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Transfer portal update: More potential LSU targets enter the portal

Here are five big portal names LSU fans should know

After the transfer portal opened on Monday, names continued to flood the market. LSU football is already active, setting up visits with several top prospects.

LSU head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] signaled an aggressive approach from the Tigers, and while dominoes are yet to fall, LSU is setting up for a massive portal haul.

Things are moving fast, and more names are entering than the average fan has time to keep up with. We’ll take some time to update you on recent entries that make sense for LSU.

These are prospects at positions of need for LSU, whether the Tigers are looking to add a star or just build depth.

LSU’s roster has quite a few holes, especially with most of the 2023 signing class not working out. Ideally, those prospects would be entering their junior years ready for central roles at LSU, but only a handful of 2023 signees remain with the Tigers. LSU needs to add proven veterans to make up for that.

Here are some transfer portal names to know as of Thursday.

Ben Bell, Defensive End — Texas State

Per the On3 Industry Rankings, Bell is the top defender available.

He only played four games with the Bobcats in 2024 in hopes of getting another year to transfer up. But in those four games, Bell posted 23 pressures and four sacks. Last year, Bell had 53 pressures.

It’s rare to see a player on the transfer market with 123 pressures and 20 sacks in his career, but Bell is a proven producer.

Xavier Chaplin, Tackle — Virginia Tech

LSU is losing at least three offensive linemen to the NFL this year. If [autotag]Emery Jones[/autotag] declares, that total grows to four.

LSU needs portal addition across the board on the offensive line. The Tigers need guys that can start and depth pieces. Chaplin is the former. According to On3, he’s the No. 6 ranked transfer.

He’s 6’7′ with two years of starting experience at left tackle. He’s a good run blocker, and that’s something LSU needs after struggling to get a push on the ground in 2024.

Tacario Davis, Cornerback — Arizona

Davis is one of the top names in the transfer portal. According to the On3 Industry Rankings, he’s the No. 7 overall available prospect.

LSU is losing [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag] to the NFL. Davis would make a fine replacement.

Alexander had the size to cover SEC wide receivers man-to-man. Davis has the same ability at 6’3′. LSU needs corners it can trust on an island in Blake Baker’s defense — Tacario Davis is just that.

Josh Moten, Cornerback — Marshall

He played in the Sun Belt, but Moten was one of the top cornerbacks in the country in 2024. Per PFF, the only CB with a better coverage grade than Moten was Heisman trophy favorite Travis Hunter.

LSU’s secondary is still young. It’s talented but young. LSU needs to go out and land a veteran like Moten to pair with corners like [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag] and [autotag]DJ Pickett.[/autotag]

Brice Pollock, Cornerback — Mississippi State

Cornerback isn’t the highest priority for LSU, but if LSU can land a proven SEC starter, they’ll take it.

Mississippi State’s defense struggled in 2024, but Pollock wasn’t to blame. According to PFF, he posted a 75.8 defensive grade while playing 720 snaps for the Bulldogs. He recorded five pass breakups and posted an 81.2 passer rating when targeted.

5 things to know about Ole Miss prior to Week 7 meeting with LSU

LSU will square off with Ole Miss on Saturday night. Here are five things to know about the Rebels.

Things are changing throughout the sport of college football but the LSU vs. Ole Miss rivalry remains an annual staple. The programs have met 112 times in their storied histories. It’s a series with a tendency to produce SEC classics.

That’s what we saw last year when LSU dropped a 55-49 shootout in Oxford. [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] threw for 414 yards and ran for 99 more, but it wasn’t enough thanks to LSU allowing over 706 total yards on defense.

LSU fans who watched that game should be familiar with this Ole Miss offense. QB Jaxson Dart and WR Tre Harris are still here and Lane Kiffin’s offensive style is no secret.

Ole Miss hit the transfer portal hard and it’s a team with plenty of new pieces, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Today, we’ll take a look at five things LSU fans should know about Ole Miss prior to the top 25 showdown on Saturday night.

Ole Miss season to this point

Ole Miss began the year ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll with many calling this team a national title contender. The Rebels won their first four games by a combined score of 220-22. The competition wasn’t stiff, but the dominance was noteworthy nonetheless.

When conference play began, Ole Miss ran into a hiccup, dropping one at home to Kentucky. The Rebel defense held UK to 4.43 yards per play but surrendered a 63-yard pass to set up a touchdown when it mattered late.

On offense, Ole Miss turned the ball over and took four sacks. Tre Harris produced, but Dart didn’t play his best game.

Ole Miss bounced back with a win over South Carolina last week. The OM interior defensive line dominated and Ole Miss didn’t allow a touchdown.

