When Lane Kiffin took over as LSU’s head football coach, he and his staff quickly identified several players from the 2025 team they wanted to keep in Baton Rouge.
Center Braelin Moore was one of them.
After starting 12 games at center last season, Moore had the option of entering the NFL Draft. Instead, he decided to return to LSU for a fifth season, drawn in part by the opportunity to play in the explosive offense Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. are bringing to Baton Rouge.
“That was probably one of the biggest reasons why I came back, just to play in an offense that has been Top 5 in rushing and scoring the past couple of years,” Moore said. “I have been part of a good offense, but I haven’t been part of an offense that has demanded those kind of numbers, so I know what I can do for a team, I know what that can do for me.”
Moore was one of the bright spots on an offensive line that struggled throughout much of last season.
He earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors for his performance against Clemson in the season opener, but injured his ankle on the first play of the following game against Louisiana Tech. Despite dealing with the lingering injury, Moore played 623 offensive snaps and allowed just one sack.
The rest of the offensive line wasn't nearly as consistent, and its struggles were a major factor in LSU finishing 7-6.
The Tigers are counting on a revamped offensive line to be much better in 2026.
LSU added highly regarded transfers Jordan Seaton from Colorado and Aliou Bah from Maryland, while fifth-year senior Bo Bordelon is expected to take over at left guard after earning the opportunity under Kiffin.
Weston Davis, who struggled at right tackle as a redshirt freshman last season, is expected to return to the starting lineup at the position under a new coaching staff.
New offensive line coach Eric Wolford, was recommended to Kiffin by former Alabama coach Nick Saban. James Cregg, who coached LSU's offensive line during the Tigers' 2019 national championship season, is also on staff as the team's run game specialist.
Kiffin has been impressed with the combination.
“I think it's the best duo in the country,” Kiffin said of Wolford and Cregg.
Moore, who didn't experience much winning during his time at Virginia Tech before transferring to LSU, believes the Tigers have the talent and coaching to finish his college career on a high note.
“I've got the utmost confidence in this group,” Moore said. “We could go get that [Joe Moore] award and we could be the most dominant O-line in the country.”
The Joe Moore Award is presented annually to the nation's top offensive line.
Moore believes LSU has surrounded the offensive line with coaches who know what it takes to reach that level.
“Coach [Eric Wolford], coach [James] Cregg — who was the O-line coach in 2019 when they won the Joe Moore — and coach [Na'Shan] Goddard, who was in the NFL and won two Super Bowls,” Moore said.
“We're just surrounded by so many guys who know so much about the game, and I see our group taking that step. We just got to keep building.”
For Moore, returning to LSU wasn't simply about extending his college career.
It's an opportunity to be part of an offense he believes can transform the Tigers — and potentially give him one more chance to finish his college career with a championship.
