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Is Cignetti changing roster management in college football
Posted on 11/16/25 at 8:09 am
Posted on 11/16/25 at 8:09 am
Knowing that Indiana does not play an SEC schedule, it’s still interesting to analyze how he is getting such consistency at a high level.
If you look at the roster overall, one of the oldest in the NCAA. Starters are almost all 21 years or older. And the o-Line averages 22-25 years old. No five stars but just grown men.
Could LSU fans support that strategy of roster management even if it resulted in competing for championships. Many players are grad students - like Burrow was. A team built on lunch pale, gym rat, high IQ players.
If you look at the roster overall, one of the oldest in the NCAA. Starters are almost all 21 years or older. And the o-Line averages 22-25 years old. No five stars but just grown men.
Could LSU fans support that strategy of roster management even if it resulted in competing for championships. Many players are grad students - like Burrow was. A team built on lunch pale, gym rat, high IQ players.
21
Posted on 11/16/25 at 8:10 am to Amused Lurker
I think Vanderbilt does the same thing
Posted on 11/16/25 at 8:17 am to derp
quote:
I think Vanderbilt does the same thing
Pavia’s age just skews the averages.
Posted on 11/16/25 at 8:19 am to derp
Arizona State has the oldest roster with an average age over 24.5 years old. Indiana and Vandy average 23.5 years old. A mixture of some recruits and lots of older transfers. But the players are grown men. Can you imagine a recruiting class of 15 players and not a top 20 recruiting class at LSU?
Posted on 11/16/25 at 8:23 am to Amused Lurker
College sports as a whole are getting “older”. Outside of the OL and RB positions, LSU is “old” too.
BK’s mistake was for the last two seasons he put together an unqualified offensive staff with a greater emphasis on HS recruiting than coaching ability. LSU signed some highly HS players. Unfortunately, they didn’t have to coaching to get max value out of them.
Being simply a “recruiter” is less and less important now. One, because relationships and recruiting efforts can quickly be trumped by a better contract offer. Two, it’s not mandatory to have a great HS signing class because coaches can fix holes with experienced transfers.
BK’s mistake was for the last two seasons he put together an unqualified offensive staff with a greater emphasis on HS recruiting than coaching ability. LSU signed some highly HS players. Unfortunately, they didn’t have to coaching to get max value out of them.
Being simply a “recruiter” is less and less important now. One, because relationships and recruiting efforts can quickly be trumped by a better contract offer. Two, it’s not mandatory to have a great HS signing class because coaches can fix holes with experienced transfers.
Posted on 11/16/25 at 8:30 am to Alt26
Interesting take. Am I misunderstanding that your take is that maybe Kelly, for whatever reason, made the mistake of hiring coaches with LA ties as their strength as opposed to the best technical coaches who will develop the athletes? It’s clear that 2025 was the worst performing team based on potential and it’s all Louisiana coaches.
Posted on 11/16/25 at 8:32 am to Alt26
Actually, the average age of the lsu football team is 20.8 years old. We’re one of the youngest.
Posted on 11/16/25 at 8:37 am to Alt26
The coaches - admin who have evaluated oline recruits/transfers have whiffed horribly! They’re not athletic- just uncoordinated bodies.
Posted on 11/16/25 at 8:38 am to Amused Lurker
It’s not repeatable year to year. So I’d say no.
But if you’re an offensive coach like Cignetti and can have a turnkey QB position you can mask just about anything to an extent.
But if you’re an offensive coach like Cignetti and can have a turnkey QB position you can mask just about anything to an extent.
Posted on 11/16/25 at 8:43 am to Folsom
I think you are proving the strategy that age matters. LSU has one of the youngest O-Lines and aren’t developed yet. They have the physical tools, but aren’t fully developed physically and technically.
Posted on 11/16/25 at 8:51 am to Amused Lurker
It’s what McMahon has been doing for the past 2-3 years. Build a roster of old players while Kentucky still recruits the five stars we get the 3-4 year guys. Cignetti and I’m sure other CFB coaches are letting schools like lsu Alabama etc recruit the 5 star while he builds through the portal.
Posted on 11/16/25 at 9:03 am to crazyLSUstudent
But as a program strategy, which leads to more consistent results? If the older player model, could the LSU fan base support it?
Posted on 11/16/25 at 9:07 am to Alt26
quote:
College sports as a whole are getting “older”.
I think it’s just the residual of COVID redshirts still hanging around. Next year should regress back to the mean.
Posted on 11/16/25 at 9:10 am to Amused Lurker
Age will be an issue until all the covid kids work thru the system.
Seniors should be 21 or 22 at the oldest.
Seniors should be 21 or 22 at the oldest.
Posted on 11/16/25 at 9:12 am to Amused Lurker
Indiana does not get many 5 or 4 star recruits. Those guys aren’t getting offers to transfer. It’s easier for him to keep them together and working toward a team goal. It’s truly remarkable what he done.
Could he get elite talent to buy in, develop, and wait there turn? Probably a very tough task when the really talented player is 2nd team and his agent has offers to transfer for good money somewhere else.
Could he get elite talent to buy in, develop, and wait there turn? Probably a very tough task when the really talented player is 2nd team and his agent has offers to transfer for good money somewhere else.
Posted on 11/16/25 at 9:14 am to Amused Lurker
They always say that the positions that need experience more than others are the lines, particularly the OL. Maybe Cignetti has found a cheat code by getting old guys on the lines?
Posted on 11/16/25 at 9:23 am to Amused Lurker
Doesn’t the NCAA bball tournament kind of mirror this?
Blue blood team with young five star talent vs solidly coached mid-major system teams with guys who have been there a while and out execute you.
Blue blood team with young five star talent vs solidly coached mid-major system teams with guys who have been there a while and out execute you.
Posted on 11/16/25 at 9:25 am to Amused Lurker
It’s a very college baseball approach to building a roster. Especially in the trenches, age makes a huge difference
Posted on 11/16/25 at 9:31 am to Amused Lurker
Whatever he’s doing it’s working
Posted on 11/16/25 at 9:33 am to Alt26
I would say that it matters now more than ever, you just have to have the right personnel for continued development
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