Mansoor Delane going in the third round is getting treated like a surprise by the national media and that tells me they weren't watching LSU's secondary closely enough last season. The Tigers finished 2025 ranked 42nd in punt return defense allowing 8.7 yards per return, which is mediocre at best, but Delane individually graded out above 80 in coverage according to PFF. People forget he was the primary reason LSU's opponents averaged only 18.3 yards per kick return, a top 30 number nationally. Brian Kelly's staff has been quietly building a special teams identity that actually matters in close games. The kickoff coverage unit finished 25th in starting field position allowed, which is the kind of hidden yardage that wins you one or two extra games a season. If the new punt returners can get that unit into the top 20, LSU's field position advantage becomes a real weapon heading into the Clemson matchup next season.