LSU Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock Heading to Notre Dame

Denbrock departs Baton Rouge after two years, returns to South Bend.

LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock is expected to depart Baton Rouge to accept the same role with Notre Dame, sources confirm to LSU Country. 

Denbrock returns to South Bend to become the Fighting Irish's next offensive coordinator.

After agreeing to a three-year contract extension this month, a change of heart now sees Denbrock return closer to home to join Marcus Freeman's coaching staff.

Denbrock, a Broyles Award finalist, was the catalyst to LSU's No. 1 offense in America. 

The Bayou Bengals led the country in scoring (46.4 points) and total offense (547.8 yards per game) with Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels at the helm.

Denbrock, 59, was inching towards the final year of his current deal. He made $1.4 million in 2023 and was set to earn $1.5 million next season before potential postseason incentives.

Now, he heads to Notre Dame with the chance to reignite the Fighting Irish's offense. 

The Jayden Daniels Show

Daniels has put a record-setting season in 2023, leading the nation in total offense (412.2), touchdown passes (40), TDs responsible for (50) and rushing yards by a quarterback (1,134). His pass efficiency rating of 208.0 through 12 games is the best in FBS history.

The five-time SEC Offensive Player of the Week this year, Daniels is one of only two players in SEC history to pass for 3,500 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a season, joining Johnny Manziel who did it in 2012 at Texas A&M.

Daniels is also one of only five players in SEC history to account for 50 touchdowns in a season, joining Heisman Trophy winners Burrow (63), Tim Tebow (55), Cam Newton (51) and Bryce Young (50).

Daniels became the first player in FBS history to pass for 350 yards and rush for 200 yards in a game when he did it in the win over Florida, setting the SEC record for total offense with 606 yards. Daniels passed for 372 yards and rushed for 234 yards in the 52-35 win over the Gators.

A week later, he tied the LSU record for touchdowns in a game with eight (6 passing, 2 rushing) in the win over Georgia State. He tied Burrow’s mark which was set against Oklahoma in 2019.

Daniels has accounted for at least four touchdowns in nine games this year, one shy of the school record and he’s reached the 400-yard mark in total offense six times. He joined Burrow as the only players in LSU history to have three 500-yard games of total offense in a season.

Overall, Daniels has thrown for 3,812 yards, connecting on 236-of-327 passes with only four interceptions.

Daniels has been the catalyst behind an LSU offense that leads the nation in total offense (547.8) and scoring (46.4). The Tigers are the only team in college football to average 300 passing yards and 200 rushing yards a contest. LSU ranks No. 4 nationally in passing yards per game (334.3) and No. 7 in rushing with a 213.5 average.

The LSU offense also features the nation’s leader in receiving yards in Malik Nabers and the top two touchdown producers at wide receiver in Brian Thomas (15) along with Nabers (14).

Malik Nabers' Historic Season

Nabers has had a record-setting year, leading the nation in receiving yards with 1,546 and ranked No. 2 nationally in receiving TDs with 14. He’s had nine games with at least 100-yards receiving, which includes a career-best 239 yards and two touchdowns on 13 catches in a win over Mississippi State.

Nabers has been the nation’s top receiver when it comes to big plays as he leads the country in plays of 20-plus yards (34) and 30-plus yards (34). He also has seven plays of 40-plus yards.

Nabers capped the regular-season with five consecutive 100-yard games and he became LSU’s all-time leader for receptions against Texas A&M when he moved past Wendell Davis’ previous mark of 183.

Nabers has 186 receptions for 2,980 yards and 21 touchdowns in his three seasons with the Tigers.

This year, Nabers joined Reed as the only players in LSU history with multiple 1,000-yard seasons. Reed had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2000 and 2001, while Nabers had 1,017 yards last year as a sophomore.

Nabers concluded the regular-season just 20 yards shy of becoming only the second 3,000-yard career receiver in LSU history and he’s only 22 yards short of breaking Reed’s all-time LSU mark of 3,001 receiving yards.

Nabers currently ranks No. 3 on LSU’s single-season list for both receptions (86) and yards (1,546) and he’s No. 4 in touchdowns (14).