LSU sophomore running back Caden Durham is entering the transfer portal, he confirmed on his Instagram account Saturday.
Durham was LSU’s leading rusher the past two seasons with 251 carries for 1,258 yards and nine touchdowns. LSU has retained freshman running back Harlem Berry amid the transition to head coach Lane Kiffin and his new offensive staff, but with Durham’s departure, it will rebuild the rest of the position room.
A four-star recruit and top 100 overall prospect in the 2024 class, Durham was the fifth-highest ranked running back in the country coming out of Duncanville High in Texas. He quickly became a factor in the offense, but it became unlikely that he would return as LSU replaced running backs coach Frank Wilson.
Wilson left to become Ole Miss’ senior associate head coach and running backs coach. LSU hired running backs coach Kevin Smith, who spent eight of the past nine seasons with Kiffin at Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss. Smith has coached several productive running backs, most recently Ole Miss star Kewan Lacy, a potential LSU target if he enters the transfer portal.
Durham earned Freshman All-SEC honors when he rushed for 753 yards and six touchdowns in 2024. He had a breakout game in the SEC opener when he ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns in a comeback win over South Carolina. Durham played most of the season with a plate in his shoe after dislocating multiple toes on his left foot two weeks later.
Though voted second-team preseason All-SEC this past fall, Durham only ran for 505 yards and three touchdowns as the LSU offense struggled. He said at one point he was playing through an injury, which he declined to discuss further. LSU finished 126th in the country and last in the SEC with 104 yards rushing per game.
LSU lacks depth in the running back room, a position expected to be restocked through the transfer portal after Durham, junior Kaleb Jackson and sophomore Ju’Juan Johnson decided to transfer. Berry, a former five-star recruit, showed potential as a freshman, and freshman JT Lindsey’s status is unclear after being suspended in August because of an arrest.
LSU hosted former UC Davis running back Carter Vargas on a visit Saturday, The Advocate has learned, as it looked for new running backs. Vargas rushed for 445 yards and five touchdowns as a redshirt freshman this year before suffering an injury.
