Tag: Brian Kelly

Ranking LSU’s 5 most impactful players at the midway point of the 2024 season

At the midway point, which five players have been most critical to LSU’s success?

With six games in the books, LSU is 5-1 at the midway point of its regular season. LSU is one win away from bowl eligibility, but the Tigers have much bigger goals than that.

LSU notched its biggest win of the year on Saturday, upsetting No. 9 Ole Miss in front of a packed Tiger Stadium crowd. The win jolted LSU back into the playoff discussion while delivering a blow to the Rebels’ title odds.

Here, we’ll take a look at LSU’s five most impactful players through the first six games. A few names on this list are playing as expected. We knew a guy like [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] would have a big year. But we’ll also look at the defensive side of the ball, where stars have emerged.

If LSU wants to make the playoff and compete for the SEC, it will need these five players to continue to play like stars.

1. QB Garrett Nussmeier

Nussmeier had big shoes to fill stepping in for Heisman winner [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], but he’s delivered so far.

Nussmeier is nearing 2,000 yards on the year and surpassed 300 yards in five of six starts. Nussmeier’s thrown 18 touchdowns and ran for two more.

The play isn’t perfect and Nussmeier lacks the rushing ability Daniels had, but Nussmeier’s best moments are brilliant.

He makes NFL throws, showcasing arm strength, accuracy, and anticipation. Nussmeier struggled early against Ole Miss but was flawless late in the fourth quarter and in overtime. LSU has a QB that can the plays to will its team to a win.

2. EDGE Bradyn Swinson

LSU needed a star to emerge in its front seven and that’s exactly what Bradyn Swinson’s done in 2024.

Swinson is tied for the SEC lead with 25 pressures and leads the conference with seven sacks. He’s strong against the run too, notching 16 stops.

Swinson’s best moments come right when LSU needs them. He did it against South Carolina and he did it again vs. Ole Miss, shooting the gap to make a stop on fourth and one and force a turnover.

Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart was under pressure all night and Swinson’s efforts deserve most of the credit.

If LSU keeps getting this level of play from Swinson, the defense will continue its upward trend.

3. WR Kyren Lacy

Kyren Lacy isn’t putting up the numbers Malik Nabers did last year, but he’s giving LSU what it needs from a No. 1 receiver.

Lacy went over the 100-yard mark in each of his last two games. His biggest moment of the year came in overtime against Ole Miss, where Lacy won a one-on-one battle with an Ole Miss DB to secure the game-winning touchdown.

On the year, Lacy ranks fifth in the SEC with 463 receiving yards. His six touchdowns are tied for the most in the conference.

4. LT Will Campbell

Campbell is LSU’s best player and should be one of the first players off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s in his third year as a starter after winning the left tackle job as a true freshman.

Campbell is in the midst of another all-conference campaign. Campbell is yet to allow a sack and his PFF pass-blocking grade of 84.9 is one of the best in the SEC.

Few QBs are kept as clean as Garrett Nussmeier and Campbell plays a large part in that.

5. LB Whit Weeks

LSU’s linebackers struggled last year. When DC [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] arrived at LSU this year, there wasn’t just excitement about what he’d do with the defense, but also the impact he’d make on the linebacker room.

Baker developed Damone Clark into one of the SEC’s best linebackers at LSU in 2021 and now Weeks is making a similar jump in 2024.

Weeks’ 32 stops lead all SEC linebackers and his 10 pressures are tied for second among the same group. LSU knew Weeks was talented, but a breakout campaign of this magnitude, this soon, is a pleasant surprise.

Few players were as critical to LSU’s success in the Ole Miss win than Weeks.

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LSU climbs into top 10 in AP Top 25 after upset win over Ole Miss

The Tigers are now a consensus top-10 team after their overtime win over the Rebels.

LSU kept its College Football Playoff hopes alive with one of the most significant wins of the [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] era on Saturday night against Ole Miss.

In a game they never led until it was over, the Tigers hung around and managed to make enough timely plays to get the game to overtime despite offensive inefficiency. After forcing a field goal, [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] won the game with a 25-yard passing touchdown to [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag].

With the win, LSU is the biggest climber in the AP Top 25 after Week 7, moving up five spots into the top 10 and coming in at No. 8. The Tigers also rank No. 8 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, though they entered the week ranked in the top 10.

The Tigers will be a consensus top-10 team when they hit the road to face Arkansas in Week 8. Here’s the full AP Top 25 after Week 7.

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LSU back in the College Football Playoff race after upset win over Ole Miss

LSU is right back in the thick of the playoff race after a upset win over Ole Miss.

