National publication rates 2022 LSU football coaching staff

LSU football took a huge step forward this offseason by signing Brian Kelly away from Notre Dame.

The Tigers decided to leave Ed Orgeron midway through the 2021 season. And LSU athletic director Scott Woodward was determined to make a splash.

I would say Kelly’s landing qualifies as a “splash”. Kelly has been considered one of the best coaches in the country over the past decade. The success he’s managed to have at Notre Dame — a place where it hasn’t been easy to win for the past 20 years — is nothing short of amazing.

Kelly will be tasked with turning LSU into a national championship contender once again. The Tigers are just two years away from winning a natty, and the roster boasts some elite talent, but the program falls far short of expectations in 2020 and 2021.

Of course, Kelly won’t do it alone. He’s hired a strong team of assistants — all new faces except for offensive line coach Brad Davis — who should be able to help the program return to the top of the SEC West.

247Sports rates LSU football coaching staff

247Sports’ Brandon Marcello ranked new college football coaches this week and he had a favorable opinion of Kelly’s staff.

Marcello gave LSU’s new staff an “A.”

Here’s what he had to say about the Tigers’ assistants:

He (Kelly) can probably push LSU into contention in 2023 with a few Top 5 signing classes and half a dozen instant impact stars out of the transfer gate. He’s certainly built a great team to bring those types of players to campus and turn them into superstars. Perhaps the biggest recruit in assistant coaching circles was Frank Wilson, the McNeese State head coach who resigned to become the Tigers’ running backs coach for the second time.

Marcello only handed out one “A+” and that was to Billy Napier’s new staff in Florida.

I have a feeling it has a lot to do with former LSU cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond joining the Gators staff. Letting Raymond leave Baton Rouge is the one decision I think Kelly should be asked about. Hard to imagine that this is a good idea (especially since he will be replaced by Robert Steeples, a coach who has never been a secondary coach).

Overall, though, it looks like 247Sports really likes what Kelly has done with her staff. It’s certainly a good sign as LSU enters a new era.