Tag: Bradyn Swinson

Is LSU defensive end Bradyn Swinson putting together an All-American campaign?

Is LSU’s Bradyn Swinson a contender for SEC Defensive Player of the Year?

LSU knew it needed a few breakouts on defense to see growth on that side of the ball. The unit is young and LSU didn’t do much in the transfer portal, putting pressure on the players in-house to turn a corner.

LSU may have found that star in [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] at defensive end. Swinson transferred to LSU prior to 2023 after spending three years at Oregon. Swinson was a rotational piece for LSU last year but proved to be a valuable veteran down the stretch.

Four games into 2024, Swinson’s found another level. He’s taken over the last two games, forcing a fumble against South Carolina and UCLA. He has five sacks on the year, with a few of those coming when LSU needed them most.

Swinson’s 18 pressures rank third among Power Four edge defenders. His pass-rush win rate and PFF pass-rush grade sit in the top 10 too. He’s not just the most impactful player on LSU’s defense, but one of the most impactful defenders in the country.

Swinson took home SEC defensive lineman of the week after LSU’s week four win, making it the second consecutive game with conference superlative honors for Swinson.

Swinson is showcasing a blend of speed and power that was evident in flashes last year, but now he’s performing consistently. He’s a threat to make a play at any down and distance, at any point in the game. Offenses have to account for him in ways they didn’t before, potentially making it easier on the rest of the defensive front.

That’s big given LSU just lost [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] for the year with a torn ACL. LSU will rely on Swinson’s pass rush even more, but he appears up for the task.

This is an All-American level campaign. It will get tougher when LSU starts seeing better offensive lines week in and week out, but expect Swinson to continue to rack up pressures.

Swinson’s progress wasn’t linear. He didn’t begin his college career as a highly-touted blue-chip, though he was a three-star and top 500 overall player. He didn’t produce much at Oregon, but there were positive indicators when he arrived at LSU, such as a good pass rush win rate in his limited action with the Ducks.

LSU defensive ends coach [autotag]Kevin Peoples[/autotag] deserves credit too. He has a knack for developing pass rushers and is proving to be a critical hire on Brian Kelly’s defensive staff.

There’s a long way to go, but if Swinson keeps this up, he’ll contend for the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year.

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5 stats that defined LSU’s Week 4 win over UCLA

These five stats defined LSU’s win over UCLA.

LSU moved to 3-1 on Saturday with a 34-17 win over UCLA. The first half wasn’t pretty, but LSU handled business over the final two quarters.

On offense, [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] was the standout. He completed 32 of 44 passes for 352 yards and three scores. He didn’t throw a pick or take a sack all day and led LSU on two 90+ yard touchdown drives in the second half.

Defensively, it was [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] proving to be the difference maker yet again. With six more pressures, he’s now tied for the SEC lead with 16 on the year.

LSU failed to cover the spread, but there wasn’t much doubt about this one by the end. Yes, some issues remain and the [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] injury complicates things on defense, but LSU should be happy with the progress its seen in recent weeks.

The Tigers will be heavy favorites in Tiger Stadium against South Alabama this week before SEC play ramps up.

Here are five numbers that defined LSU’s win over UCLA.

UCLA’s 4.83 yards per play

UCLA had moments here and there, but when it was all said and done, the Bruins averaged just 4.83 yards per play. According to GameOnPaper.com, that number sits in the 23rd percentile.

That’s a solid performance for an LSU defense that’s struggled to slow offenses. UCLA hit some big plays, but outside of that, LSU controlled the game.

On the year, LSU is allowing six yards per play, which ranks 103rd nationally. The second half against UCLA offers some hope for that number improving.

0.95 EPA without explosive plays

The best offenses manage to score even when they aren’t explosive. That’s what LSU did on Saturday.

The Tigers maintained a positive EPA/play even when you take out the explosive plays. That speaks to the high floor of this offense.

