LSU’s Kelly among first-year head coaching success stories in FBS

The job of a new head coach in college football is never an easy undertaking. Usually a school is making a new hire due to lack of success, so upon his arrival the new coach has to address team culture. There are usually numerous defections from member of the roster. It is a time-consuming process on numerous fronts. But is it easier than it seems?

Out of all of the new 2022 hires in college football, Brian Kelly may have had the steepest hill to climb. He took the LSU job while just 39 scholarship players participated in a 42-20 bowl loss to Kansas State.

Kelly had to re-direct the path of the program. Up to this point, he may have made the most of it with the least on hand at the start. Following a 45-20 beatdown of the previously unbeaten Ole Miss Rebels, Kelly’s Tigers are perched in the 18th slot in the nation’s top 25.

Jayden Daniels now leads the SEC with the most yards among quaterbacks. The transfer has tossed for 12 touchdowns and run for nine additional scores with just one interception. He has completed 70% of his attempts. Daniels is still a dangerous ball carrier but he’s not running for his life lately thanks to an improving young offensive line. It’s the runs by design that care maing opponents pay now.

The 6-3, 200-pound junior went from just a prospect to commanding the offense in a matter of weeks. One could make a case for Daniels entering the Heisman race. Other than Tennessee superstar Hendon Hooker, few have had the profound effect on his team throughout the month of October than Daniels.

Kelly has the program rolling in the right direction. Win or lose, his demeanor doesn’t change. He maintains a middle of the road demeaanor, focusing on the next challenge and solving problems. That attitude has spilled over into the locker room. Never over the top following a win and never too low after a loss, college football’s active wins leader among coaches has pieced together an outstanding coaching staff and a good football team.

Meticulous in recruiting despite arriving late in the process, Kelly found successful with the 2022 class. He was also outstanding adding talent via the transfer portal. The examples are many:

-Daniels, 8 starts
-LG Soph. Miles Frazier, transfer via FIU, 8 starts
-RT Freshman Emery Jones, 6 starts
-LT Freshman Will Campbell, 7 starts
-TE Freshman Mason Taylor, 7 starts, 19 catches, 178 yards and 1 TD.
-CB Jr. Mekhi Garner 8 starts, transfer via UL-Lafayette, 25 tackles, 1.5 TFL
-FS Sr. Greg Brooks, transfer via Arkansas, 8 starts, 34 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 intercept. 1 sack
-SS Sr. Jarrick Bernard-Converse, transfer via Oklahoma State, 5 starts, 28 tackles
-SS Sr. Joe Foucha, transfervia Arkansas, 3 starts, 12 stops, 1 interception vs. Ole Miss.
-CB Sr. Colby Richardson, transfer via McNeese, 5 starts, 12 tackles
-LB Freshman Harold Perkins, 2 starts, 36 tackles, 3 TFL , 2.5 sacks, 8 QB hurries
-DT Soph. Mekhi Wingo, transfer via Missouri, 7 starts, 33 tackles, 2.5 TFL , 2 sacks, took over when Maason Smith went down in the first series in season opener.
-LB Soph. West Weeks, transfer via Virginia, 18 stops, 3 TFL , 1.5 sacks.

Let’s take a closer look at the true freshmen on that list:

– Currently, Campbell is a sure thing as a first-team freshman All-American. He holds a 71.7 Pro Football Focus grading, which is highest among all freshmen tackles.
– Perkins is considered the top freshman linebacker in the country, easily Freshman All-SEC and Freshman All-American. He is a newcomer to a long line of LSU game changers, in the mold of a Tyrann Mathieu as a versatile defender who can be used in multiple roles to attack offenses.
– Jones gets better every game. He can be dominating. Emery is now a Freshman All American candidate that should make Freshman All-SEC wiith his higher profile teammate Campbell. Despite rolling out a pair of true freshmen on the bookends, the LSU offensive line seems to be rounding into a strength.
– Taylor is another Freshman All-SEC possibility. He may not have the stats that jump off the table, but Taylor has demonstrated reliable hands, good route running talent and versatility as a blocker.

FIRST-YEAR, NEVER FEAR

Much like Kelly, a few other first year coaches at new locations who have exceeded expectations thus far.

Sonny Dykes is the leader currently for best first year coach based on 2022 performance. In his initial campaign with No. 7 TCU, the 52-year old has the Horned Frogs coasting along at 7-0. Their 38-28 comeback win over Kansas State last weekend was no anomaly. His squad has overcome a pair of 17-point deficits in consecutive weeks.

Known for his high-flying offenses, Dykes has TCU ranked thurd nationally in yards per game (522) with the Frogs averaging 44.7 points per contest.

Dykes spent three seasons at Louisiana Tech (2010-’12 with a 22-15 record) before turning SMU around. He posted a 30-18 mark during his five years in Dallas before taking over in Fort Worth. The Frogs were 16-18 the last three years under Gary Patterson.

Washington’s Kalen DeBoer took an interesting path to Seattle. The Huskies were 7-9 the last two seasons prior to his arrival. Behind the left arm of Indiana transfer Michael Penix, the 6-2 Huskies are flourishing on offense. Penix, the top-rated passer in the country, has thrown for 2,934 yards with 22 touchdowns and four interceptions.

The 47-year old DeBoer previously guided NAIA Sioux Falls to a 67-3 record. He most recently led Fresno State (2020-’21) where he went 12-6 before landing at Washington.

Clay Helton was at USC from 2015-’21, posting a 46-24 mark before being dismissed. He had rebounded at Georgia Southern. The 5-3 Eagles finished 3-9 last season under Chad Lunsford. Helton changed the offense from an option attack to a more balanced offense.

Buffalo transfer Kyle Vantrese has helped the offensive upgrade in Statesboro. The 6-2, 225-ound senior is the second leading passer in college football with 2,704 yards and 18 scores. Sitting 11th in the country with 494.5 yards of offense per game, Ga. Southern has made a difficult transition look easy. Vantrese has only been sacked two times this season.

Jon Sumrall spent 2012-’14 as co-defensive coordinator at Tulane. He played linebacker at Kentucky 2002-’04. Now he is leading the Troy program.

The 6-2 Trojans received 8 votes for the top 25 this week, led by the 17th ranked defense in the nation. Troy is allowing just 17 points, 101 yards rushing and 229 yards passing each game. Sumrall took over a program that was only 15-20 the previous three seasons.