By james art 
WATCH: LSU football QBs during team’s first preseason practice
LSU football defensive backs Garrett Nussmeier (13), Ricky Collins (10), AJ Swann (15) and Collin Hurley (16) work during the first fall practice.
BATON ROUGE — Caden Durham could have enrolled at LSU early if he chose to. But he made a pre-commitment.
And he will never go back on his word.
The Duncanville High School track and field team had the chance to set national high school records and win a state championship this spring. And even the opportunity to join LSU football, one of the biggest brands and college football teams in the country, and go about finding a role wasn’t going to stop him from being a part of the team’s pursuit of greatness.
“He loves track and field and our team had a chance to set a national record and win a state championship and they did,” Duncanville football coach Reginald Semples said. “There were some things that he had committed to with friends in athletics that he was true to. He wanted to stay here and help them win a championship.”
LSU BOWL PROJECTIONS LSU Football Bowl Predictions: Is LSU Projected to Make the College Football Playoff?
TREY’DEZ GREEN What Brian Kelly had to say about LSU football’s Trey’Dez Green’s first game as a receiver
For the LSU freshman, when he commits to something, he goes all-in. And when he’s all in, few things stop Durham from what he’s working towards.
Caden Durham, used to the situation, LSU football
The assumption, since Durham was enrolled over the summer, meaning he wasn’t on campus in Baton Rouge in the spring, that the talented tailback would see his way onto the field in a meaningful role for the Tigers, became steeper.
But Durham has been in this situation before.
He and his family moved to Duncanville, Texas from Oklahoma City before his sophomore year of high school. New city, new football team, new system, new teammates and coaches, all foreign to him.
Durham’s commitment and focus shortened each adjustment period he navigated, leading him to be a key contributor in Duncanville.
“There has to be an innate character to a kid that — we pushed him pretty hard. Not everyone adapts well or thrives when forced like this. But he did,” Semples said. “And he kept getting better. It was a completely new environment for him, a new system, everything.
“He’s one of those kids who doesn’t pay attention to outside influences. He was just focused on football. That alone told me that we had a kid who was going to be really good.
Once Durham was completely comfortable, he left. He helped lead Duncanville to back-to-back state titles in his final two seasons, and with his track speed, he ended up being the eighth-best running back in the 2024 recruiting class and the Texas 19th best overall outlook.
Caden Durham trusts the process at LSU
Arriving on campus over the summer, Durham stared down four other running backs ahead of him on the depth chart. He knew it would take time, but he had to trust the process as he learned LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan’s handbook and all the wrinkles of playing his position at the top college football level.
“Signals were hard to learn,” Durham said. “But other than that, everything became easy. And then just trusting the coaches and trusting the process.”
Durham continued to work on it. Coming into the season, Durham remained buried on the depth chart. John Emery went down with a season-ending injury early in the season, pushing him closer to the pitch. The 5-9, 205 cornerback stayed positive and started to feel comfortable.
He knew that all he needed was an opportunity. He did see the field against Nicholls State, but managed four yards on five carries.
The following week in South Carolina, his work and commitment began to pay off.
“A freshman who is working through that transition of understanding the playbook and the nuances of the game,” LSU football coach Brian Kelly said of Durham. “I just feel more comfortable in everything we do. Through his play, when given the opportunity at South Carolina, he did.
“He earned it through an opportunity that was given to him.”
Durham exploded for 98 yards on 11 carries and scored twice. It was his first SEC game.
“(Running backs coach Frank Wilson) put me on during practice and I performed. So the coach said, ‘OK, if you do this in practice, you should do it when you’re in the game,'” Durham said. “So how I perform in training, I perform well in games.
“The South Carolina game (is when the light went on).”
“He’s Lightning in a Bottle”
The LSU coaches knew they were on to something. In the first few games, the Tigers run game lacked pop and the ability to gain extra yards after contact.
What the game lacked, Durham showed against South Carolina, helping pave the way for the team to rally for the win on Saturday afternoon.
Since then, Durham has been heavily involved in the Tigers’ rushing attack and started games at South Alabama and Arkansas. In six games, he leads LSU with 382 yards, a 6.2 yards per carry average and six touchdowns.
“He’s obviously very special,” LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier said. “He’s like lightning in a bottle. He gets a little crease that he can pick up and go. I think what’s so special about Caden is his ability to make someone miss and break a try. If you watch a lot of big runs, there’s a guy one-on-one with him and he makes them miss.
“His ability to recognize that and his ability to execute it. He has been very good for us and I think he will continue to do well with us.”
Caden Durham performance ‘not surprising’
To those who know him, it’s no surprise how quickly Durham carved out an important role for himself as a freshman at LSU.
He has always had a professional approach and his coaches are in awe of his level of commitment to be the best.
“His consistency and determination, he’s very consistent in everything he does. He worked hard and played hard,” Semples said. “He was very easy to work with. He’s a coachable kid. He pays attention to what you are trying to teach him. He is always attentive at film meetings. The way he approached the game was so businesslike.
“It doesn’t surprise me (how Durham played). Just because of his work ethic, the type of kid he is and the dedication he has to the game.”
Durham’s approach was noticeable to Kelly and his offensive staff early on. Once he got his opportunity, he was prepared and it showed.
As it turned out, Durham was just what the LSU game needed.
“He’s got that — the guys I started as freshmen are doing great right now. They’re not too high, they’re not too low,” Kelly said. “If they make a mistake, they put it behind them and move on to the next game. He had this ability to not let anything distract him from the next play. I think that’s the secret for young players.”
GARRETT NUSSMEIER Why Brian Kelly is OK with LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier’s declining completion percentage in SEC play
LSU-TEXAS A&M SHOWDOWN LSU football: Arkansas’ win sets up a big showdown with Texas A&M for first place in the SEC
Corey Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his coverage of the Tigers on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Have questions about LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at [email protected].