Down to down, Nussmeier plays clean football. He doesn’t take sacks and he doesn’t put the ball in jeopardy.

On the day, LSU had just three plays that went for negative yards. This offense kept moving it allowed the Tigers to score despite some bad field position.

LSU was 10/15 on third down

LSU found itself in quite a few third downs. The offense wasn’t phased and delivered several key conversions throughout the day.

It helps that LSU’s average third-down distance was just 6.44 — a lot better than UCLA’s mark of 9.08.

The best way to be good on third down is to be good on first and second. LSU put itself in the best position to convert on Saturday.

Swinson and Jones combine for 9 pressures and 3 sacks

This LSU defense is built on creating havoc. LSU was able to do that thanks to its defensive ends on Saturday.

Swinson and [autotag]Sai’Vion Jones[/autotag] combined for nine pressures and three sacks. When UCLA QB Chase Garbers started to get comfortable, LSU started creating pressure.

A couple of the sacks were well-timed too, knocking UCLA out of field goal range and preventing points.

LSU’s defense will experience some growing pains this year, but if it gets these types of games from its veteran pass rushers, the upside is there.

LSU Offense: Pressure rate of 15.9%

Despite the occasional run-blocking struggles, LSU’s offensive line remains an elite pass-protection unit.

Nussmeier was only pressured on 15.9% of his dropbacks vs. UCLA. That was the best mark in the SEC last week.

On the year, Nussmeier’s been pressured on just 17.8% of his dropbacks — also the best mark in the SEC.

If LSU’s offensive line continues to protect like this, Nussmeier will put up gaudy numbers all year.

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LSU’s Bradyn Swinson earns SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors

Bradyn Swinson turned in his second-straight two-sack game on Saturday.

For the second week in a row, LSU edge rusher [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] has been honored by the league office.

Swinson, now in his second season with the program after transferring in from Oregon, is having a breakout season and has emerged as one of the SEC’s top pass rushers. After turning in another two-sack game in Week 4’s 34-17 win over UCLA, he’s been named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week for the second week in a row.

He was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week after a two-sack performance in the win over South Carolina last week.

https://twitter.com/LSUfootball/status/1838248710897315900

Swinson, who already has five sacks and six tackles for loss on the season, could now see an even bigger role. [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] tore his ACL on Saturday, and the Tigers will now be without one of their best havoc-creating players for the remainder of the season.

It’s now even more critical that Swinson continues to be as disruptive as he’s been through the first third of the season.

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Where does LSU turn with Harold Perkins Jr. sidelined for rest of 2024 season?

With star linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. done for the year, LSU will lose some playmaking ability on defense.

LSU star [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] left the win over UCLA with a knee injury. LSU head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] was mum on Perkins after the game, saying tests were needed, but Perkins was “injured.”

On Sunday, LSU’s worst fears came to fruition. Perkins is done for the year with a torn ACL according to 247Sports and other reports.

The loss is a blow to an LSU defense that needs all the help it can get. Perkins was second-team All-SEC in 2023 and preseason All-SEC in 2024 — that’s star power LSU doesn’t have elsewhere on the unit.

With Perkins sidelined, where does LSU go from here?

Without Perkins, LSU is losing a player with game-breaking ability. Dating back to 2022, we’ve seen Perkins take over games and make plays LSU needed to win the game. Even when consistency was a problem for the unit, Perkins had a way of showing up.

Think back to the Alabama game in 2022. LSU struggled to contain Bryce Young in the second half, but Perkins applied seven pressures and a sack — just enough havoc for LSU to secure the upset.

In the Missouri game last year. Mizzou marched up and down the field on LSU, but a Perkins’ interception swung momentum in the second half and gave [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] a chance to lead LSU to a shootout win.

As for 2024, we can debate Perkins’ impact.

