LSU is closing in on hiring Missouri defensive line coach Kevin Peoples, according to multiple reports.

That news was first shared by ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Friday afternoon. Peoples would be following former Missouri defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who left for the same role in Baton Rouge earlier this week.

Peoples is expected to coach edge rushers at LSU. Brian Kelly has already hired Bo Davis away from Texas this offseason to coach interior defensive linemen.

It’s been a big offseason for LSU, who overhauled its defensive coaching staff following a disappointing 2023 campaign on that end of the ball. Kelly fired 4 defensive assistants earlier this offseason, including former defensive coordinator Matt House. LSU still has one vacancy left on its defensive coaching staff, which will presumably be filled by a defensive backs coach.

For Missouri, this is a troubling loss. Peoples spent 2 seasons on Mizzou’s defensive coaching staff and helped turn the Tigers into an 11-game winner in 2023. This past year was the first time Missouri has won 11 games in a single season since 2014.

Peoples’ coaching résumé also includes stints at Indiana, Tulane, UAB, Georgia Southern and Arkansas, amongst other programs.