By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
The 944th ranked transfer portal player of 2026 and 75th best running back is the Most Valuable Player on the LSU football team through eight games, said ESPN 104.5 FM radio show host Charles Hanagriff on Tiger Rag Radio this week.
Yes, LSU redshirt sophomore running back Dilin Jones, who gained all of 300 yards in seven games at Wisconsin last season before succumbing to a turf toe injury, is the MVP. That’s right, and it is hard to argue.
Jones is fourth in the Southeastern Conference in rushing yards per game this season and 36th nationally with 82.1 a game as he has 657 yards on 149 carries with six touchdowns. Jones also has caught 30 passes for 217 yards for 874 total yards. And he blocks very effectively for an LSU run game that stands fourth in the SEC and 29th nationally with 192 yards a game. Through eight games in the 2025 season, LSU was 123rd in rushing with 106.3 yards a game.
No. 14 LSU (6-2, 3-2 SEC), which hosts No. 5 Alabama (5-2, 4-2 SEC) on Saturday (2:30 p.m., ABC), is the No. 6 team in the nation in total offense with 510 yards a game and is No. 7 in scoring with 40.1 points a game. That is largely due to Jones, who leads a running attack that has facilitated an LSU passing game that is seventh in the nation with 318 yards a game behind quarterback Sam Leavitt.
“In my opinion, Dilin Jones is the MVP on this team through eight games,” daily host Charles Hanagriff of 104.5 FM ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge told Tiger Rag Radio on Tuesday night. “Because they can run the offense, no matter what they want to do with him.”
Jones does not have to be substituted out for passing situations or short-yardage plays. He is needed in all situations and good at all of them.
“He’s a very good running back,” Hanagriff said. “He’s a very god receiver. He’s a very good blocker. He doesn’t put the ball on the ground.”
And Jones does it behind an offensive line that struggles at guard as LSU’s short-yardage running game has been weak.
“It’s more of a creative run game,” Hanagriff said. “It gets Jones to the corners. It involves pulling linemen.”
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin, who consistently had strong running games while Ole Miss’ head coach from 2020-25, and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. direct more of a finesse running attack.
“They don’t have an interior offensive line that’s capable of just lining up and running straight ahead,” Hanagriff said. “Third-and-short is not a running down for LSU.”
LSU’s rushing attack and overall offense could be at its best against Alabama Saturday as two key offensive players are getting healthier. Tight end Trey’Dez Green, a dynamic receiver and blocker, returned to action against Auburn two weeks ago at less than 100 percent from a knee injury suffered at Ole Miss on Sept. 19. But after the open date last weekend, he is nearing 100 percent. And Leavitt’s running skills are at or near 100 percent after a hamstring injury against Texas A&M on Sept. 26.
“Now with Green back, it makes LSU even more difficult to defend,” Hanagriff said. “And it’s going to be interesting to see how many designed running plays they have for Leavitt on Saturday because that injury cut down on his running the last few games.”
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