There’s no doubt, it was a rocky season in Baton Rouge for the reigning national champions but things are already starting to look up for the Tigers looking ahead to the 2021 season.

When things were looking the bleakest and the Tigers were eyeing a losing record after starting the season with a 3-5 record, LSU pulled off the upset of the year in the SEC beating Florida 37-34 in The Swamp.

Ed Orgeron’s team then finished the season with a hard-fought win over Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss, which was the only loss the Rebels suffered during the team’s final five games of the season.

While finishing the season with a 5-5 record is far from the standard in Baton Rouge, those wins gave LSU new life — in more ways than you may realize.

During Orgeron’s latest appearance on Baton Rouge-based 104.5 ESPN radio show Off The Bench, the LSU coach was asked to share his thoughts on how the program managed to lure so many players back for another season.

If you missed the news, the entire defensive line (DT Glen Logan, DT Neil Farrell, DE Ali Gaye and DE Andre Anthony) along with the interior of the offensive line (LG Ed Ingram, RG Chasen Hines and C Liam Shanahan) have committed to playing another season at LSU.

According to Orgeron, the momentum gained at the end of the season really helped LSU recruit those players back for another season.

“Towards the end of the season, when (the Early Signing Period) was coming up, I told the team that we have some very important recruits out there – but the most important recruits are the guys in our (locker) room,” Orgeron said on the show.

“I have to give credit to the staff, they did a great job recruiting our guys. These guys believe, and again, the last two wins helped. We ended up having a positive note, and because of the COVID, most of those guys had an extra year. They needed another year. They knew it was best for them to stay and we are so glad to have them.”

Orgeron was then asked about freshman tight end Arik Gilbert’s status.

The former five-star recruit may not be returning to Baton Rouge but Orgeron hasn’t given up on Gilbert sticking with the Tigers.

“We love Arik, he entered the transfer portal, we are still in contact with his mother and his family,” Orgeron added. “Hopefully he wants to come back. I just wish the best for him.”

Of all the commitments to return to LSU, getting Gilbert to come back to Baton Rouge would be the biggest news yet for Orgeron’s program.