The LSU Tigers had a bad defense and a terrible secondary in 2023. As they prepare to face USC’s loaded wide receiver room in the 2024 college football season opener, the Tigers face tough decisions. LSU Tigers Wire offers more context on this particular topic, focusing on freshman cornerback P.J. Woodland and coach Brian Kelly’s evaluation of him:
“To play corner, in my opinion, you have to do three things. You gotta be able to play the ball down the field. There are many guys that can be in man coverage but the ball is in the air and they can’t find it. The second thing is, you gotta be able to tackle, and he’s a ferocious tackler. He loves to tackle the football,” Kelly said.
Kelly said the third aspect is the ability to play man-to-man coverage, and Woodland can do that too. However, Kelly said Woodland was 157-159 pounds when he arrived. It can be difficult to play at that weight week in and week out in the SEC.
“When he physically develops, he’s going to be a really good football player,” Kelly said.
It’s hard to say if Kelly’s comments provide a reason to pump the brakes on the Woodland hype. Kelly isn’t shy about playing true freshmen, but LSU will want to be sure he’s physically ready. This could mean LSU rolls with its veterans early in the year with Woodland forcing his way into the lineup later in the year.
You can see the dilemma in front of Brian Kelly. His younger corners might be better than his current veteran corners, but they might not be physically developed just yet. The Tigers could be caught in between before facing USC’s elite receivers in Las Vegas.
Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.
Check out more NFL draft coverage with the USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft Hub.