LSU football’s 2025 defensive coaching staff will look a lot like the one LSU had in 2024. Blake Baker enters year two as defensive coordinator, and there’s continuity across the board. The only new face: defensive line coach Kyle Williams.
Williams, a former LSU player, was hired to coach defensive tackles after Bo Davis departed for the New Orleans Saints. The defensive line coach position has been a volatile one for the better part of a decade at LSU. Faces have shuffled in and out. Brian Kelly is on his fourth defensive line coach in four years.
Kelly is counting on Williams to provide stability. Williams was an All-American and national champion at LSU before playing in the NFL for 13 years. Williams is making his collegiate coaching debut after serving as Ruston High School’s defensive coordinator for three years.
Baker likes what Williams brings to the table.
“The defense forever and ever, we talk about the defensive tackles as the tip of the spear, and we got to be able to create knockback and havoc. And I thought we got a little stale from that standpoint last year, and that’s on me. But having (Williams) do it at a high level and then he’s very, very good at articulating it to the players, I think he’s done an outstanding job,” Baker said.
Baker said they’re already seeing defensive tackles implement that quick twitch and create havoc in the backfield.
“It’s helped us,” Baker said, “And they’re starting to see themselves make plays. Now, they’re wanting to do it more and more.
Baker and Williams are working with a talented group. The Tigers return Ahmad Breaux and Dominick McKinley after the duo made immediate impacts as true freshmen. McKinley, a five-star recruit in the class of 2024, is prime for a breakout year.
Also back is Jacobian Guillory, who missed most of 2024 with an injury, but gives LSU a physical and veteran presence up the middle. Guillory totaled 11 pressures and made 12 tackles in 2023, despite not having a starting spot.
When Williams played, he “lived and breathed” the style of play Baker wants from the defensive tackle group.
Baker cited Williams’ experience of coordinating defenses at Ruston. Williams is a guy that understands the entire picture of the defense, Baker said.
“His style of play and how we want our defensive tackles to play matched up really, really well with what we want to get done inside. So, it’s been a really good match.”
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