When Texas A&M went all in in an attempt to steal defensive coordinator Dave Aranda from LSU, the Tigers handed their defensive mastermind the richest deal for an assistant coach in college football history to stay in Baton Rouge — Aranda received a four-year deal worth $10 million guaranteed.

While money certainly played a role in Aranda’s decision to stay in Louisiana, the LSU coach cited his excitement regarding the future of the defense in Baton Rouge as a big reason he decided to stay. In a recent interview with ESPN Baton Rouge 104.5 FM program Off the Bench, the LSU DC had this to say when asked what made him want to stay at LSU.

“I love the players here,” Aranda answered on the air. “I immediately think about the linebacker corp, and I think of Devin White. The improvements he has made, his hunger to be a better player. He’s in the office on Sundays (after games) before I am.”

The defensive coordinator went on to say the freshmen linebackers on the roster, his respect for Ed Orgeron and his family’s love for Baton Rouge also played into the decision.

Aranda was then asked about Devin White and his potential ceiling.

“He can improve a lot, and he’d be the first to tell you that. The improvement from the middle part of the season to the end was the drastic one,” Aranda continued.

“Early in the season, he was evading blocks just because he could. Later in the season, it was more of playing (his) responsibility and taking on blocks and winning one-on-ones. What an improvement that was, in just a few games… the improvement was on tape.”

Based on the glowing descriptions of his star defender, don’t be surprised to see White have an All-SEC, if not All-American, type campaign in 2018. Considering he’s got arguably the best defensive coordinator in the nation helping him to achieve those lofty goals, nothing should be out of the realm of possibility at this point.