Will Dilin Jones have an impact for LSU football? How transfer portal RB fits
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BATON ROUGE – Depth never hurts.
After LSU football secured the returns of top one-two punch Harlem Berry and Caden Durham at running back, it added another running back into the fold from the transfer portal. Wisconsin freshman tailback Dilin Jones has committed to LSU, he announced via his social media pages.
The addition of Jones fortifies LSU’s backfield under Lane Kiffin for the 2026 season.
Jones (6-foot, 205) was Wisconsin’s starting running back heading into the season before falling down the depth chart as the season progressed.
Why Dilin Jones picked LSU football out of transfer portal
Last season had to have been a tough one for Jones, going from opening the season as RB1 to seeing his carries tick down from 14 to five a game before a turf toe injury resulted in him having season-ending surgery in October,.
Jones had to have been on the search for a fresh start and landing at LSU was perhaps a landing spot he may not have envisioned, giving their top two backs are back.
How Dilin Jones will fit LSU football’s roster
Coming back from a turf toe injury, Jones, timeline of returning to the field is uncertain. Committing to LSU where there may not have been much opportunity to play right away in 2026 is almost the perfect situation for Jones.
And for Kiffin and LSU, this is a great spot. You’re adding a former starting running back from a Big Ten team and there’s some experience there in some big games under the brightest lights. Jones’ addition curtails some potential long-term depth concerns LSU could might have following the 2026 season.
LSU football transfer targets
- USC quarterback Husan Longstreet
- Alabama offensive lineman Micah DeBose
- North Carolina State wide receiver Terrell Anderson
- California-Davis running back Carter Vargas
- McNeese State cornerback Javon Davis
When does transfer portal close?
The NCAA transfer portal window closes Jan. 16. Players cannot enter their name in the portal following that date, but those whose name is already in the transfer portal can still decide and sign with a new school after Jan. 16.
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU football gets Dilin Jones from transfer portal. How he fits
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