Saturday’s LSU-Mississippi State game was expected to be an early season SEC West test for the Tigers.
It turned out to be a one-sided affair as LSU dismantled Mississippi State, 41–14, while also giving college football fans a glimpse of Tigers freshman running back Kaleb Jackson, who registered a play that resembled LSU running backs from the past.
On second-and-11 with 1:53 to play in the third quarter, Jackson took the handoff from Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels, bounced outside to the left sideline and delivered a nasty stiff arm before bulldozing his way through Bulldogs safety Isaac Smith for the first down.
LSU freshman RB Kaleb Jackson: pic.twitter.com/2YKuVPdrGJ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 16, 2023
It’s hard to watch this play without thinking about former LSU standout Leonard Fournette, who delivered similar punishment to defenders in his three-year tenure in a purple and gold uniform for the Tigers from 2014 to ’16.
In watching the play, Fournette couldn’t contain himself from commenting on Jackson’s strong run.
“That man has a family in the stands 😭,” Fournette posted.
LSU dominated Mississippi State on both sides of the ball for the entire game. As for Jackson, who finished with five carries for 19 yards in the contest, it is only the beginning of his college football career and it will likely not be the last time fans watch him deliver punishing runs of this nature.
That man has a family in the stands 😭 https://t.co/DObgkSg1eI
— 7⃣ Leonard Fournette (@_fournette) September 16, 2023
#LSU Kaleb Jackson with an early I’m grown and you’re not. My gawd. pic.twitter.com/WqnOaBDblS
— Jacob Hester (@JacobHester18) September 16, 2023
The #LSU freshmen are showing up today.
— Shea Dixon (@Sheadixon) September 16, 2023
Kaleb Jackson was shot out of a rocket on his first touch.
It gets called back on a holding call.
He follows it up with an even more impressive run. And ended it with authority.
Malik Nabers told us Kaleb Jackson runs like Fournette. Flattening that defender like a bowling pin certainly took me back to Ole Miss 2016. #LSU
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) September 16, 2023
Kaleb Jackson with a slide step then lowers the shoulder on State safety Issac Smith on the sideline. Gordy Rush said on radio what I was thinking: shades of Leonard Fournette. Unfortunately, State DT Trevion Williams is injured behind the play and is being helped off. #LSU
— Scott Rabalais (@RabalaisAdv) September 16, 2023
