On Tuesday afternoon LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly admitted the team is having a difficult time locking down defensive linemen in the transfer portal.
Despite those difficulties, Kelly made it clear he and the Tigers program won’t be “buying” players just to fill a role. Instead, Kelly wants to build relationships with players and develop them internally.
“We’re not in the market of buying players and unfortunately right now, that’s what some guys are looking for,” Kelly said.
Some are crushing Kelly on social media for suggesting LSU isn’t in the market of buying players, but his full comments point to what most teams try to accomplish, create a unified locker room. He also noted LSU’s strong collective, which is one of the highest-paying in the country.
“They want to be bought,” he said. “And I understand that NIL is part of this, and we have an incredible collective, we have very, very generous opportunities around the greater Baton Rouge area for NIL opportunities. So they are here, but we’re not going to go out and buy players. That’s not what this is about, this was never about that.
“We will develop you, we will get you ready for the next step… but if you’re just looking to get paid, you’re looking in the wrong place. If you like all the things that we do here in developing our players, bringing you into a championship program, playing in front of the best fanbase in America, playing for championships and having an opportunity for NIL, you should be a Tiger. But if you just want to get paid, this is not the place for you.”
.@JacquesDoucet : Where are you right now w/the defensive line recruiting?
Brian Kelly: “It’s hasn’t fared very well quite frankly because we are selling something a little bit differently…
We are not in the market of buying players.”
LSU HC sends a STRONG message via @WAFB pic.twitter.com/HO8zfwdRsZ
— Carter Bryant (@PowerHourLSU) May 7, 2024
What do you think about Kelly’s comments?