From beginning to end, this past fall turned into a historic first season right out of the gates for LSU running back Caden Durham.....racking up over 200 combined yards vs South Alabama, dragging LSU over the line @ South Carolina, amassing over 100+ rushing yards vs Arkansas, 95 vs Florida, and 80 against Oklahoma, Durham was a big game rusher for the Tigers in a season where LSU's running game was nearly anonymous outside of Durham's explosive, dual threat contributions.

When LSU needed an answer for their troubled running game, Frank Wilson turned to Durham and hit pay dirt....the Duncanville prodigy is a gold mine of incredible track speed, blessed with an iron will, steely determination, and the ability to make dynamic plays as a rusher or receiver, and in 2024, the entire country learned all about Durham.

Making defenders miss with 450 yards after contact as a rusher, 27 missed tackles forced on the ground, Durham also made 6 more opponents miss tackles when catching passes (posting 311 yards after the catch), giving LSU their first workhorse dual threat running back since 2019's Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

Durham was an unstoppable force right off the Ponderosa assembly line, finding playing time early when LSU Assistant Head Coach / RBs Coach Frank Wilson threw him into the fire @ South Carolina in week 3, looking for any answer to the Tigers' bankrupt running game....

....Durham, the two sport track star freshman, responded by producing a huge performance on the day in a close, critical road win, paving the way for an epic breakout campaign that featured over 1,000 total yards, 8 combined TDs & 168 overall opportunities to make plays as a key cog within Joe Sloan's offense.

Rushing for 98 yards & 2 TDs from only 12 carries during his second ever collegiate appearance on the road @ South Carolina, Caden Durham announced himself as the running back for LSU's future and present...but few knew he had another surprise for us all:

Breaking into the top echelon of LSU's greatest ever offensive freshmen when he recorded 217 total yards vs South Alabama, including a duo of plays that eclipsed 80 yards, cooking the Jaguars from the first touch of the game until his last......in fact, he scored twice & nearly hit 200 yards after LSU's first 4 offensive plays alone, taking over the starting running back role in the process.....

However.......an injury would attempt to put a stranglehold on proceedings:

Suffering broken toes during the South Alabama game, the rest of Durham's freshman year hung in the balance of his pain tolerance....how much agonizing pain on his broken toes could he really take?

All the cutting & planting on that foot, how could he still run with violence, power, or most importantly, his next level speed???

Well, it turns out the Duncanville man is blessed with an incredible pain tolerance that allowed him to fight through game after game, contributing in the running game when LSU needed it most.

Alongside his strongest outing vs Arkansas, where he produced 3 rushing scores & 101 yards on the ground, the former two sport state champion (football & track) recorded 95 rushing yards against Florida, 80 vs Oklahoma (with 32 receiving yards), and 60 on the ground during limited work vs Baylor (2024 Texas Bowl).

Due to his direct impact on LSU's wins and losses, Caden Durham had to not only make our Top 10 LSU Tigers of 2024 list, he needed to place inside our top 5.

The Texas Tiger is sure to take that next step in his evolution as a sophomore this coming fall, set to be LSU's starting powerhouse running back Week 1 @ Clemson....and if he is somehow better than he was as a freshman, LSU's opponents better buckle up.

THANK YOU

FOR READING!!!

By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

TOP 10 LSU TIGERS OF 2024: #4 CADEN DURHAM

OUR PAST TOP 10s HERE

TOP 10 OF 2024

4. CADEN DURHAM

THANK YOU

FOR READING!!!

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