With another year and another question mark at quarterback for the LSU football team, the Tigers looked to its backfield this recruiting season to improve their offense.
LSU’s recruiting class was highlighted by its two top-20 running back signees, Nick Brossette and Derrius Guice, who will add depth to a committee including last year’s talented freshmen Leonard Fournette and Darrel Williams. The young and deep backfield will be complemented by an offensive line that could be one of the best in the country.
LSU’s newest additions will try to fill the void left by senior running backs Terrence Magee and Kenny Hilliard, who will be entering the NFL Draft this April.
LSU coach Les Miles said the depth at the position will allow LSU’s backfield to get necessary rest and keep it from skipping a beat if an injury occurs.
“I think we’re a team that allows for the fact that you want to stay fresh, you want to stay healthy,” Miles said. “I think that if you look at the backfield from last season, you lost Kenny Hilliard for some time, and we were very fortunate to have three backs that could all play. I think that is a very quality recipe for us. I think we’re a very talented group of backs.”
With Fournette maturing toward the end of last season, culminating in a 264 all-purpose yard performance against Notre Dame, the Tigers appear to be in great shape to develop the young backs they added to the roster.
Miles said the variety they possess at the position will solidify the Tigers’ offense and allow them to attack from various fronts.
“I think the contrast of styles is good,” Miles said. “I think certainly both backs will be very productive. You take Guice, and he makes a suggestion in a national all-star game that he can go off and show you his versatility. And Nick Brossette is as steady and productive as there is. So I’m very optimistic about both.”
Guice, a four-star recruit and No. 5 ranked running back in the nation according to 247sports.com, officially committed on National Signing Day and brings his U.S. Army All-American Bowl game MVP award with him. In his senior season at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, the dual-threat back tallied 1,958 total yards along with 29 touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Brossette has had an especially close relationship with Miles since first attending the University Laboratory School on LSU’s campus. In his four years in school, he totaled 8,190 yards for an average of eight yards per rush and scored 141 rushing touchdowns.
Brossette said he is looking forward to staying close to home and is excited to play with such talented teammates.
“It’s home. I couldn’t pass that up with everything, and I feel like LSU has given me a better opportunity,” Brossette said. “[Running backs coach] Frank Wilson made me a promise and said he’s going to make me successful on and off the field. I trust him with that. It means a lot [to play in a talented backfield] because it saves your legs and gives you better competition and everything. LSU is RBU.”
You can reach Stanton Vignes on Twitter @stanvignes_TDR.