The running back that bulldozed into a Mississippi State defender in 2023 laying him out on his back is returning to LSU. And his name is Kaleb Jackson.
Now a sophomore in the LSU Tigers backfield, Jackson has reportedly added 35 pounds of muscle in the offseason. The Tigers have Jackson listed at six foot, 235 pounds on www.lsusports.com.
#LSU RB Kaleb Jackson has transformed his body since arriving to campus.
— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) August 2, 2024
1st photo: Fall Camp 2023
2nd photo: Fall Camp 2024
The strength/conditioning program is doing wonders in Baton Rouge.
Jackson is currently listed at 6’0, 235 pounds.
He shared his transformation photos: pic.twitter.com/IdrSm1FNba
What were Kaleb Jackson’s stats in 2023?
In his freshman season, the Baton Rouge native ran for 165 yards on 31 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He had four touchdowns on the season. Some of Jackson’s carries were in meaningful playing time, which says something at a premier SEC program like LSU if you are able to get on the field that early in your career.
And that version of Jackson was without the 35 pounds of muscle he enters the 2024 season with. With experience and muscle now under his belt, I would expect Jackson’s production to more than double in 2024.
What will Kaleb Jacksons role be for LSU in 2024?
Expect Jackson to split carries in 2024, but have more of a workload compared to the previous season. In 2023, Jackson had the fifth most carries on the team.
Running backs Logan Diggs, Josh Williams and Noah Cain along with quarterback Jayden Daniels all had more rushing attempts than Jackson. Of these players, Williams is the only one that returns. This should be a clear indicator that fans should look to see more of Jackson in 2024.
LSU has an experienced backfield heading into 2024
The good thing is that despite the exit of Diggs and Cain, the Tigers actually return a lot of experience to the backfield in 2024 with senior John Emery Jr. returning to the squad for a sixth season. In addition to Emery Jr., Williams and Jackson, the Tigers also have four-star freshman Caden Durham who ranked as the fifth best running back in the country in the class of 2024 according to On3.
While there may not be a bell cow back in 2024, that may be a better thing at the end of the day for the Tigers. It will keep Jackson and the others fresh and ready for a potential College Football Playoff run.
The Tigers also return one of the most experienced offensive lines in the country with Will Campbell and Emory Jones Jr. projected as first round draft picks in 2025. Running behind a bunch of boulders is not a bad situation for Jackson. And putting another 35 pounds on top of it will be something you won’t want to take your eyes off of.