LSU entered the Ole Miss contest 4-1 but was out of the national picture. The Tigers took a backseat after they opened the year with the USC loss.

LSU had won four straight with Ole Miss coming to town, but they were four wins over bad teams. They were games that a program like LSU is expected to win and don’t move the needle.

On Saturday night, LSU won a needle mover over No. 9 Ole Miss, bolting the Tigers back into the playoff race and the national conversation. After the win, five of ESPN’s 13 analysts included LSU in their playoff projection on Saturday morning.

Heather Dinich has LSU as the No. 11 seed.

“LSU finally earned a statement win against a ranked opponent, and the Tigers’ loss to USC in the season opener at Las Vegas isn’t something that will keep it out of the playoff,” Dinich wrote.

ESPN’s FPI gives LSU a 26% chance to make the playoff, that’s up from the 14% LSU entered the weekend with.

LSU has a tough three-game stretch coming up and if LSU can get through Arkansas, Texas A&M and Alabama with a 2-1 record, the Tigers will be in a good spot entering late November.

I’d expect LSU to be favored at Arkansas and at home vs. Alabama, but the Tigers will be underdogs on the road at A&M. All three spreads will be close, though.

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3 defenders who stood out in LSU’s overtime win over Ole Miss

These three defenders stood out for LSU on Saturday night.

LSU got the best performance of the year from its defense as it upset No. 9 Ole Miss on Saturday night. The game was in stark opposition to last year’s meeting with Ole Miss, where LSU allowed over 700 yards of total offense.

The Tigers allowed 465 yards of total offense on Saturday night, but LSU held Ole Miss to 6.8 yards per pass and a success rate of just 37%.

At times, LSU’s defense kept LSU in the game as the offense sputtered. The Tigers struggled on third down, but LSU did a good job keeping Ole Miss off schedule and behind the chains.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said it after the game — Ole Miss didn’t see a ton of second and short.

Three performers in particular stood out on that side of the ball. LSU got an elite performance at every level of the defense. Let’s take a look at what LSU got from its stars on defense.

Bradyn Swinson

Swinson has wreaked havoc on offenses all year and Saturday night was no different. Swinson came up with six pressures and two sacks. He made five stops and didn’t miss a tackle.

A big moment for Swinson came early in the game when Ole Miss lined up to go for it on fourth and one inside the LSU 10. Swinson shot through the Rebel offensive line to make a play in the backfield and force a turnover on downs.

Swinson made a difference in all phases of the game. He applied constant pressure on Jaxson Dart, making it hard for the Ole Miss QB to settle in. In the run game, he made key tackles at the line of scrimmage to keep the Rebels behind the chains.

On the year, Swinson’s 25 pressures are tied for the SEC lead and his 21 stops lead all SEC edge defenders. He’s in the discussion for the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Zy Alexander

CB [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag] was in and out of the lineup the first five games of the season as he recovered from a torn ACL in 2023 and dealt with a concussion after Week 4.

Alexander was back in a big way for LSU on Saturday night. He’s a veteran corner in a young secondary and it’s clear LSU is much better when he’s on the field.

Ole Miss threw at Alexander 10 times, but just four were completed for a total of 27 yards. Alexander came up with a pick and made two stops.

After the game, Kelly said Alexander earned the game ball.

After week seven, Alexander leads the SEC in PFF coverage grade. He’s one of the best players in the conference right now.

Whit Weeks

Weeks was all over the place for LSU in this one. According to PFF, his 11 tackles led all SEC linebackers in week seven. He made nine stops and forced a fumble.

A true sophomore, Weeks is a known entity at this point, but in some ways, it felt like he arrived on Saturday night.

Weeks put it all together and played the best game of his career. With Harold Perkins out for the year, Weeks had to step up. He’s doing just that.

Earlier in the year, Kelly said Weeks had to be more than just a rotational piece on LSU’s defense. Weeks forced his way onto the field every play and it’s clear why.

He’s taken a huge step forward under new DC and LBs coach [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag]. Weeks 32 stops lead all SEC linebackers and his 10 pressures rank second. We’re seeing an all-conference campaign from the young backer right now.

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5 takeaways from LSU’s overtime win over Ole Miss

Here are five takeaways from LSU’s thrilling win over Ole Miss.

LSU didn’t run a single play with the lead on Saturday night, but the Tigers led when it mattered the most — after the final play.

Down three, needing a touchdown to win, QB [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] found [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] in the endzone to upset No. 9 Ole Miss in front of a packed Tiger Stadium crowd.

LSU needed this win. A season-opening loss to USC trimmed the margin for error, but with this victory, LSU adds a signature win to its resume.

