LSU Football Running Back Harlem Berry Reveals Intrigue in Playing for Lane Kiffin

In what became a significant move for Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers this offseason, the coaching staff in Baton Rouge retained former five-star running back Harlem Berry to the 2026 roster.

Once Kiffin arrived in the Bayou State, there was a primary focus on reconstructing the roster ahead of his inaugural season with the program, but there were also critical components that needed to be kept.

Berry, the No. 1 running back in the 2025 Recruiting Cycle, quickly emerged as a priority for the coaching staff to keep in the purple and gold after a strong 2025 season as a true freshman.

Across his first season with the program, Berry totaled 491 yards rushing on 104 carries and two touchdowns where his workload increased dramatically across the final four games of the regular season.

There was buzz that Berry could test the NCAA Transfer Portal after a change in leadership was made at LSU - along with position coach Frank Wilson heading to Ole Miss - but the former five-star knew where he wanted to be.

"I'm from Louisiana. I'm from New Orleans. All I knew was LSU growing up. I'm committed to LSU. When I was getting recruited, I was trying to fake it like I was going to go somewhere else, but I always wanted to come here," Berry said on Tuesday.

Lane Kiffin and the #LSU Tigers retained the former No. 1 RB in America this offseason after inking Harlem Berry to a new deal.

Now, the Louisiana native is back in Baton Rouge for Year 2 with the Tigers.

The 5-star back worked closely with LSU RB coach Kevin Smith on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/Aofoa4cZ9b
— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) March 24, 2026

"Just knowing that they wanted me back here and me wanting to stay here was something real special."

The opportunity to play in a Kiffin led scheme played a pivotal role in Berry's decision-making process as well with the coaching staff recruiting him to remain in Baton Rouge while outlining how his skillset would be utilized.

"It was a great feeling, especially wanting to come back here. I wanted to come back here, so just knowing that they wanted me back here was a great feeling. But I'm just still here ready to work. Nothing's earned, so we're just out here working right now," Berry said.

"When we played them, seeing and learning from that, knowing that he came here and just watching that game and how everything went, that was definitely an exciting thing. Just getting an open field, catching the ball at the backfield, getting in space.

"This is definitely a different type of offensive scheme. A lot of different things I'm seeing and just being able to get us out the backfield more. Routes in space is something we've seen a lot and I'm loving it."

Now, as the offseason continues, all eyes are on Berry where he looks to breakoyt as a sophomore in the purple and gold.

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