Lane Kiffin has IMPRESSED in his First Offseason as the LSU Football Coach | with Rohan Davey

You also were out at Jordan Seaton's camp. How was that? How was the camp? Listen, man, it was hot. It was hot. And it was hot. You know, when I was out at the camp, dog, and I was walking around helping the kids, I kept thinking to myself, like, how the hell did we plan this crap? With all this equipment on, 40 pounds of equipment. But the camp was good, man. Jordan's a really, really unbelievable young man. His personality, bruh, just so bubbly. He loves the kids. He loves the community. So, it was dope to be a part of that for him and help facilitate that with JT and my guy, Eron, with Baller Bites. So, that was good. It was good to see all the guys come out and support him. You know, the mayor come out. Other dignitaries come out. Shout out Coach Sid. Yeah. So, it was a good time. It was good. I love seeing it. It's cool to me because, obviously, the sport has changed so much. Guys leave school, go somewhere for a year. But it's awesome when you see someone like Jordan Seaton, who spent his time at Colorado, is now at LSU. He was only going to be here for a year because he's going to be a top 10 draft pick. But he's here and he's investing in Baton Rouge. It's awesome to see. And I mean, bruh, listen, he got a good team behind him. Shout out to Uncle Khalil, who definitely wanted to get the community involved. Wanted Jordan to put his stakes down here. Because this is something that he wants to do every year. I mean, from just speaking to him, he fell in love with Baton Rouge from the time he got here. And, you know, now he wants to do some things in the community. So, it was wonderful, bro. Yeah, and I'll ask you. I mean, I think we've talked about it before. But you are not from Baton Rouge. You came here to play football. And it's a place that seems to have that effect on people like Jordan. He gets to Baton Rouge, he falls in love with it. What is it about Baton Rouge, about LSU that just grabs a hold of people, especially football players or people associated with football, that make them want to stay here? Well, I think the first thing, man, is the people that you encounter, right? The people that you encounter, the people that you come in contact with, the ones that you have to deal with initially on a day-to-day basis, the people of the community. But honestly, you know, first is LSU football. Honestly, it's LSU football. It's the tradition of LSU football. It's the brand of LSU football. It's Tiger Stadium. It's the whole, everything that encompasses LSU football, from the tailgating, which, you know, you got to understand guys come from different parts of the world. So, we haven't seen things like that before. So, it's all that. And then it's wanting, like, if you're any kind of a competitor with it, it's wanting to, whether, like, for me, for me, it was wanting to bring that tradition back. Yeah. So, for these guys, if I was in their shoes, it's, for me, it's, ----, it's standing on top of this big brand and keep pushing it and pushing it and getting it bigger and bigger and bigger. So, it continued growth. Yeah. I think that's what these kids fall in love with now. And then, bro, honestly, because they ain't never played a game in Tiger Stadium. So, it's not that yet, you know what I mean? You can feel it. You can see it. But until you walk through, touch that crossbar, come out, see 100 Plus and feel the energy, you don't know what that's like. That's the ultimate, like, honestly, to everybody else, it's the ultimate **** you. You know what I'm saying? Like, it ain't like this. I don't care if you're Clemson or you call yourself, I don't care if you're Auburn, Ward, whatever. It's nothing, nothing lives up to this feeling right here. And as a player, once you feel it, it's a wrap. Yeah. You know what I mean? And week one is going to be that stadium. I mean, talk about... Well, I take that personally. That's my job to make sure 100 Plus, like, that's the only thing I can do to help. Right. So, I'm glad it does have a little bit of an impact. Yeah, guys like Seaton and Leavitt, like, talk about getting proved right. Like, they've heard it. They've thought about it. They've been pitched it. But the first time they get to do it, it'll be as good as possible. All of those guys that's coming in here. Right. Every single one of them. I don't care where they've played before. It ain't that. And now, and the thing is, everyone hasn't... Everyone hasn't or has or going to feel what that has felt like. Because of the magnitude of the game, where we are, the time we're in right now, the present moment with LSU football and everything else. This feeling, you can't come nowhere near duplicating what this is going to feel like. This is... I probably haven't felt what this feels like. You know what I mean? Even my first time walking out, it's different. When you're coming in here with everything that's going on now, and it's Clemson, and it's this, and it's this. And it's game day, and it's Kiffin, the whole thing. Come on, man. Like, that's crazy. It's going to be crazy. The whole week is going to be crazy for those guys. That's right. You know what I'm saying? 