Lane Kiffin explains why retaining Corey Raymond was easy for LSU

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LSU head coach Lane Kiffin fielded questions from the media at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, covering everything from the roster and coaching staff to the culture in Louisiana and at LSU.

Though Kiffin’s haul in the transfer portal has been a major topic in Baton Rouge, his decisions about who to retain from LSU’s previous staff are equally important. NBC 33’s Chessa Boucher asked him to explain why he placed such a priority on keeping defensive coordinator Blake Baker and secondary coach Corey Raymond in the building.

“Corey, that’s just a no-brainer,” Kiffin responded. “[Nick] Saban used to say this to me. Even if they’re older, they coach these players a certain way, and they become easy to recruit to.”

What Kiffin means when he says “recruit to” is that Raymond’s resume makes defensive backs want to come to LSU. It isn’t only the allure of the program or the quality of the NIL deal; it’s the fact that Raymond has consistently produced high-level talent.

In this draft alone, Raymond has a projected first-round pick in Mansoor Delane and a top-five safety, AJ Haulcy. One of his former players, Derek Stingley Jr., was named first-team All-Pro this season. Raymond has consistently developed his players throughout his tenure at LSU, a track record Kiffin can now leverage on the recruiting trail.

“Corey, you get a unique combination, because you get someone you get to recruit to, that has had great players, after great players, after great players, but somebody that also recruits that way. It’s a really good combination,” Kiffin said. “If I get in front of a corner, I get to say, ‘You get to go play for him,’ but then he recruits the same way he did 20 years ago… So, that was an easy one.”

If there were any two coaches Kiffin absolutely had to retain this offseason, they were Raymond and Baker. And he did just that.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU News: Lane Kiffin on why keeping Corey Raymond was a 'no-brainer'

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