According to PFF, he ranks 46th out of 55 qualified SEC linebackers in defensive grade. In four games, he didn’t record a sack and missed six tackles. LSU still lacked a concrete plan for Perkins, playing him at weakside linebacker to begin the year and bumping him to the strongside in week three.

But despite the lack of production, the talent remained undeniable and the flash plays were still there. Perkins came up with some big pressures against South Carolina and even when he isn’t hitting home, offenses have to circle him. Taking that threat off the field will have an impact on this defense.

The good news for LSU is this. [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] has emerged as one of the best pass rushers in the SEC, and linebacker [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] is showing he knows how to get after the passer, too.

Still, there’s not a player on this roster with the same all-around ability that Perkins has. Whether it’s a sack, a tackle for loss, or a pick, Perkins impacts every phase of the game when he’s on.

For an LSU defense that relies more on creating havoc than down-to-down efficiency, that matters. With Perkins out, the ceiling of this unit is no doubt lower.

LSU went to a 4-3 look in recent weeks in the hope of getting its three best linebackers on the field. A reversion back to the classic 4-2-5 may be in the fold now.

If LSU does opt to play with three linebackers, expect [autotag]West Weeks[/autotag] to see more time. Weeks is a veteran, but he doesn’t offer the same upside as Perkins.

That’s what LSU’s going to miss. When everything else goes wrong, Perkins’ special ability could mitigate the issues. LSU will have to find havoc elsewhere now.

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LSU’s Bradyn Swinson honored as SEC Defensive Player of the Week

LSU’s defense struggled as a whole on Saturday, but Bradyn Swinson made a major impact in the comeback win.

LSU was gashed on the ground on Saturday against South Carolina, but the defense came up with enough big plays to secure a 36-33 comeback win.

Edge rusher [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] played a major role in that. He was extremely impactful in this game, totaling a career-high three sacks while totaling five tackles and forcing a fumble in the fourth quarter, which proved to be impactful. One of his sacks came on South Carolina’s final drive and helped push back the ultimately missed game-tying field goal attempt.

For his effort, Swinson was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.

A transfer addition from Oregon last season, Swinson appeared in 12 games with one start but was mostly a rotational player. Still, he made his presence known, leading the team with nine quarterback hurries.

He’s seen a much bigger role so far this season, starting all three games off the edge, and he’s already totaled 11 tackles and exceeded his sack total of two from 2023.

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5 takeaways from LSU’s thrilling win over South Carolina

Here are five takeaways from LSU’s thrilling win over South Carolina as the Tigers move to 1-0 in SEC play.

LSU did its best to give every Tiger fan a heart attack, but came out of South Carolina with a 36-33 win to start 1-0 in SEC play.

It was a rough first quarter and change with the Gamecocks jumping out to a 17-0 lead. That run was capped after South Carolina blocked a punt to set up a one-play touchdown drive.

LSU managed to settle down after that and respond with a score of its own. The Tigers seized momentum and went into halftime down eight. LSU’s defense pitched a shutout in the third quarter and allowed LSU to take a lead early in the fourth.

But South Carolina wasn’t done. The Gamecocks took the lead back as the LSU offense sputtered. Eventually, Nussmeier and crew got it together to lead a go-ahead drive in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

This one was stressful but it’s not easy to play on the road in the SEC. LSU showed resilience and got the win. Here are five takeaways from LSU’s three-point win.

Caden Durham injects life into the run game

LSU struggled to run the ball the first two weeks of the season and early today, the story began to repeat. Then LSU got Caden Durham involved.

Durham, a true-freshman, was one of the top running back recruits in the class. We just didn’t know when LSU would start to feature Durham in the offense, but with LSU needing a shot of life on the ground, the Tigers turned to the youngster.

A 26-yard burst from Durham put LSU on the board in the first half. It was the type of explosive play LSU’s been searching for all year.

Durham continued to rip off chunks on the ground and finished with 11 carries for 98 yards and two scores.

Expect Durham to be a central part of this offense moving forward.