Dart completed just 51.9% of his passes and his PFF passing grade ranked 11th among SEC QBs in Week 6, but it was enough to get the job done.

That brings Ole Miss to 5-1 entering the showdown with LSU.

Tre Harris is still doing damage

Tre Harris caught eight passes for 153 yards and a score against LSU last year. Most of that production came in key moments to keep Ole Miss on the field and in the game.

Harris did most of his work against [autotag]Laterrence Welch[/autotag] and [autotag]Denver Harris[/autotag] while [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag] and [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag] held up fine. Welch and Harris aren’t with LSU anymore, but Alexander and Stamps are.

With 885 receiving yards after week six, Harris leads the SEC. He’s catching 81.3% of his targets and his 5.67 yards per route run are nearly a yard better than the SEC’s second-best. He’s putting together a Biletnikoff campaign.

The Ole Miss offense runs through Harris. If LSU allows him to get going, it will be a long night for the Tigers.

Ole Miss is good on the interior defensive line

Ole Miss’ group of interior defensive linemen is one of the best in the SEC. Walter Nolen and JJ Pegues lead all SEC defensive tackles with 17 and 14 pressures, respectively.

Nolen was disruptive last week, forcing seven pressures and coming up with two sacks against South Carolina.

According to PFF, four of the SEC’s best five run-defending defensive tackles play for Ole Miss. Pegues and Nolen rank first and second in the conference in run defense grade while William Echoles and Zxavian Harris aren’t that far behind.

With Nolen and Pegues forming one of the best duos in the SEC, this DT unit is dangerous.

Ole Miss leads the nation in explosive play rate

Counting explosive plays as 20+ yard passes or 10+ yard runs, Ole Miss leads the FBS with an explosive play rate of 19.2%. Nearly every fifth play is an explosive play at that clip.

That’s trouble for an LSU defense that struggles to limit big plays on the ground. The good news is that Ole Miss wasn’t quite as explosive vs Kentucky and South Carolina, the two real defenses it faced.

LSU will get aggressive on Saturday night, so some big plays are expected. LSU needs to generate enough big plays of its own to keep up.

Players to watch

You know Jaxson Dart is the QB and Tre Harris is the guy on offense. We mentioned the group at defensive tackle, too. Here are some other names to keep an eye on.

LB Chris Paul: The Arkansas transfer is playing like one of the best LBs in the country right now. He has 18 pressures and 26 stops to go along with a forced fumble. He’s impacting the game in every phase.

RB Henry Parrish Jr: He was questionable last week, but ended up playing and carried it 21 times for 81 yards and a score. Parrish leads the SEC in runs of 10 or more yards with 21 on the year.

RT Micah Pettus: Now in his third year with Ole Miss, Pettus ranks third among SEC tackles in PFF run blocking grade.

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5 overreactions a month into the 2024 LSU football season

LSU is four games into its season. Here are five overreactions.

We’re 25% of the way through the college football season. It doesn’t feel like a lot, but the season is moving fast.

That means it’s time for some overreactions. We’re at an interesting point in the year when it comes to analysis. We have ample data points to make real conclusions, but the majority of teams are far from a finished project.

There’s a lot we think we know that will turn out to be completely wrong come November. But that shouldn’t deter us from jumping to conclusions and overreactions.

Here, we’ll look at five overreactions that can be made after LSU’s first four games. There was a lot we didn’t know about LSU entering the year, but the first month of the season told us a lot about this team.

Of course, it brought some more questions too, especially with the key injuries to [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag] creating uncertainty at some positions.

Here are five overreactions after LSU’s first four games.

LSU can’t run the ball

LSU made a living on explosive runs but the 2024 lacks the same firepower. Most of that is due to the loss of [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag]’ rushing ability. He was one of the most elusive players in college football — an explosive play waiting to happen.

LSU’s struggled to create the same plays without him. With a running back-centric approach, LSU’s run game is off to an inconsistent start.

LSU had just seven successful runs against USC for a success rate of 27%. Against Nicholls, that total increased to eight.

The last two weeks have shown some improvement with Caden Durham’s performance against South Carolina while [autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag] and [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] both averaged over four yards per carry against UCLA.

LSU’s ground game was serviceable against UCLA, but there was only one run of 10+ yards. That explosiveness element still isn’t there. On the year, LSU ranks 27th in explosive run rate.

It’s understandable LSU would take a step back in this department without Daniels, but consistency is needed if LSU wants to compete for a spot in the 12-team playoff.

The secondary is too young

LSU is relying on young players across the defense, but especially in the secondary.

At corner, [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag] is a true sophomore. [autotag]JK Johnson[/autotag] is a veteran by age but has just one year of real experience and it was at Ohio State in 2022. Next up at corner is [autotag]PJ Woodland[/autotag], a true freshman.

[autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag] offers a veteran presence, but he’s been in and out of the lineup with injury issues.

USC took advantage of this group in LSU’s week one loss. LSU has gotten away with facing lesser passing offenses the last three weeks, but the Tigers will see high-powered attacks in SEC play.

It’s a talented bunch, but it’s fair to ask if this secondary is ready to compete at the highest level.

Garrett Nussmeier can win the Heisman

Four games in, Nussmeier ranks second in the FBS with 13 touchdowns and seventh with 1,247 yards. He’s shown up in big moments when LSU needed it against South Carolina and USC.

He’s not quite in the Heisman conversation, but his numbers are good enough to make a run if the opportunity presents itself. Last year, it took Daniels some time to build his campaign before emerging as a clear favorite.

Nussmeier will get a chance for a signature win against Ole Miss in a few weeks. If he puts up gaudy numbers there, Nussmeier’s name could start being tossed out there.

LSU’s defensive tackle room is in a good spot

Before the year, Guillory was considered a “can’t lose” player for LSU. Well, the Tigers lost him for the year after an injury in week two.

LSU did its best to build up the defensive tackle room over the summer, but questions circled. Guillory was the only returning DT with LSU experience.

Luckily for the Tigers, depth is emerging now. This room is not the problem many thought it would be.

True freshmen Dominick McKinley and Ahmad Breaux both look ready to contribute, and Wisconsin transfer Gio Paez is playing competent football under the tutelage of defensive line coach Bo Davis.

There’s also Jay’Viar Suggs, who made the most of his limited action against UCLA.

LSU should be cautiously optimistic about this group moving forward.

Whit Weeks will save the defense

Without Perkins, there are questions about LSU’s linebacker core. Perkins was a playmaker and had rare speed and athleticism for the position.

Now, LSU will count on Whit Weeks to replace that production. Weeks provides some of that versatility that Perkins did. He’s athletic enough to drop into coverage or come after the quarterback. He’s still a young player, but he’s showing All-SEC flashes.

LSU DC Blake Baker needs to make the most of Weeks if this LSU defense is going to figure it out.

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5 takeaways from LSU’s win over Nicholls State in Week 2

LSU is in the win column in 2024. Here are five takeaways from the Tigers win over Nicholls.

LSU football got its first win of the 2024 campaign as the Tigers returned home to host Nicholls State on Saturday night. Brian Kelly’s group took some time to find their footing, but LSU pulled away in the second half for a final score of 44-21.

It was the opening night for Tiger Stadium’s 100th anniversary season and Tiger fans were treated to a brand new video board, new LED lights, and an improved sound system.

On the field, LSU QB [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] led the way with six touchdowns. Three of those went to WR [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag], who paired the scores with five catches for 65 yards.

LSU is still waiting for its run game to wake up, with [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag] pacing the team with just 19 yards apiece.

It was a thrilling day around the sport, but luckily for Tiger fans, LSU avoided the chaos.

The win should help stabilize LSU as it opens conference play against South Carolina next week. Here are five takeaways from LSU’s win over Nicholls State.

Sloppy start for the Tigers

LSU expects to have its way with an FCS opponent. That’s not what happened in the first half and it was another sloppy start for the Tigers.

LSU picked up a first down but failed to score on the first drive. The offense eventually picked it up, but it wasn’t smooth sailing the first two quarters.

The bigger concern was on the defensive side of the ball. Nicholls was more physical than LSU up front, methodically moving down the field and controlling the football.

Nicholls didn’t throw a single incompletion in the first half and LSU didn’t do much to make the Colonels uncomfortable.

The first half was capped with a special teams error as [autotag]Damian Ramos[/autotag] pushed a field goal right.

A few injury scares

You want to exit these buy games healthy, but LSU had a few scares on Saturday night.

Nussmeier and Lacy both left the game to receive attention from the trainers. Both players returned, but seeing two key pieces on the sideline wasn’t a welcome sight for LSU fans.

The bigger concern is defensive tackle [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag], who left the game and was later seen in a cast and wheelchair.

LSU is already thin at defensive tackle and Guillory is the only proven DT on the roster. If LSU is without Guillory for an extended period of time, it changes the outlook for LSU up front.

Ju’Juan Johnson makes his RB debut

[autotag]Ju’Juan Johnson[/autotag] has played running back for just a few days, but you wouldn’t know that if you saw him on the field Saturday.

Johnson was a QB in high school and recruited as a DB, but with LSU’s RB growing thin, the Tigers are giving Johnson a shot. He was involved early on Saturday night, getting his first touch on LSU’s second drive.

Later in the half, Johnson caught a pass and made a few defenders miss. Not long after that, Nussmeier found Johnson for a score.

