Ranking the 10 best LSU football players of the Brian Kelly era

The Brian Kelly era of LSU football will be remembered as a disappointment. Kelly came to LSU with the intention of winning a national title, but LSU fell short of the College Football Playoff in all four seasons.

There were bright spots. In year one, Kelly’s LSU beat Alabama and won the SEC West. In 2023, Jayden Daniels led a historic offense on his way to winning the Heisman trophy.

But the letdowns stand out too. LSU squandered that all-time offense thanks to a historically bad defense.

Kelly won double-digit games in years one and two, but LSU regressed in 2024. After a 6-1 start, LSU dropped three in a row, highlighted by a 42-13 loss to Alabama in Tiger Stadium.

Feeling the pressure, LSU signed the top-ranked transfer portal class in the country ahead of the 2025 season. LSU hit on its defensive additions, but the offense struggled. It wasn’t enough and after LSU fell to 5-3, Kelly was fired.

LSU didn’t reach its highest goals under Kelly, but Kelly’s teams didn’t lack star power. Today, we’ll take a look back at the 10 best players of the Brian Kelly era.

10. QB Garrett Nussmeier

Nussmeier’s placement and overall conclusion on this list might be polarizing. Nussmeier was a redshirt freshman in Kelly’s first year; he saw little action but made some highlight plays, entering in relief of Daniels at the SEC Championship.

Nussmeier was talented, and with Daniels set to return in 2023, there was talk of a potential transfer. But Nussmeier stuck around and waited his turn. After backing up Daniels one more year, Nussmeier took over the starting role in 2024.

As a redshirt junior, Nussmeier threw for over 4,000 yards and tossed 29 touchdowns. Nussmeier threw 12 picks, but when he was on, he was one of the best QBs in the country. He made some dazzling throws as LSU stormed back to upset Ole Miss.

In 2025, LSU’s passing game has struggled to find a rhythm. Nussmeier is averaging just 10.3 yards per completion as LSU’s offense lacks explosiveness. Nussmeier entered the year with Heisman trophy expectations and was in the discussion to be the No. 1 overall pick. As LSU has fallen short of expectations, LSU fans have mixed opinions of the veteran QB.

9. RT Emery Jones

Kelly took a gamble when he opted to start true freshman Emery Jones at right tackle in 2022. LSU already had one true freshman starting at left tackle. Not many SEC teams put first-year players at both tackle spots, but LSU put trust in the talented youngsters.

There were growing pains in 2022, but Jones showed promise.

In 2023, Jones was one of the best tackles in the SEC and a member of an offensive line that contended for the Joe Moore Award.

Jones was All-SEC in 2023 and 2024 before being drafted in the third round by the Baltimore Ravens.

8. DE Bradyn Swinson

Swinson flew under the radar when he transferred to LSU in December of 2022. He was a three-star recruit out of high school and didn’t make much noise at Oregon.

As LSU’s defense struggled in 2023, Swinson began to emerge as a bright spot. Swinson registered 22 pressures and two sacks in his first year in Baton Rouge. He made 17 stops and finished the year with an 81.0 PFF defensive grade.

In 2024, Swinson had a true breakout, racking up 60 pressures and nine sacks. He was drafted by the New England Patriots after being one of the most productive pass rushers in the SEC.

7. TE Mason Taylor

Taylor was the star of Kelly’s highest moment at LSU. It came when Taylor was just a true freshman.

LSU trailed Alabama by one in overtime. Kelly could kick an extra point for the tie or go for two and win the game. Kelly went for the win. Jayden Daniels rolled right and hit Taylor in the flat. Taylor broke the goal line and LSU won the game.

Taylor finished his LSU career with 129 catches for 1,308 yards and six touchdowns. Taylor was one of Nussmeier’s most reliable targets in 2024, catching 55 passes for 946 yards. Taylor left LSU as one of the most productive tight ends in LSU history.

6. DL Mekhi Wingo

Wingo was a member of BK’s inaugural transfer class and he proved to be a critical piece on the LSU defensive line for two years.

In 2022, Wingo posted a PFF defensive grade of 78.5, which ranked No. 5 among SEC defensive tackles. Wingo registered 25 pressures while making 20 stops. That was good enough to earn third-team All-American honors.

In 2023, Wingo wasn’t quite as good as LSU’s defense struggled and he navigated an injury, but Wingo was solid when he was on the field.

The Lions selected Wingo with the 189th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

5. LB Whit Weeks

Whit Weeks’ career isn’t over, but he’ll leave LSU as one of the best linebackers in school history. Weeks flashed in 2023, seeing limited action as a true freshman. But in 2024, Weeks broke out as one of the nation’s best defenders.

In 2024, Weeks ranked No. 2 among SEC linebackers in pressures and stops. He was good enough to earn first-team All-SEC honors.

In 2025, Weeks began the year as a preseason All-American. Weeks has missed LSU’s last two games with an injury, but he was on his way to being All-SEC again. LSU’s defense clearly lacks something when Weeks is on the sideline. He’s the definition of an impact player.

Weeks has 86 career stops and 48 pressures to go along with five sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pick.

4. WR Brian Thomas Jr

Thomas Jr. signed with LSU in 2021 when Ed Orgeron was still the coach, but stuck around through the coaching transition.

In 2022, Thomas continued to show promise, but he didn’t play a featured role in LSU’s offense. He caught 31 passes for 361 yards and five scores.

But in 2023, Thomas emerged as one of the best wide receivers in college football. Thomas caught 68 passes for 1,177 yards and 17 scores. Playing opposite Malik Nabers, defenses had to pick their poison.

Thomas caught 24 touchdowns while in Baton Rouge, putting him No. 4 all-time in the LSU record books.

3. LT Will Campbell

Will Campbell got to LSU when Kelly did. Campbell wasted no time claiming LSU’s left tackle job, a rare feat for a true freshman.

Campbell struggled in Week 1 vs. Florida State, but he eventually settled in and was one of the SEC’s top tackles in year one.

Campbell was second-team All-SEC in 2022 before being first-team All-SEC in 2023 and 2024. In Campbell’s final year, he was a consensus All-American. He allowed just four sacks his entire LSU career and was a key piece of LSU’s historic 2023 offense.

Campbell went on to be the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

2. WR Malik Nabers

Nabers signed alongside Thomas in 2021 and stuck around through the coaching transition, too.

LSU’s 2022 offense wasn’t prolific, yet Nabers led the SEC with 72 catches and ranked second with 1,017 yards.

But in 2023, Nabers became one of the best receivers in LSU history. He caught 89 passes for 1,569 yards and was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, which he probably should have won.

Nabers left LSU as the program’s all-time leading receiver in catches and yards.

1. QB Jayden Daniels

This was easy. Daniels, a Heisman trophy-winning quarterback, is the best player of the Brian Kelly era at LSU.

Daniels was critical to LSU’s rebuild in 2022. Without Daniels, LSU probably goes .500 or doesn’t even make a bowl in Kelly’s first year. Daniels lifted LSU off the mat.

In 2023, Daniels was on another level. Daniels threw for 3,812 yards and ran for 1,134 more. He tossed 40 touchdowns and added 10 with his legs. Daniels was incredibly efficient, averaging 11.7 yards per attempt.

Daniels was the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Ranking the 10 best LSU football players of the Brian Kelly era

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