Tag: Chris Hilton Jr

LSU vs. UCLA: Tigers Week 4 injury report ahead of SEC vs. Big Ten showdown

The Tigers are getting back closer to full health as they return home to host the Bruins on Saturday.

After overcoming a three-score deficit to avoid an upset on the road against South Carolina, LSU returns home for what looks like it should be a much easier test against a rebuilding UCLA program coming off a 42-13 home loss to Indiana.

To make matters even better for the Tigers this week, their injury report is dwindling as the team gets back closer to full health. Coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] updated the status of several players on Thursday ahead of the game, including starting wide receiver [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag], who has missed the first three games with a bone bruise.

Hilton is listed as probable and is expected to make his season debut against the Bruins on Saturday. Elsewhere, defensive tackle [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag] is out with a shoulder injury, while linebacker [autotag]West Weeks[/autotag] was listed as questionable, with Kelly calling him a “gameday decision.”

The Tigers take on the Bruins at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday.

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Top storylines to watch as LSU takes on UCLA in Week 4

Here are the top stories to watch as LSU gets ready for its week four showdown with UCLA.

It’s already Week 4. We await college football’s return for months just for the season to pass in a blur.

The first three weeks of 2024 were far from boring. In LSU’s case, they were more interesting than fans probably would have liked. LSU’s already played in two contests coming down to the final seconds. It was a split with LSU losing to USC but beating South Carolina.

In between, LSU beat FCS Nicholls State, but that score was too close for comfort at some points.

This week, LSU will hope for a boring game. Fans have had enough fireworks for the month of September. The Tigers are a 24-point favorite against UCLA. If this one gets interesting, it’s a red flag for an LSU team still expecting to be in the playoff race.

LSU showed progress in the South Carolina win. Nussmeier made big throws and the defense made a handful of havoc plays. We’ll be looking for more of that when LSU hits the field again tomorrow.

Here are the top storylines to monitor when LSU takes on UCLA.

Caden Durham’s impact

Freshman RB [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] was a revelation for LSU in week two. He ran it 11 times for 98 yards and scored twice. Durham delivered a consistent play-making ability to an LSU backfield that lacked the explosiveness element in 2024.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] was hesitant to call Durham LSU’s top back earlier this week. Not surprising given Durham is just a freshman and has 11 career carries.

But what coaches do matters a lot more than what they say, and we’ll see what LSU does with Durham on Saturday. An increased role is expected, but we don’t know just how big that role will be.

If Durham leads LSU’s backs in touches, it could be a sign of things to come.

Does Harold Perkins Jr. take another step?

[autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] played strongside linebacker for LSU against South Carolina. That was different from where he began the year — at the weakside linebacker spot.

Despite moving to SAM, it’s different than the role Perkins played at SAM last year. Kelly said LSU is asking Perkins to fit more in the box as opposed to playing the edge like he did in 2023.

LSU’s linebackers struggled to plug the run against South Carolina and the Gamecocks ran it 41 times for 243 yards. That can’t happen on Saturday and it certainly can’t happen when LSU gets back into SEC play.

Kelly said LSU saw progress from Perkins last week. Another step this week would be big for the LSU defense.

What does Chris Hilton Jr. bring in his first game back?

Kelly said LSU receiver [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] is probable for Saturday after missing the first three games. LSU’s missed Hilton’s speed on the outside when it has struggled to be explosive and Hilton’s return offers a complete look at this offense.

“It’s easy to talk about speed, and he certainly has it,” Kelly said, “I think what he brought and what emerged late in the season and into the bowl game was tracking the ball extremely well down the field. That’s an element that we’re hopeful we start to see a little bit more of.”

Kelly acknowledged that LSU did a better job pushing it down the field against South Carolina, but Hilton could take that to another level.

Don’t expect a game-breaking impact in Game 1, but Hilton has two games to get it rolling before conference play resumes.

How does LSU manage its safety rotation?

In the secondary, keep an eye on how LSU manages the safeties. The cornerback rotation is set with Ashton Stamps, Zy Alexander and PJ Woodland getting most of the reps. The safety group is less set in stone.

We saw LSU show something different last week with freshman DaShawn Spears getting 44 snaps at free safety. Major Burns didn’t miss much action and saw plenty of time in his hybrid role. Jardin Gilbert and Sage Ryan played about 25 snaps each.

