LSU hired Alex Atkins as its tight ends coach in February in an attempt to beef up Brian Kelly’s coaching staff this fall. Atkins is the former offensive coordinator at Florida State, and also serves as the Tigers’ run game coordinator.
Atkins has been in the coaching industry since 2007, where he has the most experience coaching the offensive line. A offensive guard himself during his playing career, however, he did coach tight ends at his alma mater, Tennessee–Martin, in 2008. He last served as RGC during his stint at Tulane in 2018.
“Alex is a veteran coach, and you know, anytime that you can add somebody that has had the kind of career that he’s had, and influencing, in particular, as a coordinator and as a run game coordinator, you’re adding another piece to a championship program,” Kelly said after fall camp practice earlier this week. “And so that experience, that success, that confidence, that ability to really focus on a run game just makes us a better football team.”
For the last three seasons, Atkins has been on the staff at Florida State as an offensive line coach and the offensive coordinator. That run came to an end in November 2024, amid the Seminoles’ disappointing season, when it was announced the team would be making changes at both offensive and defensive coordinator.
Under Atkins, the Florida State offense thrived in 2022 and 2023. The 2023 Seminoles, in particular, that went unbeaten in the regular season and won the ACC were known for having an excellent offense.
In 2023, the Seminoles were 54th nationally in total offense, averaging 401.6 yards per game. Then, Florida State was 18th in scoring offense, averaging 34.6 points per game.
However, a 2-10 overall finish for Florida State following an undefeated regular season and ACC Championship run called for change in Tallahassee. Atkins was let go, and a few months later he was a Tiger.
Now, he’s set to help lead a tight end room that has little experience returning in 2025. Mason Taylor turned pro after a successful career in Baton Rouge. In turn, sophomore Trey’Dez Green and Oklahoma transfer Bauer Sharp are expected to be the main names tied to Atkins’ initial room.
The first time fans will get to see this tight ends group in action will be during the Tigers’ season opener against Clemson on the road. Kickoff is slated for Saturday, Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET live on ABC.