Tag: Aaron Anderson

These 5 stats defined LSU’s loss to USC

These five stats defined LSU’s opening-season loss to USC.

After a 27-20 loss to USC marked the fifth-straight season-opening loss for LSU, Tiger fans are getting used to beginning the year with a letdown.

It was an entertaining contest that featured two top 25 teams battling in the final seconds, but USC made the plays it needed to win the game.

It was our first look at a few new elements for LSU, including new coordinators on both sides of the ball. On offense, LSU fans got to see what the offense looked like without [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag]

It was a bag of mixed results for LSU across the board. With the game in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take a look at some numbers that defined the loss for LSU.

It’s just one game, so the sample size here isn’t huge and who knows if these trends will stick throughout the season, but these stats should be able to offer some insight into who LSU is in 2024.

Three plays of 20+ yards

LSU had just three plays of 20+ yards all night. The Tigers were able to move the ball, but the lack of explosiveness put pressure on the offense to string drives together. That’s hard to do when an offense is struggling to run the ball like LSU was.

Regression was expected after the otherworldly explosiveness numbers LSU posted in 2023, but LSU needed a couple of more big plays than it got in the second half.

Nussmeier found [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] for a gain of 41 yards late in the fourth quarter, but that was LSU’s lone explosive pass in the second half.

-0.22 EPA/rush

LSU led the country in EPA/rush last year with 0.29 per run. Much of that is credited to Daniels, but LSU got what it needed from its running backs too.

The run game took a step back on Sunday night. Outside of John Emery Jr.’s 39-yard burst, there wasn’t much happening for LSU.

This is something that should work itself out in time. The offensive line is still one of the best in the country and the RB room is talented, but it was an issue last night.

27% success rate in the red zone

LSU put itself in a position to score but didn’t take advantage. Two drives, in particular, stand out,

LSU marched down the field on the opening possession but stalled inside USC’s 10-yard line and turned it over on downs. A score could have put LSU up and in control of the game early.

In the fourth quarter, LSU was inside USC’s 15-yard line again but had to settle for a field goal and a tie when it couldn’t finish the drive.

If LSU manages a TD on either of those drives, we are talking about a different result.

Garrett Nussmeier’s 88.1 QBR

We’ll take a look at a positive number here. Garrett Nussmeier’s 88.1 QBR was No. 16 in the country this week, a fine number for a QB making his second-career start.

He surpassed 300 yards and threw for two scores. In the first half, his connection with Kyren Lacy looked strong, connecting seven times for 94 yards. Nussmeier looked comfortable with Mason Taylor too.

The only knock was the previously discussed lack of explosive plays, but part of that is on LSU for not taking those shots.

Eight tackles for a loss

LSU struggled to get stops when it needed on defense, but the front seven played well,

LSU generated eight tackles for loss on Sunday night and held USC to 3.67 yards per carry and -0.21 EPA/rush.

There were concerns about LSU’s defensive line, but the Tigers held their own on the interior and remained competitive on the edge.

Tiger fans should feel better about LSU’s interior defensive line moving forward.

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Instant analysis from LSU’s heartbreaking season-opening loss to USC

The Tigers lost their fifth-straight season opener on Sunday night as they couldn’t stop a game-winning Trojans drive.

LSU will have to wait another year to earn its first season-opening win since 2019.

On Sunday night, the Tigers fell 27-20 to USC in Las Vegas to begin the 2024 season after the Trojans scored a go-ahead touchdown with eight seconds to play to clinch a win and hand LSU a heartbreaking defeat.

The Tigers had their chances in this one, driving down the field while trailing by three in the final minutes. But due to a few mistakes, the drive stalled out in the red zone and LSU had to settle for a game-tying field goal.

USC responded quickly on the other end, moving down the field despite holding just one timeout and a 13-yard run from Woody Marks capped off the drive.

LSU’s defense proved to be stronger in this game than in many contests last year, but it still wasn’t enough. The Trojans totaled 447 yards with quarterback Miller Moss accounting for 378 of those through the air.