As for Ole Miss, it was the Rebels’ second loss of the year. Lane Kiffin’s group will most likely have to be perfect from here on out to remain in the playoff discussion.

LSU is right back in the thick of the national picture as SEC play heats up. The Tigers will play back-to-back road games at Arkansas and Texas A&M. Both will be tests, but LSU proved it is ready to compete on the big stage with Saturday’s win.

Here are five takeaways from LSU’s 29-26 overtime victory.

Garrett Nussmeier makes the play when it matters

[autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] didn’t play his best football on Saturday night, but he made the plays when it mattered the most. With regulation winding down, Nussmeier delivered a strike to [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] to tie the game. On the first play of overtime, Nussmeier found Lacy for six.

Nussmeier was just 22/51 on the night, but when you look back at this performance, you’re going to remember the throws to Anderson and Lacy.

Equally important, was a throw to [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] on fourth down to keep LSU alive on the final drive in the fourth.

LSU got resiliency from its senior quarterback on Saturday night.

Defense delivers

LSU opened its checkbook to land defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag]. The reasons why were evident on Saturday night.

Even as the offense got off to a slow start, the defense got the necessary stops. Ole Miss’ success rate on the night was just 37%, putting the Rebels in the 30th percentile.

LSU struggled on third down, but that’s about the only complaint. LSU was aggressive and made life hard on the ground and through the air. The unit made the necessary adjustments throughout the night to come up with stops in the fourth quarter.

The secondary played well and LSU’s young corners made plays in man coverage. That’s what LSU needs if it’s going to reach the playoff.

LSU’s run game is still an issue

LSU didn’t get much from its run game. The Tigers averaged -0.25 EPA/rush, far below an acceptable mark. 50% of LSU’s runs were stopped for two yards or less and that led to trouble on later downs.

[autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] carried it 12 times for 37 yards and [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] ran it nine times for 34 yards. Both backs didn’t get much help from the offensive line as Ole Miss did a good job of plugging the holes.

We knew Ole Miss had a strong defensive front entering the night, but LSU looked outmatched when it tried to run the ball. That’s not a good sign with the defenses LSU has on deck.

LSU defense creates havoc

LSU got the big plays it needed from its defense. On the night, LSU generated 11 tackles for loss and six sacks.

[autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] and [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] were active all night, getting pressure on Jaxson Dart and getting runs stops near or behind the line of scrimmage.

LSU knew it needed to keep Ole Miss off schedule to have a chance in this one. The big plays from the front seven prevented Kiffin’s offense from establishing a consistent rhythm.

LSU is back in the playoff race

LSU took a back seat in the playoff discussion these last few weeks, but a win over a top-10 opponent should move the needle.

It’s a long season, but this game had major playoff implications no matter the winner. LSU remains in control of its own destiny with the win while Ole Miss will need some help.

This win buys back some room for error for LSU. The Tigers can lose one down the stretch and still make the playoff at 10-2.

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Brian Kelly explains freshman RB Caden Durham’s early success

Caden Durham has been one of the top emerging stars on LSU’s offense during his true freshman season.

Entering the 2024 season, LSU faced a lot of questions about the offensive skill positions after losing so much production to the NFL draft.

The ground game in particular was a concern with [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag]’ rushing production moving on, and things became even more dire after Week 1 when [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] tore his ACL in practice.

However, in recent weeks, true freshman [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] has emerged on the ground, making explosive plays and becoming the Tigers’ most efficient back. Asked how Durham handles that pressure as a freshman, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] explained that the moment is never too big for him.

“Freshmen playing, it’s a lot more about how they handle things mentally… The guys that I’ve always started as freshmen handle the moment beautifully. They’re not too high, they’re not too low. If they make a mistake they put it behind them and they move on to the next play. And he just has that ability to not let something detract him from the next play, and I think that’s what the secret is for young players.”

That’s the kind of mental element Kelly wants to see from a freshman, and it has resulted in solid production as Durham has 244 yards and three touchdowns despite seeing just 29 carries on the season so far.

Durham is listed as probable entering Saturday’s game against Ole Miss.

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LSU to host 5-star Alabama commit as Ole Miss comes to town

LSU is set to host a big time receiving prospect this weekend.

LSU is set for a big recruiting weekend as No. 9 Ole Miss comes to town. A notable name on the visitors list is five-star Alabama commit Caleb Cunningham. 

The new was reported by On3’s Chad Simmons on Friday morning.

According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Cunningham is the No. 2 ranked receiver in the 2025 class and No. 16 overall prospect. A Mississippi native, Cunningham committed to Alabama in July.

