Tag: 2023 Football Player Profiles

2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 3 Greg Brooks Jr.

Greg Brooks Jr. returns for his final season to help anchor the Tigers’ defensive backfield.

Going into the 2023 football season, LSU Wire will be looking at each player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Brian Kelly this season.

The secondary saw quite a bit of shakeup this offseason and will feature several new faces. There will be some continuity, however, and [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag] is a main reason why. The fifth-year player transferred in last season from Arkansas and helped the defense immensely.

Now, he’ll be tasked with leading the secondary in 2023.

Greg Brooks Jr. Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Harvey, Louisiana

Ht: 5-10

Wt: 187

247Sports Composite Ranking

Four Stars | No. 16 in Louisiana | No. 35 Cornerback

Class in 2022: Senior

Career Stats

Year G Total Solo TFL Sack FF PD INT
2019 (Arkansas) 11 25 13 0 0 0 3 1
2020 (Arkansas) 9 39 22 3 0 0 1 2
2021 (Arkansas) 13 47 22 2.5 0 0 4 1
2022 14 66 34 3 1 1 3 2


Depth Chart Overview

One of Kelly’s top transfer additions last offseason, Brooks came from the Tigers’ SEC West rival after starting for three seasons in Fayetteville. Brooks played primarily in the nickel for the Razorbacks, and that’s where he began 2022 with LSU.

He ultimately started 13 of 14 games last fall but moved to safety by the end of the season. His 66 total tackles ranked fifth on the team, and he matched his career high with two interceptions. One of those was a game-sealing pick in the fourth quarter of the Tigers’ win over Auburn.

Brooks will, in all likelihood, retain his starting safety spot, though it’s always possible defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag] chooses to move him back to corner. Alongside returning starter [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag], the safety duo should be the strength of the defensive backfield this fall.

Greg Brooks Jr.’s Photo Gallery

2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 2 Ovie Oghoufo

Ovie Oghoufo, who formerly played at Notre Dame and Texas, will reunite with Brian Kelly for his sixth and final season of eligibility.

Going into the 2023 football season, LSU Wire will be looking at each player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Brian Kelly this season.

We’re checking out another top transfer addition from the offseason in [autotag]Ovie Oghoufo[/autotag], a sixth-year defensive end. Oghoufo began his career with Kelly at Notre Dame before transferring to Texas in 2021, where he developed into a two-year starter, mostly playing the edge.

Ovie Oghoufo Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Lathrup Village, Michigan

Ht: 6-3

Wt: 245

247Sports Composite Ranking

Three Stars | No. 11 in Michigan | No. 35 Outside Linebacker

Class in 2022: Senior

Career Stats

Year G Total Solo TFL Sack FF PD INT
2018 (Notre Dame) 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2019 (Notre Dame) 8 20 5 2.5 2.5 1 1 0
2020 (Notre Dame) 8 13 9 2.5 2.5 0 2 0
2021 (Texas) 12 42 21 5.5 2.0 0 2 0
2022 (Texas) 13 53 19 7.5 1.5 1 3 0


Depth Chart Overview

After redshirting his first year in South Bend, Oghoufo saw action off the bench in 2019 and the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He ultimately opted to transfer to Texas in 2021, where his playing time increased quite a bit.

In the 25 games he appeared in with the Longhorns over the last two years, he started 20 of them. Though his sack numbers leave something to be desired, he has 13 tackles for loss and 95 total tackles over the last two campaigns.

Now a more finished product than he was at Notre Dame, Kelly will hope the veteran can help replace the losses of starting edge defenders [autotag]BJ Ojulari[/autotag] and [autotag]Ali Gaye[/autotag].

Ovie Oghoufo’s Photo Gallery

2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 2 Kyren Lacy

Kyren Lacy could be poised for a huge season after making a lot of noise during spring practice.

Going into the 2023 football season, LSU Wire will be looking at each player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Brian Kelly this season.

We’re looking at a receiver who could be poised to break out in his second year with the Tigers in [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag]. A transfer from Louisiana that arrived last season with Kelly, Lacy saw a limited role in 2022 that will likely expand during his final season this fall.