100%. But you were obviously... We talked a good bit the last month about the recruiting. The official visit weekends are now over. They're in the dead period. But what were some of your takeaways, just overall, from the entire month of official visits LSU had? They were able to get some big-time commits. Some guys that come through, like first-time visitors to LSU, and then would commit right after. Like, talk about some of your takeaways. They cancel visits. Right. Talk about some of your takeaways. Well, I think the targets, like who they targeted and what they went after. They went after a bunch of edge. They went after a bunch of D-linemen, a bunch of offensive linemen. Then they went after the highest-rated guys at their position across the country. Whether it's running back South Carolina, running back Florida, running back wide receivers, wide receivers safeties. For me, the difference in how they're approaching recruiting from when these guys touch down on campus. Shout out to Jeff Martin for spearheading that and knowing what catches these guys' eyes when they're on the recruiting trips. Having the financial people in place to be able to get that talk. Because you know how important that is. I don't give a doggone what, kid, da-da-da-da. At the end of the day, can I get this number? So they have those guys in place. And then, bro, let me tell you something. That goddamn ear was wrong. In the perfect world. I can only imagine. Bro, it's amazing to see 17, 18-year-old kids run up to that man. Yeah. Hug him. You know what I'm saying? Because they've heard of him. Because they've seen him. Because da-da-da-da-da. You know what I mean? All that. Everything that encompasses that. Right. And the way his knowledge of when he's talking to the kids of their position. And his knowledge that he's done his research on them. Bro, it's so impressive. And trust me, I know I'm just pointing out, Coach Ed, it's the entire recruiting staff from Bria and Morgan with the young ladies that usher these guys in. They get their families comfortable. They get their young kids playing cornhole. And you know what I mean? It's all that. So shout out to Bria and Morgan and the entire staff up there. They do an amazing job making the moms feel welcome. It's the whole thing, bro. It's such a difference in the recruiting from what. And granted, I've only went to one when BK was here. Right? Yeah. Doesn't count. But that's all I got, though. You know what I'm saying? And to have those guys and those coaches so visible with these guys and just the knowledge. There's no question that these guys ask that cannot be answered. You know what I mean? And it's being answered by their position coach. It's not like they're being walked around by their assistants and the head guys are gone. It's them. You know what I mean? So it's just impressive, bro. That's one of the biggest things. But the panel discussions that they've put together of former players speaking to these guys that are now coming in and haven't given them the opportunity to ask questions that they normally wouldn't get answers. And I mean, it's from old players like myself to young players. You know what I mean? Like Jordan Seton on panels. You know what I mean? So it is refreshing to see. And they're not trying to hide. They're not trying to cover up. They're not trying to hide. They're trying to extend the brand and show the brand. So I love what they're doing with recruiting, bro. I really do. No, it does. It seems so exciting. And when you see the outcomes of it, right, where they get the commitment, they're doing such a good job. And speaking of recruiting, there are so many exciting names when you see someone new or someone you're trying to flip or go get. But you can start to take for granted some of the ones already committed. And this past weekend, I think everybody was impressed with Pop Hughes and the performance he put on over at the Nike opening, the 7-on-7 event, where he won the strongest arm contest. Back in Elite 11, he was the most accurate quarterback. And then he was alpha dog over the weekend. I mean, look, it's just like we talked about when we talked about him and Haven a couple weeks ago or something like that. And we all gave our take on it. You know what my take was? I feel like we got the right guy. And it's not to say he was not fantastic, different guys for different systems. And I think what you get with Pop is the ability to process and get to that next one. To me, that's the biggest