Tag: Ashton Stamps

True freshman LSU cornerback PJ Woodland reportedly pushing for first-team reps in spring camp

The early enrollee was just a three-star coming out of high school, but he may compete for early playing time.

Freshman cornerback [autotag]PJ Woodland[/autotag] was not one of the most heralded prospects in LSU’s 2024 signing class, but the early enrollee is quickly turning heads at spring practice.

The Hattiesburg, Mississippi, native was just a three-star recruit and ranked outside the top 500 nationally, yet he may compete for early reps this season as he’s been spotted running with the first team opposite [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag] at cornerback, according to On3’s Matthew Brune.

“Competitiveness. PJ Woodland is a competitor,” new defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] said, per Brune. “ He’s feisty, he’s physical, and he can run. More than anything, for a freshman, we’ve thrown him out there with the ones some and thrown him out there against our top receivers and he competes. That’s where it starts, but he has the physical tools. He has long levers, he’s physical and he can run, so I’ve been impressed with him. It wasn’t easy. Those first three days before spring break I guarantee you he was saying ‘what in the world did I do coming here early?’ but he’s been really impressive these last few days.”

Woodland has reportedly shined in Baker’s new, more aggressive defensive scheme, which will ask cornerbacks to be a lot more physical and play more press. With a 5-foot-11, 160-pound frame, that may be difficult for him early on, but it seems he’s made an impression on the new defensive staff, particularly Baker and cornerbacks coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag], who returned to LSU after spending the previous two years at Florida.

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Former LSU cornerback Laterrance Welch commits to Arizona State

Laterrance Welch is heading to the desert.

Former LSU receiver [autotag]Laterrance Welch[/autotag] has found a new home after entering the transfer portal.

Welch announced his commitment to Arizona State on Sunday. He’ll head to Tempe to join a Sun Devils roster looking to bounce back after a losing season in which the team self-imposed a postseason ban.

A former four-star prospect and top-150 player nationally from Acadiana High School in Lafayette, Welch appeared in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2022. He was expected to compete for a starting job in 2023, and while he did appear in nine games, it was only in a rotational capacity as he finished with nine total tackles.

Losing Welch hurts LSU’s depth in the secondary, but it will bring back some young contributors including true freshmen like [autotag]Javien Toviano[/autotag] and [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag].

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NEW: Backup LSU cornerback enters the transfer portal

Laterrance Welch appeared in nine games with no starts in 2023.

After losing a couple of running backs to the transfer portal earlier this week, LSU saw its first defensive departure on Friday as sophomore cornerback [autotag]Laterrance Welch[/autotag] announced his intentions to leave the program.

The Lafayette native was a four-star recruit and top-150 prospect coming out of high school, but he hasn’t seen a lot of significant playing time in his two years in Baton Rouge.

He appeared in 13 games as a true freshman, most of it coming on special teams, recording four tackles. Entering 2023, he was expected to compete for a starting spot.

Welch ultimately appeared in nine games this fall, but he recorded no starts and totaled just nine tackles with a pass deflection. Down the stretch, true freshmen like [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag] and [autotag]Javen Toviano[/autotag] saw starting reps over Welch.

Welch becomes just the second scholarship LSU player to announce their intentions to enter the transfer portal, joining running back Armoni Goodwin. The transfer portal officially opens for non-graduates on Monday.

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LSU Injury Report: Zy Alexander out vs. Alabama, could miss ‘significant period of time’

With Zy Alexander possibly set to miss significant time, LSU’s struggling secondary will be even further strained.

LSU’s secondary has had its fair share of struggles this season, and as it prepares for the most important game of the season on the road against Alabama, it’s decently shorthanded.

Zy Alexander, who suffered an injury against Army, is unavailable this weekend and possibly beyond as coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said Monday he could be set to miss a “significant period of time.”

Alexander has been LSU’s best cornerback this year, and his absence will hurt a team that is also without transfer corners [autotag]Duce Chestnut[/autotag] and [autotag]Denver Harris[/autotag] for undisclosed reasons.

Add in an injury to defensive tackle [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] that will likely cost him the remainder of the season, and LSU’s defense is not in an ideal spot coming into this game.

In the secondary, LSU will likely turn to [autotag]Laterrance Welch[/autotag] as well as true freshmen like [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag], who Kelly said will return to practice Monday, as well as [autotag]Javien Toviano[/autotag], who hasn’t repped at corner in-game but has received praise from Kelly.

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Latest update on injury to LSU cornerback Zy Alexander

Zy Alexander exited the Army win with a lower leg injury, and his status moving forward is unclear.

LSU got the big 62-0 win over Army on Saturday night in Week 8, but the team didn’t emerge entirely unscathed despite not giving up a point.

Cornerback [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag], a transfer from Southeastern Louisiana who has started all eight games on the outside, left the game with a lower leg injury. He reportedly could not put weight on his ankle and was ruled out.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] didn’t have much to update about Alexander immediately following the game. He said the team would have a clearer picture surrounding the extent of his injury in the coming days.

It’s unclear if Alexander will return for the Alabama game, and if he doesn’t, LSU’s depth will be strained. With [autotag]JK Johnson[/autotag] already out for a lengthy period of time, [autotag]Duce Chestnut[/autotag] away from the team and [autotag]Denver Harris[/autotag] inactive against Army, the Tigers had to rely on two true freshmen in [autotag]Jeremiah Hughes[/autotag] and [autotag]Javien Toviano[/autotag], as well as [autotag]Laterrance Welch[/autotag].

Safety/nickel [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] can also play outside corner, and [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag], who missed Saturday night’s game with an injury, is expected to return during the bye week.

