By Saturday morning, HC Lane Kiffin and LSU emerged as the clear frontrunner to land Syracuse co-DC Elijah Robinson. But within 48 hours, that momentum began showing signs of instability. The situation flipped when reports suggested the 40-year-old may not join LSU after all.

“An update re: Elijah Robinson and the LSU defensive line coach job, per sources,” Matt Zebitz reported on X on December 9. “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.”

Despite LSU boosters, staffers, and even rival coaches treated the move as imminent, the Tigers suddenly shifted from securing a key hire to fighting to keep its lead. And the shift is happening because one program made its intentions clear.

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. It’s rooted in long-standing trust and past results. Robinson’s long relationship with the Rhule, combined with the timing of Bradden’s dismissal, placed Nebraska firmly in contention.

Nebraska’s pursuit is legitimate because Elijah Robinson has succeeded every time he has worked 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 coach units at Temple and Baylor ranked among the most productive of Rhule’s tenure.

Still, Elijah Robinson’s resume extends far beyond his stops with Matt Rhule. His broader coaching credentials add scale to the stakes. Syracuse expected him to serve as co-DC before demoting him after a 3-9 season, 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.