Ed Orgeron finalizing deal to join Lane Kiffin’s LSU staff

LSU football is making room to bring back a familiar face. New head coach Lane Kiffin is adding a former Tigers leader: LSU’s last national title winner Ed Orgeron.

ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel reported the stunning return Wednesday. Although he and Kiffin hold a decades-long relationship including their run at USC. Thamel also added what role Orgeron has in Baton Rouge.

“Orgeron’s role will be special assistant to recruiting and defense for the Tigers,” Thamel posted on the social media website X, formerly Twitter.

This means “Coach O” returns to his element of College Football Recruiting. He garnered a national reputation for landing high-profile recruits throughout his college coaching career.

Orgeron once recruited a young Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to the University of Miami. He also won over five-star talents like Kenny Bigelow Jr. to the USC Trojans and quarterback Max Browne.

He also secured a massive College Football Transfer Portal victory before the 2019 national title run. Orgeron helped bring in Joe Burrow after he left Ohio State. The duo breezed through the ’19 season and secured LSU’s fifth national championship by beating a Trevor Lawrence-led Clemson team. Orgeron also played a major role in landing another future Cincinnati Bengals star in Ja’Marr Chase to Baton Rouge.

“Coach O” earns the national spotlight with LSU to start the year as well. The season opener between the Tigers and Clemson is reportedly the site of ESPN College GameDay’s week one appearance.

It’s not known if Orgeron will have a heavy emphasis on pulling in future Tiger recruits. But Kiffin no doubt will lean into an old pal of his when it comes to hitting the recruiting trail.

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