difference with the two guys from what I've seen. And that's not the, like I said, not the shade on anybody. But that's the biggest thing that I see when I watch these guys. And I've seen Pop on the 7-on-7 circuit now for a minute. Kwame really didn't get on the circuit. And I think that's the benefit of 7-on-7. It's a benefit for quarterbacks. And it's a benefit for quarterbacks to understand and develop. If you're in the system where you're not doing all that gimmicky crap just to win a football game, but you're actually trying to develop these guys. And that's what Pop and his dad did. He got in that system. Shout out to his father for guiding and pushing and putting everything in front of him to make sure that he is who he is right now. But he's a fantastic young man, fantastic quarterback, super accurate. But listen, man, super, super, super competitive. And I saw that from him and his dad, super competitive. Because we got into it at a 7-on-7 about three years ago before Pop was Pop. You know what I mean? And super competitive. Respect for him and his father. But super competitive group, super accurate kid, super, super smart kid, man. And I'm excited as hell to have him. I mean, this throw that Lloyd put up. But that was crazy. It's an easy one. I mean, he's... Listen, man, he put that thing to a car wash. Don't get wet. I mean, shoot. And that's what people don't talk about enough is they knew he had the arm because the processing and the placement is so good. It's the processing. That's what I'm telling you. When you hear that NFL quarterback from snap to catch, let the ball go. He's dropping it on a go-route timing. It's 45 yards. We all could throw that Sun Gun 45 yards. So the arm talent isn't the biggest thing in playing the position. Right. The biggest thing is between your ears and your accuracy. Because if you could process, now your accuracy is better because you're anticipating. Right? Now, yeah, you may need that strong arm a time or two. And get it in that little tight hole. Right. But that's few and far between. And the reason you're doing that too is because you're damn late. Because you processed it late. Right? So... **** it. Right. Yeah. But I mean, that's... I mean, yeah. That's the case. Brett Favre processed everything late. Right? And we know he didn't. He just had a damn missile. Right? I mean... So, listen. I am super excited to have this kid coming in. I think LSU's quarterback future is in a great spot. Agreed. I think that when this kid come in next year, he gonna compete for the job. Yeah. I really do. That's how advanced I think he is personally when it comes to... And then this is the thing. Offense is a shitty running. Right. You understand what I'm saying? So, it's not gonna be that big of a curve for a kid like that. Because all he's gonna be changing is words. Right. You know what I'm saying? So, he already knows rotation. He already sees rotation. He already understands the corner's position. He understands all that stuff already. So, when he gets here, it's gonna be... Okay, this is what you know. This is what you don't know. But this is... You know a lot more than the average person coming in. And that's what the problem is now when you have NIL, transfer portal, and these kids coming in now. You have to be like a pop at every position in order for you to come in and get a scholarship now. Yeah. You're not coming in and say, we're gonna put you on the shelf for two years and develop you and this and that. Nah. It's too much developing by private coaches and stuff going on now with him. You know what I mean? So, they want these kids in, ready to go. And he is ready, bro. And he's one of the guys that before it was LSU, Ole Miss was his first collegiate all, like D1 offer. Yeah. So, Lane Kiffin was already on him. On him, yeah. And now it's the marriage of he wanted to go to LSU, but obviously Lane Kiffin's off. That's how you put him together. You ain't kicking me out. And the way he's riding for LSU. And look, he is the perfect. You know, there's no such thing as perfect. I know. Sometimes it's close. I think he's the perfect quarterback. For that system. Yeah. And he didn't shy away from the competition. Because Lane came in and brought in Levitt. Obviously, you don't expect to necessarily be back next year. But he brought in Landon Clark. And then he's on Longstreet, who's freshman. Like those guys are going to be back on the roster. Pop didn't blink. Yeah. But that's why I like him. Me too. That's what I'm saying. It would be like, oh, I want to reopen my recruitment. Hell no. I think the biggest knock against him, right, is his size. Like, that's the one thing that he will put. Like, that's the reason he's not a 5'5". He's not 6'2". Right. But I also think that's part of the reason why his mental is where it is. Because he was never able to get away. Right. With