Another exciting yet fleeting college football season has come and gone. While watching Georgia dismantle TCU, I couldn’t avoid thinking about the problems LSU gave Georgia in the SEC championship game. Georgia was obviously the better team, but the game could have gone much differently without a blocked kick and a freak interception. This column won’t be a recap of the SEC Championship but more of a closer look at what LSU needs to do to return to elite status in college football.

Build Depth

The biggest difference between UGA and LSU wasn’t as simple as player personnel; it’s the depth of the talent on the roster. For reference, the Bulldogs’ defensive tackle Jalen Carter, the highest rated player on Mel Kiper’s 2023 draft board, played only 308 snaps in 2022. LSU’s All-American defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo logged over 700 snaps this season. Championship teams can go two and sometimes even three deep with minimal drop-off in quality. The Tigers are well on their way to building the depth needed with the fifth ranked overall (high school recruits and transfers) class in the 247 Sports rankings. It’s important to note that LSU’s staff has been mostly targeting transfers with at least two years of eligibility left. Brian Kelly inherited a roster in such a dire condition last year that he did not have that option. Another important aspect of building depth is retaining the players that are already on the roster, but that is an ongoing problem for practically every program in the country.

Evaluate and Replace Assistants

I was tremendously impressed with the offensive and defensive coordinators for LSU this year, but I’m sure other programs were also impressed. As LSU continues to increase the quality of their on-field product, assistant coaches will leave for better opportunities. The only thing that can keep Matt House from becoming a head coach in college football is a lack of interest in becoming a head coach. Fortunately, Brian Kelly has proven that he has the ability to effectively assess the abilities of assistant candidates and make hires that make his job easier.

Solidify the Culture

Talent and disciplined daily habits create a winning program, and Kelly has done an excellent job of quickly establishing his expectations with the players within the program. If one ignores the rumor mill, there were relatively few incidents off the field that have led to players missing time in 2022. A winning mentality consists of not only avoiding trouble but also going the extra mile with daily tasks. It helps immensely when the best players exhibit that trait. The aforementioned Mekhi Wingo won LSU’s Alvin Roy award, which goes to the hardest worker in the strength and conditioning program. Recruiting and developing players with that kind of self-motivation will further ingrain the standard that Kelly wants to his players to meet upon arrival.

The Tigers will bring back the bulk of their offensive starters and likely begin the 2023 season as a top 10 team. They’re still adding transfers to an elite recruiting class. As of now, the entire coaching staff will return. LSU fans have a lot to be excited about regarding the future of the program and could be watching the Tigers in playoffs sooner than later. Geaux Tigers!!