Report: Missouri's Blake Baker emerges as top candidate for LSU defensive coordinator job

Missouri defensive coordinator Blake Baker has emerged as the top candidate for LSU‘s DC job, per report.

Behind Baker, Missouri catapulted up the national defensive ranked and finished with the No. 25 defense in the country in 2023 — which was capped by a Cotton Bowl win where his defense only allowed Ohio State to score three points.

Defensively, the Tigers were also stout and one of the strongest units in the SEC East. The unit finished ranked 38th in total defense and 41st in scoring defense, allowing 347.2 yards and 22.3 points per game. The team’s run defense anchored the unit as well.

Baker was in his second year as the Missouri defensive coordinator after serving a one-year stint as LSU‘s linebackers coach. He had previously been the defensive coordinator at both Miami and Louisiana Tech.

He, alongside Mizzou offensive coordinator Kirby Moore, were announced as having received contract extensions by head coach Eli Drinkwitz.

The move for the Tigers comes shortly after it was announced that head coach Brian Kelly was overhauling his defensive staff from the 2023 season, including now former defensive coordinator Matt House.

LSU owes defensive staff $5.4 million, including $3.7 for Matt House

Brian Kelly made a move everybody felt like he had to, hitting the reset button on the LSUdefensive coaching staff. Multiple coaches are heading out of Baton Rouge, with the biggest name of them all being defensive coordinator Matt House. The Tigers were historically bad defensively during the 2023 season and Kelly knows the program needs to be better.

Also being let go were defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey, safeties coach Kerry Cooks, and cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples. And it’s going to cost LSU quite a bit to get all four guys out of their current contracts. According to Steve Berkowitz of the USA TODAY, just over $5.4 million will be paid out, with a huge chunk being House’s buyout.

“Per their contracts, these are the buyouts owed by LSU: –Matt House: Just over $3.7 million (deal was due to expire on 1/15/2026,) –Jimmy Lindsey: Nearly $745,000 –Kerry Cooks and Robert Steeples: Just over $510,000 each Total is roughly $5.465 million,” Berkowitz said via X.

LSU’s defense allowed a staggering 408.8 yards per game this season. With a Heisman Trophy winner on the other side of the ball for the Tigers — their defensive unit was the difference between a middle-of-the-road season and the College Football Playoffs in 2023.