LSU Football 2024 Position Preview: Running Backs

The future wears 28

Heading into 2024 LSU is in a bit of a crossroads with the rushing attack.

The Tigers are losing its top two rushers from the 2023 team in Jayden Daniels (1,153 yards and 10 touchdowns) and Logan Diggs (653 yards and 7 touchdowns). That Kid Jayden was LSU’s leading rusher in both 2022 and 2023, so unless Garrett Nussmeier has the most deceptive of deceptive speed, expect the leading rusher for 2024 to be someone who’s actual job is to run the dang ball.

Whoever ends up being the bellcow back will have one of the best offensive lines in the country blocking for him. All Brian Kelly, Joe Sloan, and Cortez Hankton have to do is decide if they want to lean on ole reliable or build toward the future.

Believe it or not, LSU still has two players from the 2019 team on the 2024 roster. Josh Williams and John Emery are both entering their sixth seasons of college football though the two will likely have very different roles in the fall.

Williams is probably LSU’s most complete back on the roster. He’s shown he’s tough between the tackles, a dependable receiving option out of the backfield, and he’s the best at pass protection. He’s also not afraid to light dudes much bigger than him up.

Between all that and his seniority I’d expect Williams to be LSU’s starting running back when the Tigers take on USC. I also said last year I’d bet everything I had on him getting the 18 jersey and whiffed but you know what? I’m doubling down. Josh Williams is getting the 18 this year.

While Williams projects to have a big role in 2024, I’m not sure the same can be expected from Emery. Emery had a nasty ACL tear in the Florida game so who knows how healthy he’ll be when we’re not even 10 months removed from the injury. Emery graduated from LSU and was apparently about to transfer to UCLA, but for whatever reason decided to come back for one final season in Baton Rouge. Whatever you get out of Emery will be lagniappe, and if you’re wondering yes you’re reading that right: Emery will not be wearing 4 this year, instead he’ll be in 22.

Emery and Williams won’t be with LSU in 2025, but sophomore running back Kaleb Jackson and incoming freshman Caden Durham will so I’m curious to see how many miles the coaching staff is willing to put on the youngsters.

Listed at a jacked 230 pounds, Jackson is about as exciting a running back prospect LSU’s had in quite a while. I don’t want to invoke the name “Fournette” but all I’m saying is I haven’t seen an LSU running back do this to somebody since 7 was wearing the purple and gold.

Jackson got the ball 31 times last season and averaged 5.3 yards a pop. What if you tripled those 31 carries? That’s 93 carries for a hair under 500 yards. What if Jackson really becomes a bellcow and gets 150-200 carries? Could he become an 800-1,000 yard rusher? Especially behind four future pros along the offensive line? They say the biggest jump a player makes is between his first and second years and if that’s the case, Jackson seems primed to explode.

Caden Durham is a young but a potentially really intriguing piece. A consensus top-10 running back in the 2024 cycle, Durham might be on the shorter side (5’9”) but he’s powerfully built and has legitimate track speed. Durham qualified for the Texas state championships in both the 100 meter dash and 4×100 relay and his best time was reportedly 10.28. Durham’s mother ran track at Oklahoma and there’s a chance he competes for LSU in the spring.

Trey Holly is still listed on the LSU roster but is not practicing due to his legal standing. Holly was charged with attempted second-degree murder, aggravated criminal damage to property, and illegal use of a weapon back in February but has since seen the murder charge dropped. The weapons charge, however, is still pending and Holly’s court date was pushed back to September 18. Holly is still enrolled at LSU but is suspended indefinitely.