LSU football returned its top two ball carriers from last year but neither made an impact on a game four weeks into 2026. Harlem Berry changed the narrative by emerging against McNeese in the Week 5 victory. Head coach Lane Kiffin explained the biggest improvement in the sophomore's game.
"I think getting vertical in the run game, not trying to balance everything," Kiffin said. "You saw him today really, like, take what was there and get vertical, which is a normal transition, especially for a young running back, and maybe coming from a lower level, where you can just balance everything and outrun everybody."
Berry rushed for a career and game best 125 yards. He averaged 8.3 yards per carry and found the end zone once. Three of his carries went
for 11 or more yards, including one for 46 yards. Berry fell below transfer Dilin Jones on the depth chart but worked his way into the rotation against McNeese.
Harlem takes it in for the SCORE @HarlemBerry25 pic.twitter.com/lqVpS73F1i
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) October 4, 2026
"I'm really proud of him, proud of how things happen in our program," Kiffin said. "You just don't get handed them, you know, and sometimes you get demoted, and then you gotta earn them, and he's done a really good job with that."
If Berry can keep this up in conference play, it'll boost an LSU offense searching for depth. Berry is a five-star talent, and he's an explosive athlete. If he can keep doing the little things, he'll earn more chances to touch the football.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Harlem Berry finally shines in LSU football's Week 5 win
