Lane Kiffin has LSU's running back room in tremendous shape heading into the 2026 season. Kiffin was able to retain both Caden Durham and Harlem Berry, which gives the Tigers a fantastic 1-2 punch in the backfield.
He also added Raycine Guillory from Utah, Rod Gainey Jr. from Charlotte, Dilin Jones from Wisconsin, and Stacy Gage from UCF through the transfer portal. Those additions give LSU the running back depth it severely lacked in 2025.
LSU heads to Jacksonville for Jax Baseball Classic with serious momentum to start the season
While LSU's rushing attack is looking strong for Kiffin's first season in Baton Rouge, that isn't stopping Kiffin and his staff from looking ahead. Hailing from right down the road at Baton Rouge Catholic High School, four-star RB Jayden Miles is a player who remains at the top of the board for Kiffin and the Tigers.
LSU looking to land big recruiting win with hometown product Jayden Miles
Miles is the top-rated running back in Louisiana and the No. 10 running back in the entire country for the 2027 recruiting class according to 247Sports. Over the last few weeks, LSU has emerged as the frontrunner in Miles' recruitment, with Rivals' Sam Spiegelman logging his pick for LSU to land the hometown product.
Along with LSU, the 6'2" 200-pound running back has also received offers from Auburn, Florida State, Houston, Miami (FL), Oklahoma, Oregon, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M.
Miles' close proximity to LSU has allowed him the opportunity to take multiple unofficial visits to LSU over the last few seasons. He was most recently on campus during the final weekend of January, along with fellow in-state products WR Miguel Whitley and ATH Braylon Calais.
In his early days at the helm of the LSU Football program, Kiffin made it clear that in-state high school recruits are a top priority for LSU's roster construction. Landing a commitment from Miles would be a great add to LSU's 2027 class, which features just two players at this time: 4-star EDGE Jaiden Bryant and 4-star QB Peyton Houston. It's still early, but Kiffin seems to have LSU well-positioned in the hunt for Miles' services.