Johnson is no stranger to having the ball in his hands. He was a star quarterback at the high school level, after all.

We’ll get a better idea of LSU’s plans for Johnson next week. Were the Tigers just using an FCS opponent to get him some reps or does he factor into LSU’s rotation in conference play?

Aaron Anderson continues to emerge

We knew Lacy, [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] and [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] would factor into this offense, but there was suspense surrounding LSU’s fourth receiver.

[autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] was the obvious candidate, but he’s missed the first two games with an injury. In Hilton’s absence, [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] has stepped up,

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said the redshirt sophomore had a breakout game last week and Anderson produced again on Saturday night. The numbers weren’t gaudy, but Anderson caught five passes for 63 yards.

LSU doesn’t need Anderson to be a gamebreaker, but he’s on pace for a 762 yard season after two games. That’ll do.

Questions remain entering conference play

LSU got it together in the second half, but there will be anxiety entering conference play. LSU’s SEC schedule gets underway with a road trip to South Carolina next week. The Gamecocks impressed on Saturday with an emphatic win over Kentucky.

If South Carolina repeats that performance and LSU comes out flat again, LSU won’t like the result next week.

LSU should feel good about its passing game, but health at receiver is a minor concern. The run game is the biggest question on LSU’s offense. The depth at RB is worth monitoring and LSU’s offensive line will be tested again next week after it struggled against USC.

On defense, LSU is still working out its rotation in the secondary. LSU likes what it has with [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag] and [autotag]PJ Woodland[/autotag] at corner, but both are young and mistakes are inevitable.

Up front, the Guillory injury complicates things even further.

LSU’s ceiling is still the College Football Playoff, but its impossible not to ask a few questions after LSU’s 1-1 start.

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5 things LSU can fix when it faces Nicholls in Week 2

LSU football is set to face Nicholls in Week 2. Here are five things the Tigers can improve on following the USC loss.

LSU football’s recent Week 1 losses have been followed by a familiar theme in Week 2. A “get right” game against an FCS opponent. 2024 will mark the fourth straight schedule LSU’s faced an in-state FCS foe after opening the year — and losing — to a big-name power conference opponent.

It’s not just the opponent, but this serves as a chance for LSU to get back in front of its home crowd as it makes its 2024 Tiger Stadium debut.

LSU should be able to handle Nicholls, even if the Tigers don’t bring their best. But ideally, Saturday is a chance for LSU to work out some of the kinks that led to the USC loss.

Here, we’ll look at five things to watch for when LSU takes on Nicholls. Games like this aren’t about matchups; they’re about LSU establishing an identity and executing it. If you can’t win with your bread and butter against a lesser opponent, you’re in for a long year.

1. Get a downhill running game going

LSU struggled to run the ball vs. USC. The prevailing thought was LSU would be able to show up and run it all over the Trojans. The Tigers offensive line was supposedly the best in the country and the USC defense was abysmal in 2023.

But that’s not what happened. Outside of a couple of explosive plays from John Emery, LSU struggled to establish much of anything on the ground. LSU averaged 4.5 yards per carry while 42% of its runs were stuffed for two yards or less.

Nicholls shouldn’t be much of a test at all for LSU up front, so we may not learn much. But this is a chance for LSU to figure out what it wants to be in the ground game. Without Jayden Daniels, LSU is searching for a new identity.

When it’s 3rd and 1 and they need a yard, what’s Joe Sloan’s go-to run call?

2. Does LSU scheme up ways to get Kyren Lacy the ball?

Again, Lacy won’t be tested here. He’s good enough to win one-on-one matchups with any Nicholls CB, but we might see LSU try out some ways of getting him the ball.

Lacy didn’t touch it once in the second half vs USC. That’s something Brian Kelly says can’t happen.

When Lacy isn’t getting targets in the straight drop-back passing game, is LSU innovative enough to get the ball in his hands?

That doesn’t mean just turn around and run a reverse or throw a quick screen. LSU needs to ensure it has plays that set Lacy up to be open downfield. Saturday is a good time to try some out.

3. What does the cornerback rotation look like?

In the secondary, we know [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag] is CB1. Outside of that, there are questions. [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] started opposite of Stamps, but Kelly has said a move back to safety may be in the fold.

If LSU does move Ryan, true freshman PJ Woodland will see more action at corner. Woodland played just nine snaps and was called for a PI, but he didn’t allow a catch and recorded a PBU.

Saturday is a big opportunity for Woodland. He should play more than nine snaps and LSU will hope to see some consistency out of the young corner.

Veteran [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag] is set to return soon, but LSU’s been hesitant to ramp him up to full speed as he recovers from a torn ACL.

