LSU Football: Kevin Faulk is still essentially recruiting for the Tigers

When Brian Kelly was hired as LSU Football‘s head coach late last year, the initial feeling was that running backs coach Kevin Faulk would remain on staff.

But in early December, it was reported that Kelly wouldn’t be keeping Faulk on staff. There have been some rumors that Faulk wanted some time off in 2022 after a very trying personal year in 2021 (his daughter tragically passed away last fall).

Faulk is a Tigers legend who played for the New England Patriots from 1999 to 2011.

The Lafayette native joined Ed Orgeron’s LSU staff in 2018 as the Tigers’ director of player development, immediately becoming a key recruiter.

Faulk was promoted to running backs coach in 2020.

Kevin Faulk is essentially still recruiting for LSU football

It doesn’t appear that there’s any bad blood between Faulk and the Tigers.

Or if there is, it isn’t preventing Faulk from steering recruits to LSU.

247Sports’ Shea Dixon reported on Sunday that 2022 four-star running back TreVonte’ Citizen, one of the Tigers’ top remaining recruiting targets, has recently talked with Faulk about his recruitment.

And Faulk has told Citizen that LSU would still be his best option.

Citizen grew close with Faulk during the recruiting process over the last year, so it makes sense that he’d continue to consult Faulk.

It’s great to see that Faulk is still helping LSU land recruits, even though he’s no longer employed by the program.

Citizen is a key recruit — the Tigers don’t currently have a running back committed to their 2022 recruiting class. And if they miss on Citizen, they likely won’t sign a running back this cycle (unless they land a transfer running back).

Faulk’s conversation with Citizen could end up being what wins LSU this recruiting battle.