Nussmeier overcomes mistake

With a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter, LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier threw a pick. It was a rare mistake in an otherwise clean season for LSU’s QB1.

When LSU got the ball back, Nussmeier responded. A shot to [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] set LSU up to take the lead.

Nussmeier was far from perfect on Saturday, but he made enough plays to get LSU the win. He finished 24 of 40 for 261 yards and two scores.

Bradyn Swinson has a day

LSU needed a playmaker to step up on defense. Today, that was veteran defensive end [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag].

Swinson finished with three sacks and a forced fumble. He was a problem for South Carolina’s offensive line all game.

Big things were expected from Swinson after he emerged late in 2023. LSU’s defense is inconsistent, which means the Tigers need havoc plays of their own to balance it out. Swinson provided that havoc on Saturday.

LSU defense makes the most of passing downs

It wasn’t a pretty day for the LSU defense. South Carolina was efficient on the ground and averaged over seven yards per play, but LSU took advantage when it pinned the Gamecocks in obvious passing downs.

South Carolina’s success rate on passing downs was just 26%. It’s unfair to expect this defense to be perfect from down to down. DC [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] is still figuring it out with a slew of young players, but LSU needs to make the most of advantageous situations.

LSU can threaten defenses all over the field

We’ve been waiting for LSU to find an explosive element in the passing game and it appeared on Saturday.

Nussmeier showed a willingness to push the ball down the field, allowing [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] and Lacy to make some big plays.

LSU misses Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr, but it remains with a talented group of receivers. Anderson, Lacy, [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] and [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] all crossed 50 yards receiving with Lacy and Taylor scoring.

LSU’s depth at WR makes this offense tough to defend. No matter how defenses elect to cover LSU, there’s a mismatch somewhere.

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LSU’s Harold Perkins is set for a breakout year at inside linebacker in 2024

LSU’s Harold Perkins is set for a breakout year at inside linebacker this fall.

Brian Kelly made headlines earlier this week when he told The Advocate that [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag] is gearing up to play inside linebacker in 2024.

Perkins’ usage was a point of contention last year. He excelled as a pass rusher in 2022, so fans and analysts questioned LSU’s decision to take him away from the edge. The staff tried a few different things, with Perkins eventually settling into a role at SAM linebacker.

The production wasn’t there. Perkins led the SEC in pass rush grade in 2022 and posted a pressure rate above 25%. In 2023, Perkins fell to 37th in pass rush grade with his pressure rate falling to 14%.

It’s fair to say LSU failed to make the most of Perkins in 2022. That was likely a key factor in Kelly firing defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag].

Kelly told On3’s JD Pickell that they didn’t maximize Perkins last year. Kelly added that Perkins needs to play better and the coaches need to do a better job at getting him involved.

“Everyone that watched last year would say that’s a guy that needs to play at a higher level, and that starts with coaching, and that starts with Harold really working at a higher level this offseason,” Kelly said.

So when news broke of the plans for Perkins in 2024, there were some groans on social media. But this time, it makes sense.

One factor contributing to the decision could just be that LSU has a coach it trusts to develop Perkins now.

New defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] has a proven track record of developing linebackers. At LSU in 2021, he turned [autotag]Damone Clark[/autotag] and [autotag]Micah Baskerville[/autotag] into some of the SEC’s best. He did at Missouri too, with his defenses featuring some of the best linebacker units in the conference the last two years.

From a scheme standpoint, it makes sense too. You can’t have Perkins in a position to be coming off the field on LSU’s most important downs.

Perkins can’t play the edge every play. He doesn’t have the size for it and hasn’t shown he can consistently defend the run on the outside. When it’s not an obvious passing situation, offenses have shown a willingness to run right at him.

Now when it’s second and long, or third and long, it’s fine to put Perkins out there and just tell him, “Go get the quarterback.”

I think we’ll still see plenty of that this fall, but it fails Perkins and the defense to have him do that on a full-time basis.

