By Saturday morning, HC Lane Kiffin and LSU emerged as the clear frontrunners to land Syracuse co-DC Elijah Robinson after their Defensive Line Coach Kyle Williams parted ways with LSU. However, within 48 hours, that momentum began to show signs of instability. The situation shifted when reports suggested that the 40-year-old might not join LSU after all.

Pretty much everyone at LSU, and also rival coaches, were convinced that Elijah Robinson’s move to Lane Kiffin’s team was imminent. But now, the move seems to be questionable. The Tigers are no longer in the process of securing the new hire. But rather are fighting to keep their lead. And the shift is happening because one program joined the race.

“An update re: Elijah Robinson and the LSU defensive line coach job, per sources. It’s very much in question at this point that Robinson, who is of interest to more than just LSU, ends up joining the Tigers’ staff. There’s some doubt at this stage that it ends up happening,” Matt Zebitz tweeted.

Nebraska became the primary obstacle for Lane Kiffin the moment HC Matt Rhule triggered another defensive staff reset. Just days after hiring DC Rob Aurich, the Cornhuskers fired DL coach Terry Bradden, creating a vacancy aligned for Elijah Robinson. Rhule’s interest is not just speculative. 

Matt Rhule and Elijah Robinson have a history together. Robinson has often succeeded while working under Matt Rhule. They partnered at Temple from 2014-16 and at Baylor in 2017. Those Temple defensive lines produced six All-AAC selections in three seasons, including Haason Reddick, Matt Ioannidis, and Nate Smith, players who elevated the program and became NFL draft picks. Rhule has repeatedly credited Robinson for the consistency and structure of those fronts, and Nebraska officials know the data. The defensive coaching units at Temple and Baylor ranked among the most productive of Rhule’s tenure.

Apart from his time with Matt Rhule, Elijah Robinson’s resume is long. Syracuse Football initially expected him to serve as co-DC, but a 3-9 season resulted in his demotion, which opened the door for LSU’s approach. Before that, he built his strongest body of work at Texas A&M. He developed top-five rushing defenses in two of his six seasons, consistently secured top-100 prospects, and led the recruitment of Walter Nolan, the No. 2 overall player in 2022. 

Robinson also served as the Aggies’ interim HC after Jimbo Fisher’s firing, reinforcing his reputation as a reliable stabilizer. LSU and Nebraska are both pursuing the same skillset, which includes recruiting credibility, development history, and structural discipline. But for Lane Kiffin’s team, there’s still an unresolved storyline in its coaching overhaul.

Lane Kiffin is vague on Frank Wilson’s future  

LSU’s staffing picture is far from settled. As Lane Kiffin continues assembling his first Tigers staff, RB coach Frank Wilson remains without clarity regarding his role beyond the bowl game. He guided the program after former HC Brian Kelly’s firing and is preparing the Tigers for the Texas Bowl on December 27, but he told reporters he has received “no clarity” about his future.

Wilson’s resume is well-established. He has coached more than 40 LSU players who reached the NFL and recruited several of the program’s cornerstone talents, including Leonard Fournette, Tyrann Mathieu, La’el Collins, Jarvis Landry, and Odell Beckham Jr. He has been recognized nationally as one of college football’s best recruiters, earning Recruiter of the Year honors from Rivals (2011), NFL.com (2014), and Scout.com (2015).

His value extends beyond recruiting. Frank Wilson has held successful roles at Ole Miss, Southern Miss, Tennessee, and two head-coaching stops at UTSA and McNeese State. His two stints at LSU span more than a decade of program development, with deep ties to Louisiana high school football. Despite this, Lane Kiffin has not committed to retaining him for 2026.

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As Elijah Robinson weighs LSU against Nebraska and Lane Kiffin weighs his staff options, Frank Wilson’s uncertain position represents another major storyline inside a program reshaping itself on multiple fronts.