LSU Football: Tigers finally find their defensive coordinator

It has finally happened. LSU Football has their defensive coordinator.

Well, at least according to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

Feldman reported on Monday afternoon that Daronte Jones is expected to replace Bo Pelini as the Tigers’ new defensive coordinator.

Jones interviewed with LSU and Ed Orgeron on Monday.

LSU football lands a defensive coordinator with NFL experience

Jones served as the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive backs coach in 2020. He was the Cincinnati Bengals’ cornerbacks coach in 2018 and 2019. Prior to his time in Cincinnati, Jones was an assistant defensive backs coach with the Miami Dolphins.

The new LSU defensive coordinator has college experience, too. Jones was the defensive backs coach at Wisconsin in 2015 where he worked under former LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. Jones was also the secondary coach at Hawaii from 2012 to 2014.

This is the third coach that Orgeron and the Tigers have attempted to hire for their defensive coordinator opening.

Earlier this month, it looked like LSU was close to a deal with Marcus Freeman, who was on Luke Fickell’s staff at Cincinnati. Freeman ended up taking a job on Brian Kelly’s staff at Notre Dame as the defensive coordinator for the Fighting Irish.

LSU then turned their attention to New Orleans Saints’ defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen, who worked under Orgeron at Ole Miss. Contract language prevented Nielsen from landing in Baton Rouge (he also received a raise and a promotion).

If the Tigers are able to close the deal with Jones, it will give Orgeron his third defensive coordinator in five years.

That may sound alarming, but in college football, it’s rare for a program — these days — to have the same defensive coordinator for more than a few years.