LSU football switched the position of a talented defender this offseason, bumping Jaiden Braker from off-ball linebacker to defensive end. The four-star recruit played only a few snaps as a true freshman in 2024, but now has the chance to earn a spot in LSU's defensive rotation as he begins his redshirt freshman campaign.
LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker met with the media this week and was asked about LSU's choice to move Braker. Baker cited Braker's athleticism.
"One of the biggest things we saw was that he's super explosive. He was a 10-6 guy out of high school. To be honest with you, whenever we lose Gabe in the spring, I wouldn't say it was a dire necessity to move him, but he's got 34-and-a-half-inch arms." Baker said.
When Baker says
that Braker was a "10-6 guy," he's likely referring to the broad jump. 10-6 is considered a strong mark for NFL Combine prospects. Baker mentioned the loss of Gabriel Reliford, who tore his ACL and will miss the whole year, hurting LSU's depth. Braker moving to DE should help with that.
"He has the skill set when you look at these edge rushers nowadays, even in the NFL, speed, length, quickness. And we put him in towards the end of the spring in some third-down packages, and he's got a really good feel for it. And he's one of those guys, you talk about weapons, that can do different things. He brings a unique skill set, and he's hard to handle off the edge with his speed," Baker said.
Braker was the No. 126-ranked prospect in the class of 2025, per Rivals Industry Rankings. He was the No. 10 linebacker in the country and No. 16 recruit in the state of Georgia. Braker only played seven defensive snaps in 2025, all coming in LSU's blowout of Southeastern Louisiana.
LSU's defensive end depth chart is thin. Princewill Umanmielen and Jordan Ross are locked in as the starters, but there are questions once you get past the top two. Younger players could earn reps. Dylan Carpenter is expected to be in the rotation, but Braker could be a name to watch, too, especially later in the year.
LSU retained Braker when the defender had a chance to enter the transfer portal. That means the Tigers likely have a plan for him.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU football's Blake Baker on why Jaiden Braker switched positions