LSU’s defense is already better than it was last year, but the size of that jump is dependent on the growth seen from the cornerbacks.

4. Who steps up at wide receiver?

LSU is expected to be without [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag] on Saturday. That’s no different than the situation LSU found itself in last week’s second half.

Brian Kelly said receiver [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] had a breakout game vs, USC, catching five balls for 64 yards and a score. If Anderson keeps that up, he’ll be a central part of this offense moving forward.

But without Hilton, LSU needs someone who can make plays on the outside. Perhaps that’s [autotag]Shelton Sampson Jr.[/autotag]

Sampson was a five-star recruit in 2023 and Kelly said LSU needs to get him on the field. This is a good opportunity to work Sampson in before conference play starts in week three.

5. How does LSU finish drives?

Kelly’s talked about it every chance he’s gotten this week, but LSU needs to be better at finishing drives. LSU put itself in position to score touchdowns against USC but came up short.

LSU needs to look sharp in the red zone against Nicholls. This is a chance for LSU to show those red zone struggles have more to do with week one than the offense.

With a veteran QB like Nussmeier and an elite offensive line, LSU should excel when it approaches the end zone.

We talked about LSU establishing the run game and getting the ball to Lacy. Both of those would help in this area too.

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5 takeaways from LSU football’s season-opening loss to USC

LSU football dropped a fifth-straight season opener on Sunday night. This time it was a 27-20 loss to Lincoln Riley and USC.

Another kickoff, another letdown for LSU. For the fifth straight year, LSU dropped its season opener. All five losses came at the hands of power conference opponents, all in games where LSU was favored.

This time, it was USC’s turn to deliver the season-opening blow to LSU. Lincoln Riley’s offense marched down the field in the final minute to break a 20-20 tie with a Woody Marks touchdown. LSU got the ball back with eight seconds left, but a [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] interception sealed a 27-20 win for USC.

LSU had several chances to take control of this game in the second half, but USC stuck around and eventually made the plays in the fourth quarter. The Tigers lacked the signature explosive plays that made the 2023 offense the best unit in the country and [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag]’ legs were sorely missed.

Brian Kelly entered his third year at LSU with high hopes. With the playoff expanding to 12, postseason hopes aren’t completely dashed, but LSU’s margin for error is slim the rest of the way.

Nussmeier finished with 304 yards and two touchdowns while John Emery led LSU on the ground with 10 carries for 64 yards.

Here are five takeaways from LSU’s loss to USC.

Garrett Nussmeier meets expectations

It’s hard to put this loss on Nussmeier. The redshirt junior was impressive, completing 29 of 38 passes for 304 yards and two scores. Nussmeier looked like a veteran, checking calls at the line of scrimmage and taking what the USC defense gave him.

Nussmeier protected the football and did a fine job taking calculated risks. [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] and [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] got the bulk of the targets, but Nussmeier spread it around and threw at 11 different Tigers.

USC did a good job disguising its pressures, which caused trouble for LSU at times, but Nussmeier handled it and got the ball out. He made throws within the pocket and delivered some balls on the run too.

Despite the loss, LSU should feel good about its passing attack.

LSU struggles to establish the run

Without Daniels, there were questions about how LSU would generate explosive plays on the ground. The Tigers struggled to accomplish that on Sunday night.

There were flashes, but the rushing attack was inconsistent. [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag], the two backs expected to lead LSU’s RB room, averaged 3.4 yards per carry. Nussmeier was a nonfactor on the ground.

[autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] injected life in the second half and finished with 10 carries for 61 yards, but that was about the only positive takeaway in this department.

It’s possible this was just a bad night, but LSU is supposed to have the best offensive line in the country. That should be reevaluated moving forward.

Secondary remains an issue

LSU was plagued by a young and injury-riddled secondary last year. Sunday night wasn’t quite as bad as 2023, but it wasn’t good.

[autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag] and [autotag]PJ Woodland[/autotag] had a few highlight plays at cornerback, but USC continued to take advantage of one-on-one matchups on the outside.

The nail in the coffin came when Miller Moss found Kyron Hudson on the final drive. LSU corner Sage Ryan failed to redirect Hudson and Moss found a window.

Earlier in the half, Moss found Ja’Kobi Lane one-on-one with Stamps for a score.

LSU will face more talented receivers when it gets into conference play. Right now, that looks like trouble.

LSU struggles to find explosive plays

LSU was the most explosive offense in the country last year, but the big plays didn’t come at the same clip on Sunday night.

We knew LSU would regress some here after the gaudy numbers put up in 2023, but according to GameOnPaper, LSU had just one explosive play on the ground.

LSU created four big plays through the air, but it missed the 50-yard bomb we’d see from Daniels and [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] last year.