Kyren Lacy Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Thibodaux, Louisiana

Ht: 6-2

Wt: 212

247Sports Composite Ranking

Three Stars | No. 46 in Louisiana | No. 157 Wide Receiver

Class in 2022: Junior

Career Stats

Year G Catches Yards Avg TDs
2020 (Louisiana) 11 28 364 13.0 4
2021 (Louisiana) 12 22 304 13.8 6
2022 14 24 268 11.2 0


Depth Chart Overview

A minimally recruited prospect coming out of high school, Lacy was a role player in his two years with the Ragin’ Cajuns, but he was one of the team’s most productive receivers. He played in 24 games in that span with six starts, leading the team in receiving as a freshman and in receiving touchdowns as a sophomore with six.

Lacy appeared in 14 games last fall during his first season at LSU, making two starts and totaling 24 catches for 268 yards, though he didn’t find the end zone.

He had a huge spring for the Tigers and was one of the stars of the spring game. Lacy is expected to compete for a lot of targets this fall with the departures of [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaray Jenkins[/autotag] to the NFL. Alongside players like Malik Nabers and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag], Lacy is a major part of what could be an elite receiving corps.

Kyren Lacy’s Photo Gallery

2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 1 Omar Speights

Omar Speights should make an immediate impact after earning First Team All-Pac 12 honors last fall.

Going into the 2023 football season, LSU Wire will be looking at each player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Brian Kelly this season.

It’s time to take a look at another transfer in [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag], a four-year starter at linebacker from Oregon State. Speights will likely come in as an immediate impact player after earning First Team All-Pac 12 honors from the coaches last season.

Omar Speights Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ht: 6-1

Wt: 235

247Sports Composite Ranking

Three Stars | No. 4 in Oregon | No. 30 Inside Linebacker

Class in 2022: Junior

Career Stats

Year G Total Solo TFL Sack FF PD INT
2019 (Oregon State) 12 71 42 7.5 3.5 00 2 1
2020 (Oregon State) 7 63 32 4.5 1 0 0 0
2021 (Oregon State) 13 87 34 5 0.5 0 1 2
2022 (Oregon State) 13 83 39 0 0 0 1 0


Depth Chart Overview

Speights burst onto the scene right away with the Beavers as a true freshman in 2019, starting six of 12 games while recording 7.5 tackles for loss and earning Freshman All-America honors. He went on to start the next 33 games over the following three seasons.

After leading the Beavers in tackles with 83 in 2022 and leading the team to a 10-win season, Speights was named a First Team All-Pac 12 selection by the coaches and was placed on the second team by the Associated Press.

He comes in likely to take over LSU’s starting middle linebacker spot. The Tigers saw some losses at linebacker this offseason in [autotag]Micah Baskerville[/autotag] and [autotag]Mike Jones Jr.[/autotag], and Speights should easily slide into a starting role after four years at Oregon State.

Omar Speights’ Photo Gallery

2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 0 Maason Smith

Smith returns from injury in 2023 with big-time expectations.

Going into the 2023 football season, LSU Wire will be looking at each player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Brian Kelly this season.

We’re starting things out with one of the most anticipated players in the country in [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag], who seemed poised for a breakout last fall before suffering an early season-ending injury.

Now, he’s back and could be one of the nation’s top defensive linemen.

Maason Smith Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Houma, Louisiana

Ht: 6-6

Wt: 310

247Sports Composite Ranking

Five Stars | No. 1 in Louisiana | No. 7 Defensive Lineman

Class in 2022: Sophomore

Career Stats

Year G Total Solo TFL Sack FF PD INT
2021 7 19 13 5 4 0 0 0
2022 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0


Depth Chart Overview

Smith was one of the prized gems of LSU’s 2021 recruiting class, and the former No. 31 overall prospect made an immediate impact as a true freshman that year.

He played in nine games, making four starts and earning Freshman All-America honors. He had solid production for a first-year player, totaling 19 tackles (five for loss) and four sacks. He was expected to take a big leap forward as a full-time starter in 2022.

However, bad luck struck Smith last fall. On the first drive of the season-opener against Florida State in 2022, he suffered a torn ACL while celebrating a stop. He missed the entire year, serving in a mentorship role while on the sidelines.

In his place, Missouri transfer [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] had a breakout season, earning All-SEC honors. Now, the two will be paired up for what should be one of the SEC’s best defensive fronts in 2023 as Smith is fully healthy entering the fall.

Maason Smith’s Photo Gallery