LSU placekicker Aeron Burrell has had an impressive season, especially considering he spent his offseason recovering from a fractured kneecap.
Coach Brian Kelly shared on Monday that Burrell’s injury didn’t hinder him from kicking in LSU’s season opener.
His performance has been crucial for the Tigers, as he has achieved touchbacks on 37 out of 39 kickoffs this season, placing LSU among the top FBS teams for touchbacks.
“He’s a weapon, obviously,” Kelly noted, adding that his reliability alleviates concerns about kickoff returns, an area where the team has struggled.
Last season, LSU only managed touchbacks on 59% of their kickoffs, allowing opponents to average 21 yards on returns.
This year, however, opponents have only gained a total of 91 yards on four kickoff returns, with half of that coming from a 46-yard return by Southern Cal’s Zachariah Branch in the opener. Burrell made the tackle on that play, potentially preventing a touchdown.
Kelly mentioned that Burrell might eventually kick field goals for LSU, noting that while he needs to improve his accuracy, he can consistently hit from 60 yards during practice.
Current starting kicker Damian Ramos, named Southeastern Conference specialist of the week, has one year of eligibility remaining after this season.
“He’s clearly improved throughout the year to the point where he’s become automatic,” Kelly said.
