catch or throw the ball. It could be anybody that impacts the team that is from the state of Louisiana. And that means a lot here. They're very prideful of coming from the state, playing for their flagship university. It was a big day when Will was awarded that.' Advertisement The best player from the state of Louisiana. Will Campbell will carry on the legacy of No. 7. — LSU Football (@LSUfootball) Campbell and Kelly both arrived at LSU in 2022 and formed an instant bond. Campbell earned the starting left tackle job in August of his true freshman season, and started all 38 games over the next three seasons before opting out of LSU's bowl game this year and turning pro. 'He allowed me to feel comfortable here,' said Kelly, a Boston native who spent most of his coaching career in the Midwest. 'Because we came in together at the same time, and we kind of rode this thing out together, every step of the way.' Arcement called Campbell 'our backbone.' In addition to wearing No. 7 his sophomore and junior years, Campbell was voted a captain both times. 'He was the person in the locker room who would get other guys back on track. Guys who are slipping,' Arcement said. 'He took the captain stuff seriously. I think when he came in as a freshman and started, it really gave him the foresight to see that he could do it at this level. And he took it so seriously to try to be the first pick of the draft.' Campbell, a two-time All-SEC pick and a 2024 consensus All-American, rarely, if ever, missed a practice. 'He doesn't miss anything ― early morning workouts, whatever it is,' Kelly said. 'He's a guy you can count on. He's a bedrock. He's a foundational piece.' Related : Campbell didn't handle the ball at LSU, but he's such a good athlete that Kelly said he never considered moving him off left tackle despite his 'His athletic ability, his economy of movement is one of the things that probably doesn't get talked about a lot,' Kelly said. 'He's so efficient in his movement that it just doesn't make sense to move him. Look, he's blocked everybody in the SEC the last three years that he's going to have to go against anyway in the NFL.' Advertisement The Patriots solidified their trenches with Campbell at No. 4. They also may have picked up a real playmaker. 'A left tackle at No. 4, it's not a sexy pick. But he's a foundational piece that allows football teams to build championship programs,' Kelly said. 'That's what he's done for me in turning this program around.' Ben Volin can be reached at
CNN
13-04-2025
- CNN
Former LSU wide receiver and NFL prospect Kyren Lacy dies at 24
Former Louisiana State University (LSU) wide receiver Kyren Lacy has died, the school's athletic department announced Sunday. He was 24. 'We're saddened to learn of the tragic passing of former LSU Football student-athlete Kyren Lacy,' LSU said in a statement to CNN. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones, as well as his former teammates and coaches impacted by his passing.' According to CNN affiliate WAFB, Lacy was found dead in Houston early Sunday morning. The school did not provide a cause of death. CNN has reached out to the Harris County Medical Examiner's office, Lacy's attorney and agent for comment. The LSU Football family mourns the loss of Kyren Lacy In January, Lacy was charged with negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run and reckless operation of a vehicle after police said Lacy caused a December 17 automobile accident in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, that killed 78-year-old Herman Hall and injured two other people. Lacy turned himself in and was later released on $151,000 bail on January 12, according to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office's online records. According to a January police news release, Lacy was behind the wheel of a 2023 Dodge Charger, driving 'recklessly' and illegally passing other vehicles while driving at a 'high rate of speed.' He is accused of 'crossing the centerline and entering the northbound lane while in a designated No-Passing Zone.' The police stated that Lacy's actions caused the driver of a 2017 Kia Cadenza to swerve over the centerline to avoid impact with the Charger. The Cadenza then 'collided head-on with a southbound 2017 Kia Sorento.' Lacy's agent, Rocky Arceneaux, said in January that the facts of the case 'will ultimately demonstrate the truth, but we respect the need for a full and thorough investigation.' A grand jury was scheduled to start hearing evidence Monday, WAFB reports, according to his lawyer. Two days after the fatal accident, Lacy posted on X that he was declaring for the 2025 NFL draft, which takes place from April 24-26. Lacy did not play in the Tigers' 44-31 Texas Bowl victory against Baylor University on December 31. The Thibodaux, Louisiana, native played the last three seasons at LSU after transferring from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Last season, Lacy was tied for most receiving touchdowns in the Southeastern Conference with nine. He started 12 games, catching 58 passes for 866 yards. In 39 games, Lacy caught 112 passes for 1,692 yards and 16 touchdowns with the Tigers.
New York Times
13-04-2025
- New York Times
Former LSU WR Kyren Lacy has died
Former LSU receiver Kyren Lacy was found dead on Saturday night in Houston, multiple sources close to Lacy confirmed to The Athletic on Sunday. He was 24. LSU shared a post mourning Lacy to X on Sunday. The LSU Football family mourns the loss of Kyren Lacy — LSU Football (@LSUfootball) April 13, 2025 The school also released a statement, saying, 'We're saddened to learn of the tragic passing of former LSU Football student-athlete Kyren Lacy. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones, as well as his former teammates and coaches impacted by his passing.' Lacy was pursuing a future in the NFL but was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine after a Dec. 17 car crash near his hometown of Thibodaux, La., that killed 78-year-old Herman Hall. Lacy was facing charges of negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run and reckless operation of a vehicle. He turned himself in to authorities on Jan. 12 and was released on bond. Lacy, who played three seasons at LSU after transferring from Louisiana Lafayette, led the Tigers with nine touchdown catches last season. He had 866 yards on 58 receptions in 12 games.
