By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
LSU will start a new left guard this season, but it will be an old face filling the role. Fifth-year senior Bo Bordelon has labored as a backup and rotational offensive lineman for four seasons at LSU, but he has finally earned his chance in the limelight.
The Raceland native was rated as high as a four-star tackle out of Newman High in New Orleans. His father, Ben, was a standout offensive lineman from 1993-1996 at LSU and was named All-Southeastern Conference second team as a senior. Bo, though, was not handed a starting spot when he stepped onto campus or at any time since, because of his father’s success on the field or off in business as he is a a major LSU donor who also was on the search committee that landed new coach Lane Kiffin.
Since red-shirting as a freshman in 2022, Bordelon has appeared in 39 games but made just one start. He said he continued to focus on himself and how he could improve every day. He never considered transferring, and when Kiffin and his staff took over in the offseason, he finally got his opportunity the old-fashioned way via work and waiting your turn.
“I asked them point blank. I said, ‘Look, all I want is a blank slate and a fresh opportunity,’ a chance to really get re-evaluated and show them what I can do. Let them not take whatever went on in the past with me, just kind of rebuild anew and have a blank slate. That’s all I really asked for,” Bordelon said after practice on Thursday.
Kiffin, offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. and the rest of the offensive staff did just that. Bordelon worked his way into the first team rotation in the spring and has held that starting spot throughout fall camp.
“They were very open to that,” Bordelon said of his proposition. “They loved it. They were like, ‘Well, that’s what we’re going to give you,’ and they didn’t just give me the job. I had to go earn it.”
Bordelon said he made the switch from backup right tackle behind redshirt sophomore Weston Davis to left guard with the starting unitH in the spring. He earned a role for himself, not through his recruiting ranking or status as a Bordelon legacy, but by his daily effort, focus and resilience.
Kiffin said it is a story he has found often repeats itself when a new coaching staff brings a fresh perspective to veteran players.
“It’s really valuable when there is one where a guy really hasn’t played as much as they thought or liked, and we come in with new eyes and a new system and give an opportunity, and they rise to the top,” Kiffin said Thursday. “I really like the story. Obviously, hope he plays really well, and then we use that story for years to come.”
Kiffin has praised Bordelon throughout fall camp and so have his teammates. Much-decorated junior left tackle Jordan Seaton identified him as one of the hardest working people he knows and a perfect fit for the offensive line. Fifth-year senior center Braelin Moore said he was proud of Bordelon’s fight and development, and senior linebacker Whit Weeks went as far as to say that he deserves to wear LSU’s coveted No. 18 this season.
THE HISTORY OF LSU’S NUMBER 18 JERSEY
The coveted No. 18 historically goes to an LSU player who best exemplifies leaders and/or fighting through adversity, such as an injury.
“It’s been a great experience to be around these guys, and they pushed me to get better, and I think we’re going to have a fun year,” Bordelon said. “It’ll be great playing with these dudes. Like, I can’t wait to get out there on the gridiron with them.”
Gridiron? Sounds Old School.
Bordelon said the attitude and drive to succeed shared by him and his teammates is reflected in the coaching staff.
“The new staff is awesome,” he said. “I feel like everybody they brought in is highly motivated. They want to be the best at whatever they do, whether it’s coaching, strength and conditioning, you can go all around the players as well. I feel like everybody they brought in are just really highly motivated guys who are looking to improve every day.”
Bordelon said he is fortunate to have three excellent coaches leading the way.
Offensive line coach Eric Wolford came to Baton Rouge after spending two seasons at Kentucky. He also had SEC stints at South Carolina (2017-20) and Alabama (2022-23) and coached two seasons as assistant O-line coach with the San Francisco 49ers (2015-16)
Run game specialist and offensive line assistant coach James Cregg followed Kiffin from Ole Miss last season. Before that, he was an assistant offensive line coach for the 49ers (2022-23) followed by a season as offensive line coach with the Las Vegas Raiders (2024). He helped the Tigers win the national championship and win Jim Moore Award for college football’s best offensive front in 2019 as the LSU offensive line coach from 2018-2020.
Kiffin also added offensive line analyst Na’Shan Goddard. He was previously the O-line coach at FCS West Georgia. The former South Carolina Gamecock spent five seasons bouncing around the NFL and won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints.
“They put a lot of faith in me, which I really appreciated. And they really went all in on me when I started playing well, trying to make me a better player,” Bordelon said. “They coached me hard, which is expected, and that’s what I want. I don’t want to be babied or whatever. I want to be pushed, so I think it was great just having a blank slate.”
That slate is hardly blank now.
In just one off-season with a new coaching staff and teammates, Bordelon has left a lasting impression. His effort has earned him the opportunity he has spent four seasons striving for, as he is expected to enter the season as the starting left guard when No. 11 LSU opens against No. 23 Clemson on Sept. 5 in Tiger Stadium (6:30 p.m., ABC).
But his work is hardly done. It is only just beginning.
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