It overshadowed what was an overall strong regular season starting debut for [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag]. He looked poised and played efficiently, finishing 29 of 38 for 304 yards and two touchdowns with an interception, which came on a desperation play with less than 10 seconds to play.

[autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] was LSU’s clear top option in the passing game, finishing with 94 yards and a touchdown on seven catches. [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] also had seven catches with 62 yards, while [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] managed 64 with a touchdown.

The Tigers also ran the ball with some success, totaling 117 yards on 26 carries with [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] leading the way with 61 yards on 10 carries.

It looked like an improved product in some ways, particularly when it came to a defensive line that got pressure, headlined by a two-sack day from [autotag]Sai’Vion Jones[/autotag]. Ultimately, the Tigers will start another season 0-1 and will now have to dig themselves out of an early hole, with Nicholls coming to town for next weekend’s home opener.

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LSU’s Brian Kelly provides clarity on wide receiver depth

Brian Kelly offered some clarity on LSU’s wide receiver depth.

There are few questions about the depth chart at the top of LSU’s offense. At wide receiver, LSU’s managed a stable trio throughout the offseason. [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag], [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] took starting jobs early and didn’t look back.

But at the second level, the answers weren’t so clear. LSU has several players who could make a case to be WR4. We now have some clarity. With Hilton questionable for Saturday’s season-opener against USC, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said the next man up is sophomore [autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag].

Parker filled in for Hilton at practice and Kelly said he had a strong camp. Parker entered college as a strong route runner, giving him the tools to play early. It was tough to get on the field as a freshman, especially with the strength LSU had at receiver, but now the chance is there.

LSU signed a talented bunch of receivers in 2023. By the end of the year, there were some signs Parker separated from the group. That included playing six snaps in the bowl game against Wisconsin.

Parker is still waiting on his first college target, but it sounds like the wait may not be much longer. Along with Parker, expect [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] and [autotag]Zavion Thomas[/autotag] to be in the mix. Both players offer playmaking ability with the ball in their hands.

If LSU is forced to move further down the depth chart, sophomore [autotag]Shelton Sampson Jr.[/autotag] is still waiting on his chance, too.

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LSU’s Kylan Billiot named a freshman SEC receiver to watch

It may be tough to break through in LSU’s receiver room, but true freshman Kylan Billiot has the chance to do so.

Even with [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] moving on, it’s hard not to like what LSU has at receiver.

It returned budding stars like [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag], [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] while adding transfer [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag]. It will also hope for some development from second-year players [autotag]Shelton Sampson Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag].

However, true freshman receiver [autotag]Kylan Billiot[/autotag] could also make an impact. The four-star prospect from Terrebonne was 247Sports’ No. 13 receiver in the 2024 cycle, and he was listed among potential impact freshman wideouts in the SEC this fall.

It may be tough for Billiot to see the field given all the aforementioned talent at the position, but as the top-rated receiver in LSU’s signing class, he’s the team’s best candidate for a true freshman breakout star.

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LSU’s receiver group near the top of CBS Sports rankings for 2024

Despite the offseason losses, LSU’s receiving corps remains among the most talented in the nation.

When breaking down LSU’s roster in 2024, it’s hard to fathom receiver not being a bigger need than it actually is.

The Tigers lost two first-round prospects in [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag], who finished second in the nation in receiving yards while setting LSU’s career record, and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag], who led the nation in receiving touchdowns. One would think that the need at receiver would be dire, but that isn’t the case.

LSU returns promising veterans poised for a breakout in [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] while adding transfers [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag], a 1,000-yard receiver at Liberty last fall, and [autotag]Zavion Thomas[/autotag]. [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] and [autotag]Shelton Sampson Jr.[/autotag] are other players who could see a sharp uptick in targets.

CBS Sports didn’t include that group among the top five in the nation in its receiving corps rankings, but it did list the Tigers as an honorable mention.

It’s shaping up to be a year of change on offense for LSU with two new coordinators and a new quarterback in [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag]. But a receiver room that, while lacking experience, remains very talented should help ease the adjustment for Nussmeier.

