LSU is five games into its 2024 campaign. After a win over South Alabama in week five, the Tigers are 4-1 heading into a bye week.
After the open date, the schedule heats up. LSU will host Ole Miss on Oct. 12 before taking road trips to Arkansas and Texas A&M. That stretch is pivotal to LSU’s playoff hopes. If LSU goes 3-0, the Tigers have room for error heading into the Alabama showdown on Nov. 9. Anything less than 3-0 means the pressure is on the rest of the way.
After dropping the opener, four-straight wins have LSU back where it began the season in the polls. Here, we’ll take a look at the players providing the most value to LSU right now.
PFF grades aren’t perfect, but they can be a good insight into a player’s performance. Here are PFF’s top five graded Tigers through five games.
Note: To qualify, a player needs at least 75+ offensive or defensive snaps played.
No. 5 – Zy Alexander, 76.9
Alexander hasn’t played much thanks to being in and out of the lineup with injuries. But when he has played, he’s been LSU’s top-graded defensive back.
He’s allowed five yards in 53 coverage snaps while recording a pass breakup. He wasn’t even targeted in 14 coverage snaps vs. UCLA.
Alexander missed last week with a concussion. The bye comes at a good time for the LSU defense which could use its veteran cornerback in the lineup.
No. 4 – Aaron Anderson, 78.9
[autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] is in the midst of a breakout campaign. He’s LSU’s leading receiver with 27 catches to go along with 371 yards. Both of those marks are already career highs for the redshirt sophomore. He was a five-star out of high school in 2022 and that talent is starting to show.
Anderson’s grade of 78.9 puts him in the top 10 among SEC receivers and his 3.28 yards per route run ranks seventh.
LSU knew what it had in [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] and [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] at receiver, but Anderson added another element to this group.
No. 3 – Bradyn Swinson, 79.3
Swinson is LSU’s top-graded defender thus far. This is a case where the number clearly matches what we see on the field. Swinson is the definition of an impact player.
His 19 pressures rank third in the SEC while his five sacks are tied for second. LSU needed a true disruptor to emerge up front and it got just that with Swinson.
No. 2 – Caden Durham, 80.2
Durham has the smallest sample size of anyone on this list with just 71 snaps and 29 carries on the year. But he’s beginning to see more and more time and for good reason.
Durham’s grade of 80.2 ranks fourth among LSU running backs. He showed breakaway ability in the win over South Alabama, totaling 157 yards on his first two touches.
Durham’s 8.4 yards per carry lead all qualified SEC running backs. LSU may have its next backfield star in the true freshman.
No. 1 – Garrett Nussmeier, 87
LSU’s top-graded player is its leader at quarterback. Nussmeier’s PFF grade ranks fifth among SEC QBs. His QBR is even better, ranking 10th nationally.
Nussmeier had a couple of blunders against South Alabama, throwing two picks. Outside of that, it’s hard to criticize much about Nussmeier’s play this year.
LSU has a signal caller that can compete with anyone in the SEC.
Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.