LSU needs the help at inside linebacker, too. The Tigers could be fine at edge with [autotag]Dashawn Womack[/autotag] and [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] potentially gearing up for breakout years of their own, but inside linebacker remains a question mark, with less depth and less experience.

If Perkins can figure it out there, he remains the best athlete on the field at a spot where LSU needs it. This is the best way to optimize LSU’s personnel. You’re also putting him in a better position to help defend the pass over the middle of the field, something LSU’s secondary struggled to do last year, but looked better when getting help from Perkins.

Even with the staff overhaul, LSU’s defense is facing an uphill battle in 2024. There are major questions at cornerback and defensive tackle and some of those concerns will remain heading into the season. Having a defensive star like Perkins can help mitigate those issues, but it’s key that LSU gets the most from him this fall.

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2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 13 Bradyn Swinson

After appearing in 30 games with one start at Oregon, Bradyn Swinson is looking for a fresh start in Baton Rouge.

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

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

It’s no secret that LSU hit the transfer portal hard to replace losses on defense. The defensive line was one of the most affected groups, and we’re looking at one of the most impactful additions in [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag], who was a rotational edge rusher in three years at Oregon.

Bradyn Swinson Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Douglasville, Georgia

Ht: 6-4

Wt: 249

247Sports Composite Ranking

Three Stars | No. 55 in Georgia | No. 20 Strong-Side Defensive End

Class in 2022: Sophomore

Career Stats

Year G Total Solo TFL Sack FF PD INT
2020 (Oregon) 7 3 2 0 0 0 1 0
2021 (Oregon) 11 24 14 4 3 0 2 0
2022 (Oregon) 12 8 5 1.5 0 0 0 0


Depth Chart Overview

Despite his big frame and athleticism, Swinson was a bit overlooked out of high school and ranked outside the top 500 nationally. Still, he signed with Oregon, and following seven appearances during the COVID season in 2020, he had his most productive season in 2021.

He played in 11 games, making his first and only start, and he earned all three sacks in his career that campaign. He also had a career-high four tackles for loss.

Swinson played in 12 games in 2022, but his role diminished as he totaled just eight tackles. He entered the transfer portal looking for a fresh start on an LSU team that has to replace [autotag]BJ Ojulari[/autotag], though Texas transfer [autotag]Ovie Oghoufo[/autotag] seems like the safer pick to win that starting JACK spot.

Bradyn Swinson’s Photo Gallery

Pair of LSU defensive lineman named potential breakout freshman in 2023

Jaxon Howard and DaShawn Womack could both make impacts as true freshmen this fall.

LSU’s defensive front is poised to be very strong in 2023, but if there’s one question mark, it comes at the edge of the defensive line.

Last year’s starting edge defenders in [autotag]BJ Ojulari[/autotag] and [autotag]Ali Gaye[/autotag] are gone, and LSU is likely to turn to transfer additions like [autotag]Ovie Oghoufo[/autotag], [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] and [autotag]Paris Shand[/autotag] to fill in the gaps.

However, the Tigers could also look to a pair of true freshman blue-chip prospects to make an impact, as well. On3 recently recognized [autotag]Jaxon Howard[/autotag] and [autotag]DaShawn Womack[/autotag] as potential breakout true freshmen in the SEC this fall.

Here’s what they said about Howard.

Where he ranked in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking: Four-star, No. 16 EDGE, No. 120 overall prospect

Howard is one of a couple freshman EDGE players for LSU with a shot at contributing this season.

You’ll see the other one shortly.

As for Howard, he’s impressed with his work ethic, approach and intelligence.

He had four tackles and a sack in the Tigers’ spring game.

“You could see his progress and his grit kind of grow throughout the spring to the point where we were like, that was a really good spring for him,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said during the spring.

Howard’s father, Willie, was an all-conference defensive lineman at Stanford and a 2001 second-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings.

Now for Womack.

