LSU Football should add former South Carolina assistant to staff
By Zach Ragan
LSU football has several staff vacancies to fill this offseason.
If LSU football wants to put together the best staff possible, they should find a way to bring former South Carolina defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson to Baton Rouge.
Robinson, who served as the Gamecocks’ defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach from 2016-2020, wasn’t retained by new South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer.
Beamer likely let Robinson go because South Carolina’s defense didn’t perform very well in 2020. The Gamecocks allowed 451.5 yards per game this season, which was ranked No. 101 in the nation.
So why should LSU want Robinson?
Because he’s a heck of a recruiter.
LSU football needs a safeties coach who can recruit
With Bill Busch not returning in 2021, the Tigers need to make sure they add a safeties coach who can excel on the recruiting trail.
I think Robinson, a former Auburn defensive back, fits the bill.
“If you’re putting together a dream team staff of college recruiters, I don’t think there’s any question that right now, T-Rob would be on that staff,” said AuburnSports.com reporter Bryan Matthews in 2015.
Robinson has plenty of SEC experience. He’s coached at Auburn, Florida, and South Carolina. He knows the landscape of recruiting in the southeast. Robinson also has strong Florida connections (he’s a Miami native) which could be huge for LSU.
The only problem with trying to add Robinson is that Florida will likely be after him as well.
One scenario that could possibly work at LSU would be to hire Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator/linebackers coach and add Robinson as safeties coach/co-defensive coordinator (Robinson worked with Muschamp at Auburn in 2015 and at South Carolina from 2016-2020).
This isn’t necessarily a slam-dunk type situation for the Tigers, but I think it’s an option worth considering.
Next. Should LSU bring Kevin Steele back to Baton Rouge?. dark
Everything should be on the table for LSU this offseason, including hiring a well-connected coach that South Carolina didn’t want anymore.