being the biggest and strongest on the field. But you know what has happened, though, is what happens to a lot of these kids. They start out slow. He catches up. And you catch up not only with your mental, of course, because your mental is going to be like you just pointed out. It's going to be more advanced. Yeah. Because you have to find ways to figure it out. Yes. And he does that. But listen, bro, we ain't talking about him being small no more. Right. He put together. That's what I'm saying. Yeah. Height, you throw that out when it comes to quarterbacks in this system. You know what I mean? Like now when he get ready to go to the league and so on and so forth, it may look at that a little bit more, you know, strenuous. But as far as, you know, six foot 190, I'm going to take it. Yeah, he's not in this system. No, no, I'm going to take it. I also want to ask, as we talked a little bit about it at the start of the week, Pop Houston, obviously such a big advocate and voice for LSU, LSU recruiting, the future of LSU. He's on a team seven on seven this past weekend with Eastern Royal, the number one wide receiver in the state, in the country, out of Brother Martin in New Orleans. What do you think Pop is saying to Eastern as they go out there and play and they ball out and he's throwing them touchdowns like that and they're winning? Shit, we could do this every night, dog. We could do this every weekend, dog. Me and you every weekend, we could do this. Oh, listen, I'm sure he has the full court press on Eastern Royal. You know what I mean? And from what I'm hearing about that, it's not a done deal with Texas. Yeah. It's not a done deal until that thing's signed. And, you know, it's going to reel back. In my opinion, I think it's going to come back and LSU is going to have to make some decisions with the money side of it. And, you know, we'll see that. I hear a lot of people saying just give him a check and tell him to write the number down or whatever. Because he is that good. He's that good of a man. He's impressive, bro. Yeah. He's impressive. I mean, I think he's a ready-made guy to come in right now and play. Yeah. You know, most guys you wait on him, he's, you know, when I saw Derrick Stingley come into college. Oh, yeah. I was like, ----, he is ready, you know, because you look at their bodies. That's the biggest thing. The mental part of it, wide receiver, DB, you can play. You know what I mean? You ain't no damn quarterback. Right. You make it doing all, you know what I mean? You get a call, this and that. I mean, the locking down the side of the field. You know what I mean? That type of thing. So it's not like you're a quarterback coming in and the mental is going to be so overwhelming for you. Whereas, man, this kid come out. So you look at the body. There's no question. What you looking at, Lloyd? Derrick Stingley Jr. But that's what I'm saying. Oh, one of them. Oh, yeah. One of them taught you. You got to look at two. Oh, ass and ankles. That's it. Yeah, that's it. I need a small and I need a big. Yeah, no doubt. It's true. Very true. And Stingley was all of it. But that's what I'm saying. Like, besides him and I mean, Patrick Peterson came in pretty ready to go. Right, right, right. And I mean, there's a handful of men looking for that. Like, yeah, yeah. But listen to who we talking about. Top up. We're talking about freaking. We're talking about dudes. You know what I'm saying? Like the best that they position. Yeah. Possibly ever at LSU. Yeah. Kevin Faulk, of course, you know what I'm saying? But we're talking about we're comparing this kid to legends. Yeah. So what the hell we think he gonna be like, you know, the same way I felt about this big offensive lineman that in limbo right now. But we can't losing that kid is. It's a problem, right? No, I agree. Yeah. Because I would be if it was if this is Brian Kelly Senior, I'd be all over his ass for not being able to recruit into state. Right. I'm giving Lane right now. We're giving a little bit of a pass. He's doing it differently. But he got in late, too. That's what I'm saying. Like, I can't judge him on this. That's what I'm saying. I gotta get Easton Roy. I know. You got a year. You got time. You got time to get him. You got time. And you got your quarterback recruiting him. And he's in New Orleans. And he look, Lane jumped all over it. That ---- was it felt like Texas had it in rap. I know. And then Lane got hired the next day after he committed. And it was the first visit. Like, he's doing it right. He is. But you got time. You got to make up time. We got it. Yeah, you got time. You got time to flip them. Hopefully, we flip them. I just don't know if you're Easton Roy how you don't want to come to LSU. Yeah, that's my thing. Like, even especially after this weekend. Even if the money's comparable. Well, the thing is this, too, man. I