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LSU DC Matt House evaluates secondary play in fall camp

The Tigers have a lot of talent in the secondary, but it also remains the team’s biggest question mark entering 2023.

LSU returns a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, but if there’s one position group that remains a pretty big question mark, it’s the secondary.

The Tigers lost a good bit there, and though they return their starting safeties, things will look different at the cornerback spots with a number of transfer portal and recruiting additions.

Speaking to the media, defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag] praised the play of the group so far.

“Yeah, I think guys are still competing for roles at this point.” House said, according to 247Sports’ Bryce Koon. “You know you see good things out of them, but what we are looking for is consistency. Day in and day out exhibiting our traits and really being the guy that you can count on every snap.

“We have had some guys that flashed with Duce (Chestnut) putting together some strong practices this week…I think Duce is just a “heady” player, he’s got a unique skill set for baiting players and you can just tell he has played a lot of football. You know [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag] is growing up really fast and [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag] has done some good things, but overall we just have to grow.”

Alexander is a particularly interesting player. A standout at Southeastern Louisiana, there were questions about whether the FCS transfer would be able to cut it in the SEC. However, he’s impressed in camp and seems to be in line to win a starting job on the outside.

“I think it is his length and then just how smart he is,” House said of Alexander. “He’s just a really smart player and that is a trait that we value. You can tell he is a high school quarterback and then you add in his length, which really helps him on the edge.”

House also praised true freshman [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag], who seems to be shining in camp and could be earning himself a role in the rotation.

The Tigers have a lot of new faces in the defensive backfield, but they also have a lot of talent. That group remains a question, but House seems confident in the strides it is taking.

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WATCH: Garrett Nussmeier, Jalen Brown give LSU fans a glimpse at the future

The Garrett Nussmeier to Jalen Brown connection could be one to watch in the future.

While neither player is likely to have a huge impact on the field in 2023, the connection between quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] and true freshman receiver [autotag]Jalen Brown[/autotag] could be one to remember in the years to come.

Brown, a blue-chip receiver from Miami who was part of a talented receiver signing class for the Tigers, has impressed so far at LSU camp, and he seems to be building a connection with his potential future starting quarterback in Nussmeier.

In a clip posted by LSU, Nussmeier absolutely fired a deep ball to Brown, who had a step on fellow true freshman [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag]. Brown made an impressive catch at the sideline for a big gain.

This is a deep receiver room, but Brown could break through and make an impact as a true freshman. Regardless, it’s good to see him building rapport with the likely starting signal-caller in 2024.

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2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 26 Ashton Stamps

The arrival of Ashton Stamps continues to help Brian Kelly reach his goal of rebuilding the secondary.

Going into the 2023 football season, LSU Wire will be looking at each player 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’ll be looking at a homegrown recruit that will help Kelly’s goal of getting the secondary to a spot where it doesn’t need to go to the transfer portal every year: [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag], a three-star corner out of Archbishop Rummel High School.

LSU’s turned to Rummel several times in recent years, including for stars [autotag]Kristian Fulton[/autotag] and [autotag]Ja’Marr Chase[/autotag].

Ashton Stamps Preseason Player Profile

Five-star cornerback to visit LSU this weekend

A big-time visitor is set to be on LSU’s campus this weekend as Desmond Ricks will be in town ahead of an official visit in December.

According to On3, LSU will have a high-priority recruiting target on campus this weekend.

Five-star cornerback [autotag]Desmond Ricks[/autotag] is set for an unofficial visit against the Alabama Crimson Tide. He also has an official visit to Baton Rouge planned in December.

Once a part of the 2024 class, Ricks chose to reclassify to 2023 last month. Per the 247Sports Composite Rankings, Ricks is the second-best corner in the class, behind Cormani McClain, a Miami commit.

LSU has three corners committed this cycle, the highest ranked being [autotag]Daylen Austin[/autotag], a four-star from California. Austin is joined by a couple of three-stars in [autotag]Jeremiah Hughes[/autotag] and [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag].

Rebuilding the secondary has been a priority since Kelly took the job at LSU and the Tigers could be set to lose significant pieces again next year, with [autotag]Mekhi Garner[/autotag] and [autotag]Jarrick Bernard-Converse[/autotag] likely both headed to the NFL.

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LSU lands commitment from 4-star Baton Rouge running back

LSU landed one of the top running backs in the country on Tuesday.

LSU stayed hot on the recruiting trail this week with another blue-chip commit.

Running back [autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag] from Liberty Magnet High School in Baton Rouge elected to stay home and play with the Tigers. According to On3’s prediction machine, Alabama was LSU’s biggest threat to pluck the in-state recruit, but coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] managed to keep Jackson in the boot.

Jackson — the No. 192 player in the country and No. 6 running back — took visits to LSU, Alabama, and Texas A&M in June. On 247Sports, Jackson had received three Crystal Balls, all for LSU.

The 247Sports Composite Rankings have Jackson as the sixth-best running back in the class. Jackson runs track as well and has good speed. He’s listed at 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds.

Jackson is the second running back to join LSU’s 2023 class after fellow Louisiana recruit [autotag]Trey Holly[/autotag] committed in May. He is just the third Louisiana recruit to commit to LSU this cycle, joining Holly and defensive back [autotag]Ashton Stamps[/autotag].

It’s a positive sign after LSU’s had some in-state struggles in the past month. Blue-chip Louisiana prospects like [autotag]Shelton Sampson Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyree Adams[/autotag] could be next.

LSU currently has a top 10 recruiting class in the 2023 cycle, and it could get even better in the coming weeks and months.

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