LSU steals key piece from SEC rival's football program that may give them massive advantage in recruiting and the transfer portal

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Adam Holt | Last updated Jul 8, 2025 8:11 AM ET

The LSU Tigers are looking to Oxford, Mississippi to add to their football program. It's not a player, and it is not a coach, either. That being said, a new staff member is going to be a Bayou Bengals, according to recent reports.

LSU hiring Ole Miss Coordinator of Recruiting Strategy

According to Shea Dixon, the LSU Tigers are hiring a new piece to their football program's staff. Kevin Bolden will become LSU football's Assistant General Manager.

BREAKING: LSU is hiring Ole Miss Coordinator of Recruiting Strategy Kevin Bolden, sources tell me.

Bolden will be LSU Football's Assistant General Manager.

Bolden, a Mississippi native, worked under Austin Thomas while both were in Oxford.

➡️: https://t.co/y9zI6rSp0R pic.twitter.com/zbHUm7mhyR
— Shea Dixon (@Sheadixon) July 8, 2025

Prior to his stint with the Rebels, Bolden worked for UCF and head coach Gus Malzahn as the program’s wide receiver assistant coach and Director of Recruiting Relations. Bolden worked under Dan Mullen at Florida in 2021 as the Assistant Director of Player Personnel, and his stop in Gainesville followed up two years at Arkansas as a Graduate Assistant in the wide receivers room in both 2018 and 2019. -- On3.com

Bolden was hired by the Rebels in the spring of 2022. He's been a pivotal part of Lane Kiffin's success in the transfer portal and on the recruiting trail.

LSU Senior Associate Athletic Director for Football Administration Austin Thomas has a strong relationship with Bolden as well. That duo for the Tigers could be extremely important for years to come when it comes to adding talent onto the roster.

For the Tigers, they dominated the transfer portal this offseason when it came to adding talent on both sides of the football. As of now, they also boast an impressive 2026 high school recruiting class. With the addition of Bolden, don't be surprised if those efforts continue to climb in both facets.

Regardless, this strengthens the core for LSU and also weakens it for Ole Miss. The SEC continues to be full of intrigue for college football as per usual.