Spring football in Baton Rouge? It’s never just about the X’s and O’s. It’s about survival. So, when Brian Kelly steps to the mic looking like he’s ready to rip a phone book in half, you know something’s up. No March Madness for Kelly—he’s too busy cooking something serious down in Death Valley. And this time, it’s all about a 268-pound beast and some spicy spring practice shake-ups.

Turns out, Kelly wasn’t here to sugarcoat anything. He made it clear when he was asked about EDGE, Gabriel Reliford. “Gabe’s a kid that plays with a lot of confidence. Obviously, his physicality. His physicality is a little bit different than the other ends that we have. His size. So, when you’re talking about him, he’s a different profile than some of the other ends and the edges that we have,” Kelly said on March 22nd, sounding more like he was describing a bulldozer than a football player.

But Kelly’s done with the learning curve stuff. And Gabe ain’t a rookie anymore. “There were times where playing a freshman, you kind of go ‘well, he’s learning.’ He’s past the learning stage. What we’re looking for is a consistent performance, playing in play out and somebody that’s really, really good against the run,” Kelly added. That’s his way of saying, ‘Step it up or step aside.’ Look, Gabriel Reliford pulled up to LSU in 2024 and wasted no time getting his feet wet. The freshman edge rusher suited up for 13 games, tallying 10 tackles—2 solo, 1 for a loss, and even snagging half a sack. But don’t be fooled by those numbers—the kid’s just warming up, though time’s ticking. Brian Kelly has got no time to waste.

It isn’t just about Gabriel Reliford. Kelly is making moves across the board, pushing his boys to hit that next level. He’s even switching up the whole spring practice schedule just to make sure they squeeze every drop of performance out of these guys. Instead of sticking to the plan and wrapping things up by April 7th, Kelly’s stretching it out. Two practices are getting bumped to the week after the spring scrimmage, giving his guys extra time to grind and shine. “We’ll continue to practice that Tuesday and Thursday, after that spring scrimmage that we have. So, elongating, you know, taking more time with the team, taking all of our, I guess you would say, maximum allotted time of 34 days to get those practices,” Kelly explained. And by “taking more time,” he means turning the heat up to a whole new level.

But hey, it’s not all about the grind. Sometimes, it’s about the roster itself. And just when you thought LSU’s backfield was settled, there’s drama brewing. Time for the latest on John Emery.

Brian Kelly gives an update on John Emery’s status

Earlier in the week, LSU running back John Emery lit up social media with his announcement that he’d be back for a 7th year. Yeah, you heard that right—SEVENTH year. Well, most guys are either coaching or making waves in the pros by then, but Emery’s still grinding it out in college. The problem is it seems like Brian Kelly wasn’t exactly co-signing that idea.

“We haven’t talked to John about it, and it was the first that we had heard,” Kelly said when reporters threw the question his way. “We love John. But sometimes, you know, things happen, and we don’t know where they came from. We will be supportive in any way we can, but we are set where we are at in terms of the running back position. Love John, and we will be here to help and support him.” Translation? John Emery might have to take his talents somewhere else. Kelly made it clear that LSU’s backfield is already stacked and ready to roll.

Caden Durham looking like the top dog after racking up 753 yards last year as a freshman. And with Kaleb Jackson right behind him, there’s not much room left for Emery in this backfield. But Kelly’s not hating. In fact, he’s rooting for the guy to find his place, even if it’s not in Baton Rouge. “If he is given the 7th year, he is certainly a young man that can help someone in the Power-4,” Kelly said, leaving the door open for Emery.

So, there you have it. Kelly is cracking the whip in spring practice, making guys like Reliford earn it, while Emery’s future hangs in the air. Because one thing’s clear: Kelly ain’t missing the playoffs for 3rd straight year. And neither should anybody else if they want to make the cut.