A New Coordination Era
When Lane Kiffin assumed the head‑coaching reins at LSU, one of his first moves was to install Joe Houston as the program’s new special‑teams coordinator, a hire that signals a deliberate effort to overhaul that phase of the game.
The departure of place‑kicker Damian Ramos, who set numerous records for the Tigers, has left a noticeable gap, prompting the staff to search for reliable options between the uprights.
Returning starters Grant Chadwick and Silas Hall are slated to anchor the unit, bringing experience from the previous season’s special‑teams packages.
Into that mix arrive fresh legs: Arkansas native Scott Starzyk, a place‑kicker with a reputation for a strong leg, and Florida long‑snapper Mack Mulhern, both expected to add depth and competition.
Return‑Game Candidates
With Zavion Thomas and Aaron Anderson having moved on to the NFL, LSU is scouting fresh options for kickoff and punt‑return duties, a search that has already identified several candidates.
Eugene Wilson III and Winston Watkins are among those expected to battle for punt‑return roles, while Jayce Brown, Harlem Berry and Caden Durham are in the mix for kickoff returns.
Starzyk’s leg has already impressed coaches; he was nearly automatic on kicks inside 40 yards during spring practice, suggesting he could become a dependable option for short‑range field goals.
Aidan Corbello, a walk‑on who has yet to appear in a game, is entering his junior season and could factor into the kickoff equation, while freshmen Gavin Higgins and Sean Perret round out the depth chart at place‑kicker.
Aeron Burrell, who handled kickoffs in 2025 and recorded 45 touchbacks, has transferred to North Carolina, leaving a vacancy that the coaching staff is eager to fill.
Both Corbello and Starzyk are being evaluated as potential candidates for the kickoff duties, a decision that will likely hinge on consistency and hang‑time performance as the season approaches.