Despite the Bama pledge, LSU remains involved in his recruitment. Cunningham told On3 that he’s still 100% with Alabama, but LSU “is trying to make their way back in this thing.”

It’s a long shot, but Cunningham would be a major flip for an already-loaded LSU recruiting class. The Tigers already have three five-stars on board, including five-star QB [autotag]Bryce Underwood[/autotag].

LSU has been involved with multiple five-star receivers this cycle but is yet to add an industry five-star to the group. LSU’s top-ranked receiving commit is four-star [autotag]Derek Meadows[/autotag], who ranks 52nd overall in the On3 Industry Rankings.

Overall, LSU’s 2025 class ranks fourth nationally and has 26 commits. The class is close to being finalized, but there are always a few surprises when the season ends and national signing day rolls around. LSU will have a chance to impress some big-time recruits with official visits during SEC play.

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Greg Brooks Jr. suing LSU for negligence after emergency surgery for brain tumor

Greg Brooks Jr. has filed a negligence lawsuit against LSU after he underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor last September.

Former LSU football defensive back [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag], a team captain whose career ended last September when he underwent emergency surgery to remove a brain tumor, has filed a lawsuit against the university as well as Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center citing negligence.

In the lawsuit, which Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger obtained, Brooks accuses the football staff of inaction and threatening his starting position if he didn’t practice and play while experiencing symptoms, which began in August 39 days before he was ultimately scheduled to meet with a neurologist by trainers.

Per Dellenger, the lawsuit accuses the trainers of misdiagnosing his condition in addition to failing to recommend him to a neurologist. It names coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag], former defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag], former safeties coach [autotag]Kerry Cooks[/autotag], head athletic trainer Owen Stanley and team doctors Stephen Etheredge and Vincent Shaw.

It also names Brandon Gaynor, a surgeon at Our Lady of the Lake who performed the operation after a scan revealed a tumor two games into the 2023 season. According to the lawsuit, the surgery left Brooks “permanently disabled” with “catastrophic neurological injuries.”

Brooks claims in the lawsuit that he suffered multiple strokes from “acts of malpractice” during the operation. A year after the surgery, he is reportedly unable to walk or use his right hand and has difficulty speaking as the result of a post-operation condition known as posterior fossa syndrome.

Both LSU and Our Lady of the Lake released statements to Yahoo Sports.

“First, and foremost, our prayers remain with Greg for his continued healing and recovery. Due to patient privacy laws and pending litigation, we can’t comment on specific individuals or situations,” a statement from the hospital said. “The neurosurgical team at Our Lady of the Lake is among the most experienced in Louisiana and they give our patients the best opportunity for a positive outcome in any circumstance. Providing excellent healthcare to those we serve is our top priority.”

The school wrote, “While LSU cannot comment on ongoing litigation, Greg Brooks remains in our thoughts and prayers as he continues to work through the rehabilitation process. Since the beginning of our agreement with our Championship Health Partner, Our Lady of the Lake, they have provided exceptional medical care for our student-athletes in all of our sports.”

Another accusation made in the lawsuits that LSU’s statement doesn’t address is that the school refused to transfer ownership of the Greg Brooks Victory Fund, a donation fund started by the LSU Tiger Athletic Foundation, to him. He also alleges that LSU disclosed “false or misleading” confidential medical information and used his name, image and likeness without his consent.

A transfer addition from Arkansas ahead of the 2022 season, Brooks started 13 of 14 games. He entered the 2023 season as a team captain and possible NFL draft prospect before his operation two games into the season.

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LSU receiver Kyle Parker to miss the rest of the season with tricep injury

LSU’s receiver depth suffered a major hit as Brian Kelly announced that Kyle Parker is set to miss the rest of the 2024 season.

We knew LSU would be without redshirt freshman receiver [autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag] for Saturday’s game against Ole Miss, but we now know that he’s dealing with a long-term injury

During his radio show on Thursday night, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] announced that Parker suffered a torn tricep tendon and is out for the 2024 season. The Allen, Texas, native has appeared in four games this season, making two starts while recording three catches for 55 yards. His lone touchdown of the season, which came against UCLA, accounts for 45 of those yards.

It’s a tough loss for a receiving corps that already lacks proven depth after losing [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] to the NFL draft. Starters [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] and [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] have battled injuries through the early part of the season, while [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] is yet to make his debut after suffering an ankle injury in fall camp.

Parker could potentially be eligible for a medical redshirt as he played in just four games, though he redshirted last season as a true freshman when he appeared in four games while recording no stats.

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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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