think there's a manning factor. Yeah. Ew. I think there's a manning factor. I'm telling you. You think he's going to come back? Listen, you think about this. If you Texas, you got this kid as your quarterback. You got a great family. Right. With a freaking plethora of connections to where this kid Easton Roy wants to go. You understand what I'm saying? Like, everything that just imagine all the stuff that they put in front of this kid. Right. As the number one wide receiver in the country. You don't think that, man, that boy wrote every single thing that that kid could possibly. And not just the surface level. Just everything, bro. Like, from your future, to this, to that. Whatever. Whatever happens, I can get you drafted. That's what they have. You know what I'm saying? That's the kind of leverage that you have when you have that kind of family. Right. Mafia. But I'm serious, though. I'm serious, bro. I think that's what's impressive for LSU. Is that at this point, you're still battling with that. Like that. Because you would think a deal like that, money like that, would shut that recruitment down. It's not. No doubt. You're still very much in the mix. No doubt. Because I mean, ----, we got off of some stuff, too. Right. But I'm just talking about just that personal connection with that. Like, man, those kids. The Easton Royals of the world. And the, what's the man and boy? What's the quarterback name? They've been communicating. You know what I mean? They're from the same, all this. So it's not as if they probably know those kids since he's been coming up. Yeah. You understand what I'm saying? So I think the relationship runs a little bit deeper than people may know. Yeah. Because they are New Orleans. That's what I'm saying. Yeah. People forget. That's what I'm saying. Like, and they're going to know who is who and who could possibly come help my son or my nephew. You know what I'm saying? Because a lot of people think that I would be in the camp of this, too. Now that five for five has passed, where it's five years to play five. Correct. I think people thought this is Archer's last year, no matter what. Yeah. But now, like, they've been very conservative with him and how they've, like, let him approach. They're going to watch the draft. And exacts exactly my point. Well, that's exactly. That's what. Listen, if it's the Jets, he ain't coming out. No, hell no. Look at the family. That's what I'm saying. They, they. And they're all taking for every piece of his life and all. You think that's crazy. Wait till Peyton son. Oh, Marshall. Yeah. Have you seen him do this? Yeah. He looks just like Peyton. He looks like a damn daddy. And I want to say they don't do that no more. So because I'm sure he's in the backyard. He's like, dad, why am I doing this? Watch the 2004 AFC championships. Like, is this in color? You want to see me against Tom Brady? Is this in color? But bro, listen, this is. This is wild. I want Eastern Royal, though, bro. Oh, yeah. I need him in that Tiger Stadium. No, I mean, I just don't know. I like the way you just pitched it. Like slapping the wind ball. It ain't Texas. They don't have that. No, listen, man. That's what I'm saying. But, you know, it's the same token. If he go there for a year, we still gonna recruit him. Oh, yeah. You'll play with our tree. You're having fun. You're going back with pop. Go get that 2 million and come on back, baby. Give me some. Spread the wealth. But because that's the thing. Like, I just, all I can think about this past weekend was I know pop is recruiting the hell out of you. It's so hard to say no. Yeah. Especially when they're like, when you're playing that well, when it's going well. Because I mean, say like if you're on a different page, you're not completing passes and you're not winning. You're not having fun. And you go to school. It's not any good. But it was the opposite. They were cooking. That's why it's got to be a hard, a hard thing to say no to. Well, it just puts that kid in a hard position. And then the other thing about this thing, too, that, you know, all these guys have representatives now. Yeah. All they representatives that's giving them advice. That's, you know, do this, do that. It's going to push you down up here. Push. That's all it is with these representatives at the end of the day. Unless they just really do have the kid's best interest at heart. You know what I mean? But man, listen, I can't. It'd be hard for me if I was Easterwood not to, not to flip, bro. Especially if LSU is giving me everything I want to. Of course. You know what I'm saying? As long as all that adds up. And I don't see why I wouldn't. Right. You know, unless they have some kind of crazy, weird requests or whatever. Yeah. Unless they want, you know, Kane's jet every weekend or something. But you can just buy another one. Give them another, you know.