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LSU receiver Kyren Lacy listed among PFF’s 2024 breakout candidates

Kyren Lacy could see his targets increase significantly this fall.

Receiver will be one of LSU’s biggest questions on offense in 2024 after stars [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] both left for the 2024 NFL draft.

But the wide receiver room is far from bereft of talent, and the Tigers have a pass-catcher waiting in the wings who could be poised to take a massive step forward in 2024, similar to how Thomas did last fall as he led the FBS in receiving touchdowns.

Pro Football Focus identified [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] as one of its 10 breakout candidates in college football in 2024, pointing out that he has been previously overshadowed but could now see WR1 targets.

Lacy was definitely overshadowed by Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. last fall, but that doesn’t mean he’s not an exceptional talent in his own right. This season, he’ll likely enter fall camp as WR1 on LSU’s roster, ready to take on a bigger role in the offense.

Lacy is another deep threat with good speed. He led all LSU receivers in yards per catch (18.6) and yards after the catch per reception (7.1) last season, with Jayden Daniels producing a 150.6 passer rating when throwing Lacy’s way.

If the fifth-year senior can fill the void Nabers and Thomas left, he could be the next great wide receiver to get drafted out of LSU next spring.

In addition to Lacy, LSU returns players like [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] and 2023 blue-chip signee [autotag]Shelton Sampson Jr.[/autotag] while adding transfer [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] and [autotag]Zavion Thomas[/autotag].

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LSU has the talent on offense to remain elite in 2024, Brian Kelly says

The Tigers’ offense lost almost all of its production from 2023 this offseason.

LSU’s offense in 2023 was perhaps the best we’ve seen in program history, aside from the national title-winning group in 2019. But as the Tigers prepare for Year 3 under [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] in 2024, almost all of the talent from that group has moved on.

That includes a Heisman-winning quarterback in [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag]. Now, it’s finally Garrett Nussmeier’s turn to take over after three seasons of waiting as a backup.

Nussmeier has seen some significant game action but has only made one start. Still, Kelly thinks Nussmeier has all the tools to be successful, once he gets a bit more game experience, according to USA TODAY Sports’ Blake Toppmeyer.

“He loves to play football. He just eats this up. He eats it and drinks it and sleeps it. The players love him. He’s committed. He’s got leadership capabilities. More than anything else, you have a guy that loves the big moments. He relishes this opportunity to be here at LSU. He loves LSU. He had a chance to be probably the most sought-after quarterback last year, and he turned that down to stay here.

“So, when you have a guy who loves to be where he’s at, and he’s committed himself, and now you see how he goes out and plays this game with such a passion. That’s exciting for a coach to see a guy that’s all in. In this world of, ‘What’s in it for me?’ he’s in it because he just loves to play the game.”

Nussmeier has a cannon of an arm and has earned a reputation as a bit of a gunslinger, though he doesn’t bring the same dual-threat element as Daniels, who rushed for more than 1,100 yards in 2023, leading the team.

The Tigers will need to get more out of their stable of running backs than they have in the first two seasons under Kelly, but that will be made easier by a loaded offensive line that returns four of five starters headlined by [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag], who could end up being the best offensive tackle in the nation this season.

Perhaps the biggest question on the offensive side of the ball has to do with the receiving corps, however. [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] — the program’s all-time leading receiver — and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag], who led the nation in receiving touchdowns in 2023, are both moving on.

The receiver room is far from bare as the Tigers return players who could be poised to break out like Thomas did this past season in [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag], as well as [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag]. The Tigers also added a pair of transfer receivers in [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] and [autotag]Zavion Thomas[/autotag], and they’ll hope to see continued development from redshirt freshman [autotag]Shelton Sampson Jr.[/autotag]

Kelly said that Nabers and Thomas’ production will have to be replaced in the aggregate.

“The sum has to be greater than any one of its parts. You’re not going to replace those guys individually. You have to replace them collectively. So, let’s say the quarterback position, Jayden Daniels and his ability to run, we’re not going to replace that. We’re going to have to lean on our offensive line, our running back and our quarterback and our receivers to do a great job on the perimeter blocking to have a more effective running game. So, it’s a collective approach in that respect.

