The LSU Football program entered the 2025 season opener against Clemson with just three scholarship running backs on the roster.
Lane Kiffin ignites excitement among LSU fans everywhere with elite transfer portal pickups
It made for a tricky situation, and with Caden Durham battling injuries for several games, LSU's lack of running back depth was tough to navigate throughout the 2025 season.
But things are shaping up to be a lot different in 2026.
LSU's running back depth could be an extremely valuable asset in 2026
Lane Kiffin retained both Caden Durham and Harlem Berry, which gives the Tigers a strong 1-2 punch out of the backfield.
Furthermore, Kiffin brought in four running backs through the transfer portal: Raycine Guillory (Utah), Rod Gainey Jr. (Charlotte), Dilin Jones (Wisconsin), and Stacy Gage (UCF). That depth could prove to be extremely valuable for the LSU offense in Kiffin's first season in Baton Rouge.
Caden Durham
Durham initially chose to enter the transfer portal, but later chose to return to Baton Rouge for his junior season. Durham has been LSU's leading rusher in each of the last two seasons, totaling 1,258 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns over 24 games with the Tigers. It will be interesting to see if he takes on the No. 1 role in 2026, as the emergence of Harlem Berry could lead to the sophomore tailback taking on more of a leading role.
Harlem Berry
Kiffin secured a huge win when it was announced that Harlem Berry would be returning to LSU for his sophomore season. A former 5-star recruit, Berry put together an impressive freshman campaign that saw him collect 491 rushing yards and 4.7 yards per carry to go along with a pair of touchdowns in 2025.
When Durham initially announced that he would be entering the transfer portal, Berry figured to be LSU's RB1 in Kiffin's first season. That could still be the case with Durham now returning, as Berry saw an increased work load and made the most of his opportunities down the stretch this past season. It will be interesting to see how Kiffin utilizes both of these talented running backs.
Dilin Jones
Former Wisconsin running back Dilin Jones could compete for the No. 3 spot in LSU's running back room in Kiffin's first season. The 6'0" 205-pound tailback was the starting running back for the Badgers for seven games in 2025 before a turf toe injury cut his season short. He racked up 300 yards and two touchdowns on 76 carries across those seven games. A native of Laurel, MD, the former 4-star recruit was ranked as the nation’s No. 12 overall running back on the Rivals composite.
Rod Gainey Jr.
Rod Gainey Jr. comes to LSU after spending two seasons with Charlotte. He led the 49ers with 260 rushing yards this past season, while also scoring a pair of touchdowns. He was also a threat in the passing game, collecting 16 catches for 44 yards this past season. Looking ahead, Gainey could be a nice change of pace piece in LSU's backfield.
Raycine Guillory
Former Utah running back Raycine Guillory was the second player Lane Kiffin signed through the portal, following former Hawai'i wide receiver Jackson Harris. At the time of his commitment to the Tigers, Guillory was ranked as the No. 60 running back in the portal according to On3's Transfer Portal Player Rankings. He spent just one season with the Utes and had just a single carry for four yards this past season. The former 3-star recruit has four years of eligibility remaining and figures to be a depth piece in 2026.
Stacy Gage
Redshirt sophomore Stacy Gage saw limited playing time during his two seasons with UCF. Gage ran 13 times for 63 yards and a touchdown over 10 games with the Knights, and heads to LSU with three years of eligibility remaining. He figures to be another valuable depth piece for Kiffin and the Tigers this season.