Is Blake Baker LSU's Best Offseason Move? | The Next Step for the Tigers Defense

On The Hunt Palmer Show, The Athletic recently ranked the best offseason move for every Power Four program, and LSU’s selection may surprise a lot of fans. With the Tigers hiring Lane Kiffin, bringing in Sam Leavitt, overhauling the roster through the transfer portal, and making major changes throughout the football program, many expected LSU’s biggest move to be one of those headline-grabbing additions. Instead, The Athletic pointed to LSU retaining defensive coordinator Blake Baker as the most important move of the offseason. In this video, Hunt Palmer breaks down why Baker earned that recognition, how far LSU’s defense has come since the disastrous 2023 season, and where the Tigers still need to improve. From SEC rankings in scoring defense, run defense, pass defense, sacks, and tackles for loss, Hunt evaluates the progress LSU has made while also asking the bigger question: can Blake Baker elevate this defense from solid to dominant? Can LSU crack the top tier of college football defenses in 2026? And was keeping Blake Baker actually the smartest move LSU made all offseason?