“We’re going to rely on seven receivers to make up for the loss of two. The sum will have to be greater than any one of the parts, because you’re not going to replace individually three first-round draft picks. Could we have some guys that have individually great performances? Yeah. I think Kyren Lacy is pretty good. I think there’s some guys that are evolving into a bigger role. Chris Hilton looks like he’s got what it takes.”

With questions remaining on the defensive side of the ball under new coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag], LSU will hope the offense continues to produce under new co-coordinators [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] and [autotag]Cortez Hankton[/autotag], who were promoted from within after [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] left for the same role at Notre Dame.

Read the full interview with Brian Kelly from USA TODAY Sports by clicking here.

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Former LSU receiver Khai Prean commits to Tulane

Khai Prean is staying in the state of Louisiana.

Former Tigers wide receiver [autotag]Khai Prean[/autotag] won’t be leaving the state of Louisiana, after all.

On Monday, Prean announced his commitment to Tulane as a transfer. The former four-star receiver entered the transfer portal last Wednesday following one season at LSU in which he redshirted and didn’t make any appearances.

Listed as an athlete coming out of Saint James, Louisiana, in the 2023 class, Prean was a top-500 recruit. However, even with the departures of [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag], he remained buried on the receiver depth chart entering 2024.

LSU still has quite a bit of depth at the position between projected starters [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag], [autotag]Zavion Thomas[/autotag] and [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag], depth players [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag], as well as young players who could be poised for a breakout like [autotag]Shelton Sampson Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag].

Prean will join a Tulane team coming off another double-digit win season, but the 2024 campaign will be the first under new coach Jon Sumrall after Willie Fritz left to take the Houston job.

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LSU redshirt freshman receiver enters transfer portal

Khai Prean is moving on after a redshirt season in 2023 in which he didn’t appear in any games.

LSU has seen its second transfer portal departure in the spring window as redshirt freshman receiver [autotag]Khai Prean[/autotag] opted to enter the portal on Wednesday.

According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Prean entered the portal with a no-contact tag. That would seemingly indicate that he already knows where he’s going, or at least has a shortlist.

Prean joins [autotag]Jaxon Howard[/autotag] as LSU’s spring transfer portal entrants so far, but Howard signaled his intention to transfer prior to the window opening on Tuesday.

A four-star recruit and top-20 recruit nationally, the Belle Rose, Louisiana, native didn’t appear in any games as a true freshman and ultimately took a redshirt year.

With Prean now out of the mix, LSU will turn to players like [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag], last year’s transfer addition [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] and fellow 2023 recruit Shelton Sampson Jr. for depth behind the new starting receiving corps, which seems to be comprised of [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag], Mississippi State transfer [autotag]Zavion Thomas[/autotag] and [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] as we complete spring ball.

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LSU receiver Kyle Parker could be poised for breakout redshirt freshman season

Kyle Parker has reportedly seen first-team receiver reps at LSU’s spring practice.

As LSU works its way through spring ball, there’s one pressing question on the offensive side: Who can replace the production departing with first-round receivers [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag]?

While the Tigers may lack the experience in the receiver room, it’s a talented group with a number of players who could earn reps. One, however, has been a standout so far in spring ball.

Redshirt freshman [autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag] — an Allen, Texas, native who appeared in four games as a true freshman in 2023 — was spotted taking reps with the first team along with [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag].

Parker was part of a talented receiver class in 2023 that also featured [autotag]Shelton Sampson Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Brown[/autotag]. The latter has since transferred, but with Sampson and a group that also features Liberty transfer [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] and [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag], a transfer addition who played occasionally in 2023, there are options for the Tigers.

However, it seems Parker is making an impression, with quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] recently saying that he had “worked his tail off.”

The Tigers have to replace a combined 2,746 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns from a season ago. The emergence of a player like Parker would certainly make that much more manageable.

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