Where he ranked in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking: Four-star, No. 5 EDGE, No. 42 overall prospect

Here’s the other LSU freshman EDGE with a chance to be a factor this season.

Although Womack was limited during the spring while working back from shoulder surgery, On3 ranked Womack as a five-star player and the No. 12 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class.

“I think he has some flexibility as a guy that can play the big end position, but we haven’t ruled out how we play him,” Kelly said during the spring. “Is he a stand-up two-point player in a manner that he’s 100 percent of the time a Jack linebacker? No, probably not. That doesn’t mean that we can’t be in four down and he can’t stand up and drop back in a limited fashion to change the looks up because he is so athletic.

“His athletic ability still lends itself to having some of the traits necessary to put him in a hybrid position.”

With all the transfer additions LSU made to its defensive front this offseason, both of these guys may see a limited role. However, we saw a true freshman make a big impact on the edge last fall in [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag], and perhaps one of these two players will be the next one up.

LSU boasts one of college football’s top defenses entering 2023

Despite losing several key pieces, this defense has a lot of potential this fall.

As the offseason hype grows around LSU, much of the discussion has had to do with the offense.

Indeed, the Tigers bring back perhaps the SEC’s top returning quarterback/receiver duo in [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] and [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag]. Pair that with a young, promising offensive line and a running back room with plenty of options, and you have the makings of a great unit.

But defensively, the Tigers have a lot of potential, as well. There are players to replace, certainly, such as edge defenders [autotag]BJ Ojulari[/autotag] and [autotag]Ali Gaye[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Mike Jones Jr.[/autotag] and secondary starters [autotag]Jay Ward[/autotag], [autotag]Mekhi Garner[/autotag], [autotag]Jarrick Bernard-Converse[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Foucha[/autotag].

Still, LSU returns a lot of promising players. [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag] is widely expected to become one of the best players in the country, while [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] returns after a breakout season on the defensive line. He’ll be paired up inside with the player he replaced in [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag], who many expect to have a huge season, as well, as he returns from an ACL tear.

While the secondary will feature a lot of new faces, LSU will get veterans [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] back,

That’s not even mentioning the transfers who will see immediate action like defensive linemen [autotag]Paris Shand[/autotag] and [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag] and cornerback [autotag]Duce Chestnut[/autotag].

This group has a lot of talent, and ESPN ranked it as the No. 8 defensive unit entering 2023.

It always starts right up front with any defense, and getting back a healthyMaason Smithat tackle is a huge boost for an LSU unit that finished fifth in the SEC last season in scoring defense (22.5 points per game) and sixth in total defense (354.6 yards per game). Smith earned Freshman All-America honors in 2021, but tore his ACL in the opener last season against Florida State while celebrating a tackle. The 6-6, 310-pound Smith is a force in the middle of that defense, andMekhi Wingoshowed a year ago he was also capable of being a dominant interior defender. Throw in one of the best pass-rushers in the SEC, outside linebackerHarold Perkins Jr., and the Tigers will be a load for any opposing offensive line trying to block them. Perkins had 7.5 sacks and three forced fumbles as a freshman last season.

LSU will also benefit from having defensive coordinator Matt House and his staff back for another season. The continuity and carryover from 2022 should allow the Tigers to play even faster and more instinctively, and one of the keys will be how well several transfers fit on defense.

LinebackerOmar Speightstransferred in fromOregon State, where he was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection last season. There are some question marks in the secondary, although veteran safetyGreg Brooks Jr. is back. A number of transfers will get chances to win cornerback jobs. Among them:JK Johnson(Ohio State),Duce Chestnut(Syracuse),Denver Harris(Texas A&M) andZy Alexander(Southeastern Louisiana).

[autotag]Matt House[/autotag] is viewed as one of the top up-and-coming defensive minds in the game, and he’ll have a lot to work with as LSU has the makings of a potential College Football Playoff team this fall.

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