LSU football’s defensive line was staring down a serious depth problem at defensive end heading into the offseason, but now defensive coordinator Blake Baker is beaming with confidence during fall camp. The Tigers weren’t messing around, bringing in proven talent through the transfer portal and locking down highly-rated 2026 commits to fix that hole.
The New Blood Bringing the Heat
Baker specifically called out a couple of guys who are already making a huge impact: Ole Miss transfer Princewill Umanmielen and Tennessee transfer Jordan Ross. He’s seen “a lot of growth” from both of them since they landed in Baton Rouge this spring. And let me tell you, Umanmielen’s stats are no joke; we’re talking 91 career pressures, 12 sacks, 13 hits, and 66 hurries. That kind of disruption is exactly what you want.
Then there’s Jordan Ross, a five-star recruit from 2024 who had flashes of brilliance at Tennessee but never fully clicked. Last year, he still put up 13 pressures and two sacks, with an 81.1 pass rush grade that was among the best in the entire SEC. Baker’s praise for Ross is a massive sign, hinting that 2026 could finally be his breakout year. If he puts it all together, opposing QBs are gonna have nightmares.
Depth, Development, and a New Philosophy
It’s not just the transfers, though. Redshirt junior Dylan Carpenter has absolutely exploded, becoming a key depth piece last season in 2025. Baker couldn’t stop praising his journey, saying he’s “absolutely been outstanding” and that kind of growth from a freshman is rare these days. While the Tigers might still be a little green past their starters, Baker is feeling good about young bucks like five-star true freshman Lamar Brown and redshirt sophomore Kolaj Cobbins stepping up.
Baker’s whole philosophy is built on the idea that a healthy pass rush is the secret sauce for more interceptions and a strong secondary. He calls it “rush and coverage work together” , makes sense, right? Last year, LSU only snagged four fumble recoveries, which is way too low. That number tells you they needed to get more pressure and finish on the quarterback. Now, the staff is drilling it into them, coaching strips on the ball and punches at the ball to crank up those takeaways. Baker put it simply, “definitely the better the rush, usually the more interceptions you have.” They’re playing around with different strengths on the edge, too, saying they have “some really good explosion off the edge as well” and guys who “are all complimentary of each other.” That kind of balance and focused coaching could completely transform their defense.
With Baker’s confidence in this revamped group and a clear focus on turning pressures into turnovers, LSU is heading into the season ready to unleash a whole new level of chaos on opposing offenses. Keep your eyes on those edge rushers, because they’re being coached to make game-changing plays.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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