Without the big plays, pressure was put on LSU to sustain drives. That was tough without a consistent run game.

Another season-opening loss

LSU fans are probably getting tired of starting 0-1. The last time LSU won a season opener, [autotag]Joe Burrow[/autotag] was throwing passes.

Again, LSU’s season isn’t over with the playoff expanding, but LSU will have to overperform against a tough SEC schedule if it has postseason hopes.

The schedule is favorable, relative to what other SEC teams face, but it’s by no means easy.

LSU has a lot to fix if Kelly hopes to avoid falling short of expectations again.

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LSU vs. USC: Which defense is set to improve the most under first-year DC?

USC and LSU are both counting on new DCs to restore the defense. Who will see more benefit in Year 1?

When LSU and USC meet on Sunday night, both will he hoping for major defensive turnarounds.

Both programs struggled to get stops last year, leaving them out of contention despite having Heisman winners at quarterback.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and Lincoln Riley were hired to bring these respective schools to the College Football Playoff. With that in mind, both swung big for an up-and-coming DC. LSU hired [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] away from Missouri while USC went with D’Anton Lynn from UCLA.

Coaching wasn’t the only thing holding the units back in 2023. Both relied on underclassmen and the inexperience was evident. The upside to playing so many young guys is the amount of returning experience. LSU and USC rank in the top 35 in returning production on that side of the ball.

The Trojans took a slightly different approach with their rebuild, landing a slew of transfers in the secondary. LSU dipped in the portal too, but didn’t land the high profile names USC did.

Lynn brought two high-profile defensive backs from UCLA in John Humphrey and Kamari Ramsey. The proximity of UCLA to USC and familiarity with Lynn’s system ensures little adjustment for the duo.

Veterans Akili Arnold and DeCarlos Richardson provide experience on the backend, too.

Meanwhile, LSU is counting on homegrown talent to perform in the secondary. [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag] is expected to be CB1 after seeing plenty of action as a true freshman. Veterans [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] and [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] need to make a big impact too after steadily improving in 2023.

Both hit the portal to shore up depth on the interior defensive line and return a good bit at linebacker.

As for who makes the biggest stride in year one, it could be USC, if only because the Trojans have more room to go.

USC’s defense finished 2023 ranked 105th in SP+ while LSU was 52nd. It’s a lot easier to jump from 100 to 50 than it is from 50 to 10.

But when it matters, I think LSU has a better shot at consistent play on defense. The Tigers’ overall talent level is better, especially when you consider LSU’s upside at defensive end and linebacker.

Lynn has a year or two to build his unit while LSU is expecting a playoff appearance in 2023. Baker has the tools to call his aggressive style of defense in Baton Rouge.

I think LSU’s choice to build from within was indicative of how much this coaching staff believes in the existing talent.

These were both strong hires, but LSU stands to reap more immediate benefits.

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How does LSU matchup with USC in every phase of the game?

Here’s how LSU matches up with USC in every phase of the game.

The wait is over. On Sunday night, LSU will kick off its 2024 campaign against USC in Las Vegas.

This is a new LSU. The Tigers lost three first-round draft picks on offense, including Heisman-winning QB [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag]. On defense, LSU cleaned house and hired a whole new defensive staff.

But there’s continuity at some spots too, including an offensive line that returns four starters. At QB, [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] takes over the QB1 reigns for the first time, but he’s no stranger to LSU fans after seeing spurts of action the last three years.

Despite the new defensive staff, LSU managed to return the bulk of its defensive production, including star linebacker [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag]

As [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] enters Year 3, his program is firmly in place. There’s a belief this is his most player-led team yet. That confidence has been evident throughout the offseason, but Sunday night will tell us a lot about this team.

Here’s how LSU matches up with USC in every phase of the game.

When LSU is throwing the ball

Again, Nussmeier is no secret. He played as a true freshman in 2021, a little more in 2022 and got the start for LSU in the bowl game last year.

This is his first real test in a game that matters. Nussmeier is working with a receiver group new to their roles too, but there’s little concern about LSU’s pass-catching talent.

Nussmeier’s best trait is the ability to see the field and get the ball out. He doesn’t possess the rushing threat of Daniels, but LSU’s sacks allowed will improve with Nussmeier’s quick trigger.

It helps to be playing behind an offensive line anchored by two potential first-round picks at tackle.

To slow down LSU’s passing attack, USC must find a way to make Nussmeier uncomfortable. [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] and [autotag]Emery Jones Jr.[/autotag] don’t plan to let that happen easily.

USC has talent, but it lacks a star pass rusher. Jamil Muhammad had 25 pressures and seven sacks last year, but LSU should be able to handle him off the edge.

