I married into an LSU family. And I manage SB Nation’s recruiting coverage for a living. And LSU recruits really well. So I watch more LSU than most people outside of Baton Rouge.

And Saturday night, I found myself watching LSU get pushed around by Troy during a loss in Death Valley. Running back Jordan Chunn rushed 30 times for 191 yards. Troy’s running back ran 30 times against LSU, in Death Valley, for an average of 6.4 yards/carry. Yikes.

Let’s set aside the questions about Ed Orgeron’s inability to keep his promises not to micromanage every aspect of his program like he did at Ole Miss or avoid throwing his offensive coordinator under the bus.

LSU’s strength program didn’t just collapse, so the question I have is: Where did all the big guys LSU has signed go?

The 10 men starting for the Bayou Bengals along the lines (the offensive line, three down defensive linemen, and two outside linebackers) have an interesting mix of experience and youth: sixth-year senior (one), fifth-year senior (two), senior (two), junior (one), redshirt freshman (two), and true freshman (one).

On the surface, having all that experience up front seems like a great thing. But this is LSU.

When players have a shot to go pro early, they typically do so, perhaps more than anywhere else in the country. When I see fifth- and even sixth-year players in LSU’s starting lineup, it tells me LSU is having to start way too many guys without next-level talent. When LSU is at its best, it is dominating with a few of those, and a lot of second-, third-, and some fourth-year players. And this is where the lineup is lacking.

Looking through the 2014-15 classes, the problem is clear. LSU signed 15 linemen in that span, and only six are still on the roster. That means nine did not complete their eligibility at LSU. While one did go pro early, the other eight transferred, and five of those had significant discipline problems.

Some of the players who are no longer on the roster were really talented. While he was rarely healthy, academically eligible, and in shape at the same time, Travonte Valentine was very talented, as were Trey Lealaimatafao and the Teuhema brothers.

LSU’s 2014-15 linemen recruiting classes Name Position Stars Status Name Position Stars Status Garrett Brumfield Guard 4 Started Saturday Davon Godchaux Defensive end 4 5th-round draft choice, Miami Dolphins Deondre Clark Defensive end 4 Still on roster, some snaps. Will Clapp Guard 4 Current starting center Jevonte Domond Tackle 4 Suspended, reinstated, transferred to UTSA. Travonte Valentine Defensive tackle 4 Failed to qualify, qualified, dismissed, JUCO, re-signed, dismissed again Sione Teuhema Defensive end 3 Suspended, transferred to Southeastern Trey Lealaimatafao Defensive tackle 3 Multiple arrests, dismissed from program, sentenced to six years in prison for robbery Maea Teuhema Guard 4 Academic suspension, transferred to Southeastern Arden Key Defensive end 4 Time away from program, but still a starter Chidi Valentine-Okeke Tackle 4 Transferred Toby Weathersby Tackle 4 Starter, but injured and out currently. Adrian Magee Tackle 4 Rotational player George Brown Tackle 3 Transferred Isaiah Washington Defensive end 3 Transferred

That’s really it. Many of the guys LSU should be depending on are not on the roster because they have been dismissed, failed out, or transferred.

Of the remaining six from those classes, four are starters, but one of the better players, tackle Toby Weathersby, missed the Troy game with an injury, as did a lot of other players.

LSU needs to reload its roster with quality linemen. Orgeron knows this:

Coach O on greatest need in 2018 recruiting cycle:



"Lineman, lineman, lineman, lineman. And more lineman." #LSU — Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) September 28, 2017

LSU is more of a rebuilding situation than I realized.

Interim coaches are hired because the athletic department believes that the team is close to winning, wants to maintain some level of continuity, and believes the interim is the right person to keep the existing good elements, while bringing in some new.

But interim coaches are not afforded the luxury of a Year Zero, because they already understand what needs to be fixed by virtue of having coached the team as an interim.

You don’t promote an interim coach for a rebuilding situation. But after striking out on Jimbo Fisher and losing its game of chicken with Tom Herman, the Tigers might have done just that.

Will LSU have patience with Orgeron if it turns out LSU needs a true rebuild? I’m not sure that it will, or that it should.

Sign up for the newsletter The Crootletter A frequently published newsletter on news, analysis rumors, and trends in college football recruiting. Email (required) By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice and European users agree to the data transfer policy. Subscribe

Quickly

I am glad to see some in the non-recruiting media realize the problem with the NCAA’s rule change dealing with colleges and high school coaches. Andy Staples of Sports Illustrated tackled it last week: