Report: LSU set to hire NFL assistant to fill defensive coordinator role

The LSU Tigers parted ways with DC Bo Pelini after the 2020 season. Since then, their quest to find a new defensive coordinator has been an interesting one.

First, there were rumors that Cincinnati DC Marcus Freeman was heading to Baton Rouge, but then he took the Notre Dame defensive coordinator job. Then, there were reports that the Tigers were hiring Ryan Nielsen from the Saints, but the Saints ended up not letting him go.

Now, according to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, the Tigers are expected to hire Minnesota Vikings DB coach Daronte Jones to fill the opening:

SOURCE: #Vikings DB coach Daronte Jones is expected to become the new DC at #LSU. Jones, a protege of Dave Aranda coached under the ex Tigers DC when he was at Wisconsin. Jones, who spent the day interviewing w/ Ed Orgeron, was DC for 5 yrs at Bowie St. and had the No. 1 D in D2.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 25, 2021

As Feldman mentioned, Jones has experience working at Wisconsin under Dave Aranda, who was LSU’s defensive coordinator from 2016 to 2019.

How will he fare in Baton Rouge? We’ll find out if he can turn things around for the Tigers on that side of the ball in 2021.