The secondary is where USC has the best chance of matching up with LSU. USC landed a slew of proven power conference players on the backend. If LSU’s wide receivers don’t have the breakouts we expect, USC can make things tough on the backend.

For now, LSU has the advantage here.

When LSU is running the ball

Campbell said it earlier this week. LSU is going to come out and run the football.

The Tigers rushing attack was the best in the country last year. Daniels was the headliner, ripping off explosive runs and surpassing the 1,000-yard mark. With Daniels gone, LSU is shifting its approach.

LSU will showcase a more diversified rushing attack. The core principles will remain the same, but more variation is expected.

But it probably doesn’t matter what LSU runs up front. This offensive line is good enough to get push against any defense in the country.

How LSU manages the running back room is something to watch. [autotag]Logan Diggs[/autotag] led the group in yards last year, but he transferred to Ole Miss. Senior [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] and sophomore [autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag] should carry most of the load, but we don’t know what to expect.

The reports on Jackson have been positive with LSU OC [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] saying Jackson took a big step this offseason.

New USC DC D’Anton Lynn has his hands full fixing a defense that ranked 103rd in explosive rushing rate last year.

The Trojans have experience at linebacker and should be improved on the interior defensive line, but LSU will rip off some big ones.

Advantage goes to LSU here.

When USC is throwing the ball

USC QB Miller Moss gets the task of replacing No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. Hopes are high for Moss given Riley’s history with QBs. When you coach three Heisman winners, elite QB play becomes the expectation.

LSU’s pass defense was one of the worst in the country last year, finishing 125th in EPA/dropback allowed.

I don’t expect Moss to play at a Heisman level, but he’ll get the job done. This matchup comes down to how USC’s young receivers fare against LSU’s young secondary.

LSU is counting on [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag] to step up at corner. Stamps struggled as a true freshman last year, but LSU has been impressed this offseason.

Stamps will have his hands full with a talented USC receiving core. Zechariah Branch has a chance to be one of the top playmakers in the entire sport and USC will try to get him the ball in space on Sunday.

How LSU tackles on the backend could be just as important as how it plays in coverage.

LSU’s defense will be improved this year, but not enough to get the edge on Sunday. We’re giving the advantage to USC’s passing attack here.

When USC is running the ball

USC will need to take some pressure off Moss with the run game, but there are new faces here too.

Workhorse back Marshawn Lloyd is in the NFL as USC turns to Mississippi State transfer Woody Marks. This will be Marks’ fifth meeting with LSU. His best game against the Tigers came last year when he ran it eight times for 75 yards.

USC returns some key pieces on an offensive line that ranked third nationally in yards before contact last year and it’s safe to assume a Riley offense will find a way to create space for its running back.

LSU’s run defense remains a major question. It wasn’t good last year and LSU’s depth at defensive tackle remains untested.

A lot of attention should be on the LSU linebackers here. If the defensive line struggles, can the LBs make plays to mitigate any issues? [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag] and [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] both need big games.

I think LSU will do a good job preventing explosive plays on the ground, but USC will find some down-to-down success. The edge goes to USC’s rushing attack.

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LSU cornerback Ashton Stamps explains why he chose to wear No. 1

Ashton Stamps wants a target on his back entering his sophomore season in 2024.

Despite having a new starting quarterback and two new starting receivers, perhaps the biggest question for LSU entering 2024 comes in the secondary.

The unit struggled mightily last fall but was playing quite a few young players. With development for those guys and the addition of a veteran transfer safety in [autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag], there’s optimism that the group will take a step forward.

Much of that optimism centers around sophomore [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag], who played in 11 games with four starts as a true freshman last fall.

Stamps has made a jersey number change and will now wear No. 1 in 2024. He said he wanted the number because he likes having a “target on (his) back.”

“It’s not really a responsibility, I’m the type, I like to thrive under pressure,” Stamps said. “So being able to have that No. 1, I know I’m going to have a target on my back and people are going to expect me to make plays, so that’s the type of stuff I like.”

Stamps also said that he admired the tradition of LSU players wearing No. 1 and wore it during his final season of high school ball.

“I look good in that 1,” he said.

If LSU’s defense is going to take a step forward under new coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag], it will likely be in part due to players like Stamps.

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What Brian Kelly said as LSU kicked off fall camp on Thursday

Brian Kelly addressed the media following LSU’s first practice of fall camp on Thursday.

The complete 2024 LSU Tigers football team took the field for the first time on Thursday as it kicked off fall camp.

We’re now exactly one month out from LSU’s season opener against USC in Las Vegas as it looks to take a step forward and compete for a college football playoff spot this season. There’s a lot of optimism surrounding this roster, but there are quite a few questions, as well.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] led off training camp with a press conference addressing his squad entering Year 3 in Baton Rouge. Here are the highlights from what he had to say as the Tigers begin a crucial fall camp.

