Entering the 2023 season, LSU was looking for some depth on the defensive line.
Though that was partially addressed in the transfer portal, a player who was already on the roster could fit that bill: redshirt freshman [autotag]Fitzgerald West[/autotag].
A two-way player who played on both the offensive and defensive lines in high school at Lafayette Christian Academy, West appeared in five games as an offensive lineman with the Tigers as a true freshman last fall.
However, he’s moving back to the defensive line entering Year 2. He’s dropped weight, and he detailed the change to WAFB’s Jacques Doucet.
“I like it,” he said of the change. “I’m used to it. I’ve been playing it almost all my life so it’s natural for me. I’d say the transition though, learning plays and stuff, it’s not too hard for me. I pretty much know the scheme, so I know pretty much my assignment every play.”
"It's natural for me."
A slimmer @LSUfootball @Fitztheboss68 discusses his move from offensive to defensive line at #LSU.
"I lost a lot of body fat. But I want to gain some muscle before the season starts." pic.twitter.com/Sawse9v0rD
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) May 6, 2023
West also said he wants to add some muscle to his frame before the start of the season after dropping a considerable amount of body fat.
“I want to gain a little more muscle,” he said. “Probably like 10 pounds of muscle before the season. It’s not hard. I want to gradually do it, though. I lost a lot of body fat, but I want to gain some muscle before the season starts.”
West only saw a limited role in his first campaign in Baton Rouge, but with his versatility and transformed frame, he could prove to be a key contributor on defense as LSU looks to defend its SEC West title in 2023.
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