When Lane Kiffin took the LSU head coaching job, he barely touched the defensive coaching staff. Defensive coordinator Blake Baker was retained to lead the Tiger defense once again in 2026, and aside from bringing in new defensive line coach Sterling Lucas, LSU's defensive staff has remained in tact.
Top recruiting target earns 5-star status as Lane Kiffin continues LSU's push
But following the departure of defensive analyst Jermauria Rasco to Mississippi State, Kiffin was left with finding a replacement. He dipped into the Louisiana high school coaching ranks to find it, which reinforces a key priority for Kiffin throughout his tenure at LSU.
Former Tulane DL DeAndre Williams joins LSU's defensive staff
On Monday, it was announced that LSU has added DeAndre Williams as a defensive analyst. Williams was a standout player at Scotlandville Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, and was a nose tackle at Tulane from 2017-2020. He's spent the last few seasons as the defensive coordinator at Brusly High School in Baton Rouge, and will primarily work with the Tiger defensive linemen.
NEW: LSU has added DeAndre Williams and a defensive line analyst, source confirms.
— Matt Moscona (@MattMoscona) February 21, 2026
Brusly DC prepped at Scotlandville and played at Tulane@1045espn @LASportsDotNet
When Kiffin was first hired at LSU, he made it clear that recruiting the best talent in the state of Louisiana will be a top priority. He has been effective, as he's already inked in-state 5-star recruits Lamar Brown and Richard Anderson in LSU's 2026 recruiting class.
In addition to prioritizing in-state players, Kiffin also sees value in bringing in coaches from the Louisiana high school ranks. Bringing Williams on board reinforces that goal, and shows that Kiffin and his staff want to have as many connections and advantages as possible when recruiting the top players in Louisiana. Williams is a fast-rising assistant coach who now has the opportunity to contribute to LSU's defensive approach while learning from Baker.
This past season, the Tiger defense held opponents to just 18.3 points per game, which was good for 4th in the SEC. LSU was also the only team in the country to record more interceptions than touchdown passes allowed. As Kiffin prepares for his first season in Baton Rouge, spring practice is set to being on March 24.