LSUs under hyped running back room and Harlem Berry flying under the radar.

Most of the chatter about LSUs 2025 offense is about Nussmeier and a very deep and talented receiving group. What makes for a great passing game, aside from an offensive line, is the running game.

I read some article about freshman who might contribute this year and saw Harlem Berry on the list. That’s an obvious choice, Berry was a top rated running back in his class. But he doesn’t come in with near the hype Fournette did. Fournette came in with a sec ready frame and speed, if not NFL ready. I knew Berry was good, I guess I just figured at 5’10”, 174 pounds, he might have to sit behind Durham and Jackson a year while he develops.

Just to see why Berry is supposedly so good, I pulled up a highlight reel of his and watched it for the first time just now. I linked to it below. Holy crap. Berry is special.

I know, everyone looks good on a highlight reel, even better if they are playing against small schools. Berry is the fastest back in his class, thats an objective measurable. But lots of kids are fast and thats not what stood out to me on his tape. Berry is almost impossible to tackle in the open field. One move he has thats crazy good his stutter step with sudden deceleration and just as sudden acceleration Just as the tackler slows in reaction to the move, Berry accelerates by the tackler in a flash. And it’s not just the stutter step he has, Berry changes direction on a dime. He’s one of those backs that create holes in the line where there are none by juking guys out of their jockstraps.

Durham had a great season last year. Most publications have Durham as the second best rb in the SEC headed into the 2025 season, only Wisner from Texas is ranked higher. Kaleb Jackson is a monster in the weight room, but how that translates to the field is an unknown. It would be great, at a minimum, if he could be a third or fourth and one guy that pushes the pile. Then you have JT Lindsey, a top ten back in the 2025 class, who also has elite speed.

I’m mostly excited about Durham and Berry. Durham looks more physically ready for the SEC than Berry. And Durham also has great speed and change of direction. I didn’t see much playing time for Berry, just based on his size. His tape changed my mind. This could be a really special running back room to go along with a Heisman hopeful qb and a receiving room with a few future NFL players.

Take a look how Berry leaves people in the dust with his stutter step more and his crazy fluid change of direction. Berry loos like a great candidate to return punts and kicks too.
LINK