Tag: Ali Gaye

All-SEC Team: Seven Tigers named to conference team by coaches

A total of seven LSU Tigers were named to the All-SEC team by the coaches.

Shortly before the SEC media days, the conference announced the All-SEC team as voted on by the media. On Tuesday, LSU announced that seven members of the football program were named to the coaches edition.

The team selections were led by two members who have made just about every preseason All-American team. Derek Stingley Jr and Cade York were the only first-team selections for LSU. That comes as no real surprise as they have been the best at their positions for the last two seasons in Baton Rouge.

A look at the full All-SEC team, from a LSU perspective:

Highest-graded returning players for LSU on defense

A look at the highest-graded returning players on defense for the LSU Tigers, led by cornerback Eli Ricks.

Less than two weeks before we see the return of Eli Ricks and Derek Stingley Jr and the LSU defense on the field. The countdown continues for the Tigers as they prepare for the UCLA Bruins.

Fall camp wrapped up on Saturday, now all the focus is on opening the regular season on the road. This will be the first true road game to open a season under head coach Ed Orgeron.

Last year the defense was far from the level of expectation and it was on full display from the opening of the 2020 season. Mississippi State air raided their way to the 44-34 victory, as they threw all over the Tigers defense. The defense gave up 40+ points in five of their games. Thus the reason that Daronte Jones is now the defensive coordinator with Bo Pelini being relieved of his duties.

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Derek Stingley Jr is looking for a return to 2019 form and Eli Ricks looks to continue his 2020 play. The guys on the edge are looking for a return to dominance in 2021. Plenty of players to watch.

Here are the top returning players in 2021 based on their 2020 PFF grades.

LSU Defensive End Ali Gaye among the top defenders in the SEC

LSU Tigers’ defensive end Ali Gaye ranks high among defensive linemen in the SEC.

In the upcoming season for the Louisiana State Tigers, the defense is expected to have a much bigger impact than last year. Bo Pelini is out as defensive coordinator and Daronte Jones replaces him. For the Tigers to have a major impact, their defensive line needs to be much more disruptive in the 2021 season.

Recently the Tuscaloosa News broke down the top 10 defensive linemen in the Southeastern Conference. They were voted on by a group of 19 sports writers across the network. Current defensive end Ali Gaye came in at No. 6 overall.

Ali Gaye, 62 points

(Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Gaye led LSU with 9.5 tackles behind the line and was second with two sacks on a bad defense in 2020. He will be key for new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, who inherits the worst unit in school history.

In his first full season as a starter, Gaye finished out the year with 32 total tackles. He played a major role with 9.5 coming behind the line of scrimmage and added two sacks and one interception. He may not be the sack leader that his counterpart Andre Anthony is, but Gaye will definitely make an impact on the defensive side of the ball with his disruption.

Gaye was graded as the highest defensive lineman and second-highest overall on the team by Pro Football Focus. He led the team with 38 total pressures and 27 quarterback hurries. Gaye will look to lead by example when the Tigers take the field against UCLA when the season kicks off in September.

Four ‘what ifs’ that could turn LSU football into a title contender in 2021

A look at four ‘what ifs’ for the Louisiana State Tigers to become title contenders in 2021.

We know the expectation level for the Lousiana State Tigers football program for the upcoming season.

After a perfect campaign in 2019, the Bayou Bengals didn’t have a great follow-up season. They came into the year as the No. 6 ranked team in the country and that lasted all of one week. After Mike Leach’s Air Raid picked apart the defense, they fell to No. 20.

The Tigers finished with a record of 5-5, they played three ranked opponents going 1-2 in those games.

They knocked the Florida Gators out of playoff contention with the 37-34 victory ahead of the shootout with Ole Miss. With the changes made over the offseason, can the Tigers return to form and challenge for the SEC Championship?

According to ESPN’s Bill Connolly, there are four “what ifs” the Tigers need in order to become a title contender. According to BetMGM, LSU has the eighth-best odds at winning the College Football Playoffs for 2021. This is how ESPN sees how the Tigers can become title contenders (subscription required):

It all starts at the quarterback position

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Four ‘what ifs’ that could turn LSU football into a title contender in 2021

A look at four ‘what ifs’ for the Louisiana State Tigers to become title contenders in 2021.

We know the expectation level for the Lousiana State Tigers football program for the upcoming season.

After a perfect campaign in 2019, the Bayou Bengals didn’t have a great follow-up season. They came into the year as the No. 6 ranked team in the country and that lasted all of one week. After Mike Leach’s Air Raid picked apart the defense, they fell to No. 20.

The Tigers finished with a record of 5-5, they played three ranked opponents going 1-2 in those games.

They knocked the Florida Gators out of playoff contention with the 37-34 victory ahead of the shootout with Ole Miss. With the changes made over the offseason, can the Tigers return to form and challenge for the SEC Championship?

According to ESPN’s Bill Connolly, there are four “what ifs” the Tigers need in order to become a title contender. According to BetMGM, LSU has the eighth-best odds at winning the College Football Playoffs for 2021. This is how ESPN sees how the Tigers can become title contenders (subscription required):

It all starts at the quarterback position

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2022 NFL Draft: Could Ali Gaye have the breakout season he needs?

Ali Gaye has all intangibles to be a dominant player in the NFL. Will Gaye have the breakout season he needs to rise up 2022 draft boards?

Now that the 2021 NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror,  we’re all focusing on the upcoming season. Several of LSU’s players have a real shot of being selected in the 2022 NFL Draft next year, after the 2021-22 college football season concludes.

LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. is the popular name, and deservingly so. Stingley is widely regarded as the best college cornerback in the country and if he can have another solid or elite year, a top-five draft selection is most certainly on the table for Stingley.

Who are some other LSU names that NFL Draft fanatics should be focusing on this season?

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Ali Gaye is the player that stands out to me.

Gaye is an absolute force of an edge-defender at 6-feet-6-inches and 262 pounds. Gaye has quick feet and great speed off the line. Gaye has shown to be a strong edge rusher who also flourishes in the run game with an incredible nose for the football.

While he isn’t the most explosive edge rusher in the 2022 draft class, Gaye does an excellent job utilizing his fundamentals and football IQ to make winning plays for his team.

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The NFL values players of his size and even more so; teams value players of his intellect as smart positional football is widely regarded as an important trait to a winning defense.

Gaye looks to have all intangibles to be a dominant player at the next level. Gaye plays the position with toughness, smart technique, and does enough things well to be a sure-fire draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

If he can improve aspects of his game this coming season, a high draft selection, maybe even late first round, isn’t out of the question for Gaye.

Over the years, we’ve seen defenders of his size rise up draft boards as NFL GM’s and coaches try to find the next difference-maker for their defense.

With Gaye looking to have a breakout season for the Tigers this season, keep an eye on his draft stock.

LSU EDGE Ali Gaye has ‘bigger vision’ for himself, Tigers in 2021

Ali Gaye could have been selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, but chose to stay another year at LSU.

Many expected 2020 to be a bit of a rebuilding year for LSU, considering it lost a large part of its roster and notable names within the coaching staff after the 2019 national championship season.

But the bar was still set much higher than the underwhelming 5-5 finish the Tigers ended the year with.

In 2021, LSU has the ability to bounce back and has the pieces in place with a strong battle at the quarterback position, having returned the starting offensive line and with a deep defensive line to accomplish that goal.

Tigers edge rusher Ali Gaye could have been selected in the 2021 NFL Draft at a decent position this year after playing just one season in Baton Rouge, but he elected to come back.

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The bond he felt with the group and his personal goals were the primary factors in that decision.

“The closeness we had last year and the way we ended, I felt we could have a better season,” he told reporters. “I didn’t want that to be my year, the only year I had here at LSU. I had a bigger vision for being here, which was to win games and build a strong bond with my teammates and guys I’ve gotten close with.”

The 6-foot-6, 260-pounder was one of the Tigers’ most steady players on defense last season, totaling 32 tackles (19 solo), two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception.

It will be interesting to see how things shake out for Gaye and the LSU defense in 2021, now led by defensive coordinator Daronte Jones after the departure of Bo Pelini earlier this offseason.

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LSU football: Who’s staying, who’s leaving ahead of the 2021 season?

Here’s a look at who we know will be back, and who is leaving LSU ahead of the 2021 season.

Players across college football were granted an extra year of eligibility due to the circumstances surrounding COVID-19, and LSU is looking to return some of its top players after finishing with a dismal 5-5 overall record.

Head coach Ed Orgeron expressed confidence in his ability to retain players after the 2020 season.

“I think you’re gonna be surprised by the retention level that we have,” he said. “I’ve talked to a lot of guys, now a lot of things can happen, but right now a lot of them are leaning on coming back. I’m recruiting the heck out of the offensive line which would really help us.”

Based on player announcements over the past two weeks, here’s what we know about who will return and who will not for the Tigers ahead of the 2021 college football season:

Returning: LG Ed Ingram

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The LSU offensive line received good news when Ingram announced Saturday he would return for the upcoming season.

“Another year? ehhh what the heck, let’s ride #GeauxTigers,” he wrote on Twitter.

Ingram, a 6-foot-3, 315-pounder from DeSoto, Texas played in nine games in 2020, only missing the contest at Missouri.

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DE Ali Gaye to remain at LSU in 2021

LSU defensive end Ali Gaye will be back in Tiger Stadium for the 2021 college football season.

LSU defensive end Ali Gaye isn’t going anywhere in 2021.

Gaye took to Twitter on Thursday afternoon with the announcement that he would remain with the team in Baton Rouge for the upcoming season — something the LSU defense should be ecstatic about.

Gaye was a difference-maker in 2020 on more than one occasion, tallying 9.5 tackles for loss (a team high), two sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and six passes defended.

Gaye and LSU are set to open the 2021 college football season against UCLA in Rose Bowl Stadium on Sept. 4.

It will be interesting to see how the Tigers’ defense looks in wake of the departure of former defensive coordinator Bo Pelini.

Who shined, who came up short in LSU’s 52-24 win over South Carolina

LSU defeated South Carolina 52-24 behind freshman quarterback T.J. Finley’s big game and 135 rushing yards from Tyrion Davis-Price.

The LSU Tigers defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday 52-24 inside Tiger Stadium to improve to 2-2 on the season. South Carolina falls to 2-3 on the season after the loss.

Freshman quarterback T.J. Finley earned his first career start in place of Myles Brennan, who is out with a significant lower-body injury.

Here’s a look at who shined, and who could have a had a better day on the Tigers’ big SEC win.

Stud: QB TJ Finley

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Finley finished the game 17-of-21 passing for 265 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Earning his first career start, the freshman signal-caller stepped up and showed flashes of the future at the position.

Finley also had eight carries for 24 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

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