Sage Ryan playing cornerback

LSU’s reputation as DBU has lost some luster in recent years, but one of the more recent five-star defensive backs they’ve landed was [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag]. He emerged down the stretch in 2023, starting nine games at both corner and nickel.

He’s expected to play safety this year after spending all spring at the position, but Ryan was back at corner as camp began on Thursday. Kelly emphasized Ryan’s versatility and said they wanted to get him exposure as they feel he can play both positions.

“We’re cross-training him… We wanted the entire spring to be at safety,” Kelly said. “We feel like he’ll become that one player who could play both positions for us.”

TE Trey’Dez Green learning quickly

The four-star true freshman tight end was a late bloomer in football and will also play basketball for the Tigers. But Kelly said that physically, Green looks like he belongs on the field and has picked things up quickly on the mental side as well.

Kelly wouldn’t guarantee that Green will see the field in Year 1, but he thinks the young tight end could be on his way.

“He’s picked things up very well for a guy who has not played this game very long… It has not been a very difficult transition for him,” Kelly said. “That bodes well for players that are in their first year.”

WR Kyren Lacy stepping into No. 1 role nicely

Perhaps the biggest question surrounding the entire team will be whether the Tigers can replace a pair of first-round receivers in [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag]

There’s talent in the receiver room, however, and [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] in particular has been tabbed as a player who could step up in his third season with LSU and fifth season overall after he transferred from UL-Lafayette.

Kelly said Lacy has taken up the mantle of being the No. 1 option and the responsibility that comes with it.

“I would say that he has embraced that,” Kelly said. “Some guys don’t embrace it, they just continue to be who they are. He’s embraced that and wants to be that next great wide receiver at LSU. We have such a great tradition, so he wants to live up to that standard.

“I’ve seen a great deal of growth… It’s been fun to watch that maturation.”

CB PJ Woodland searching for more consistency

[autotag]PJ Woodland[/autotag] was just a three-star prospect coming out of high school, but the true freshman early enrollee turned heads during spring ball and entered fall camp expected to compete for a starting job on the outside.

Kelly cautioned some patience, however, and said that while the staff loves Woodland’s potential, he needs to be more consistent to earn regular playing time in Year 1.

“I think we’re at a point in Day 1 where it’s truly about the consistency of performance. We like PJ and we love his competitiveness. But if you remember, he made a great play, and then the next play, we threw the ball over his head.

“With young players, we’re looking for consistency, and he has got a huge upside. And he is going to be a really good player in the SEC. But in the SEC, you make one play, they’re coming right back at you, and they’re going to test you.”

Kelly added that the same is true for other young defensive backs competing for playing time, such as sophomore [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag].

Javien Toviano reinstated

Sophomore cornerback [autotag]Javien Toviano[/autotag], who was expected to compete for a starting job, was suspended indefinitely last month after his arrest for video voyeurism.

Kelly said that Toviano was reinstated Thursday and will be a part of the team for fall camp as he works his way back into the fold.

“Javien’s been reinstated by the university,” Kelly said. “He’s back in football activities and we’ll kinda get him going again and back in the mix, and obviously he’ll be a competitive player for us.”

The legal situation with Toviano remains ongoing.

Zy Alexander is totally cleared

LSU doesn’t return many proven veterans in the secondary, but [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag] is one of them. The Southeastern Louisiana transfer impressed last season before suffering a season-ending torn ACL on an interception return.

After missing the spring, Alexander is back for the fall and has been cleared from a health perspective, but Kelly said he’s still slowly working his way back into football activities.

“He’s been cleared for everything,” Kelly said. “But when you have a knee, you need to experience some things like getting tripped up in the hole and cutting off of it and feeling the scar tissue and going ‘Oh my goodness, that’s what that feels like.’

“So he’s full-go, but he’s in that process of getting back into football activities and that sometimes takes some time before you feel real comfortable.”

When healthy, Alexander is expected to start for the Tigers on the outside.

WR Shelton Sampson Jr. making progress in Year 2

One of the more interesting potential breakout players in the receiver room is redshirt freshman Shelton Sampson Jr. With a 6-foot-4 frame, he has the potential to be a big play threat, and he made an impressive catch on Thursday while high-pointing the ball.

Kelly said Sampson has gotten a lot better in those 50/50 situations this offseason.

“I think that’s what we’re looking for from him, his ability to go up and get the football and compete for it,” Kelly said. “He was not a 50/50 guy last year, he was a 20/80 guy — he lost 80% of those. I believe he’s a 50/50 guy, he can go and get those balls.”

Kelly said that Sampson hit his head on the play in question, and that ended his practice out of an abundance of caution.

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