Saturday will be a group effort again, but there’s a chance for Spears to grab a spot and not look back.

Can LSU play a complete game?

We’ve yet to see LSU play a complete football game. Against USC, the offense looked good but struggled in the red zone. LSU managed to stop the run but gave up big plays in the passing game.

Against Nicholls, LSU started slow and didn’t put an FCS team away until the third quarter.

Last week, LSU’s defense made some big plays and shut down the passing game, but South Carolina gashed LSU on the ground.

This LSU team can be one of the best teams in the SEC, but it has to come together. LSU doesn’t have one elite element that can carry the team if a unit takes the day off. For this group to compete at the highest level, they need consistency.

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Brian Kelly updates Chris Hilton Jr.’s status ahead of UCLA game

LSU head coach Brian Kelly updated the status of receiver Chris Hilton on Thursday.

LSU could be bolstered by the return of a key receiver in its week four matchup with UCLA.

Head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] updated the status of [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] on Thursday, saying he was “probable” for Saturday. Entering his fourth year with LSU, Hilton was expected to be a starter before an ankle injury sidelined him the first three weeks of 2024.

It’s unclear if Hilton will be 100% when he’s out there, but if he’s ready to go, he adds a dynamic speed threat to LSU’s passing game. [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] has emerged in Hilton’s absence, catching 15 passes for 223 yards in three games.

Hilton’s return gives LSU a formidable top-four. [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag], [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag], Anderson and a healthy Hilton form a top four that could hold its own against any secondary in the country.

Nussmeier looked comfortable with Hilton in the bowl win over Wisconsin, connecting three times for 56 yards. Per 247Sports, Hilton was the 5th ranked receiver in the 2021 recruiting class.

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There weren’t many targets to go around last year with [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] swallowing up most of the production. Now there’s a chance for Hilton to make a legit impact on this offense when he returns to the field.

Look for Hilton to help LSU take some shots down the field.

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Multiple LSU starters out for Saturday’s game at South Carolina in Week 3

The Tigers are a bit banged up heading into their SEC opener on Saturday.

LSU will begin SEC play on Saturday in Columbia against South Carolina, and it will be a bit shorthanded.

According to the Tigers’ pregame availability report, starting receiver [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] and starting safety [autotag]Jordan Allen[/autotag] are out for Saturday’s game. For Hilton, it will mark his third straight missed game to begin the season.

[autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag] wasn’t listed on the availability report and will likely make the start in Hilton’s place after missing last week’s game. Without Allen, the Tigers will likely turn to [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag], who moved back to safety this week, to fill in.

Edge rusher [autotag]Da’Shawn Womack[/autotag] is also out, while [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag] was listed as probable and [autotag]West Weeks[/autotag] remains questionable.

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LSU begins SEC play against the Gamecocks on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT.

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LSU vs. South Carolina: Week 3 injury report ahead of Tigers’ SEC opener

The Tigers have a pretty lengthy injury list as they hit the road to face South Carolina.

LSU is heading to Columbia, South Carolina, to begin SEC play with an 11 a.m. kickoff against the Gamecocks with College GameDay in town.

It will be the Tigers’ first trip to play South Carolina since 2008, and they could potentially be a bit shorthanded. Thursday’s injury report included quite a few players, including starters [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] — who missed the first two games with a bone bruise — and [autotag]Jordan Allen[/autotag].

Two defensive players, [autotag]Dashawn Womack[/autotag] and [autotag]West Weeks[/autotag], were also listed on Thursday’s injury report for the first time. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said Womack was moving around in practice on Thursday and will be a game-time decision.

Here’s the full injury report for LSU entering Week 3 against the Gamecocks.

Injury Report

  • John Emery Jr., RB — Out
  • Princeton Malbrue, DE — Out
  • Kobe Roberts, OL — Out
  • Jake Ibieta, LB — Out
  • CJ Jackson, DE — Out
  • Jacobian Guillory, DT — Out
  • Chris Hilton Jr., WR — Questionable
  • Jordan Allen, S — Questionable
  • Kyle Parker, WR — Questionable
  • Da’Shawn Womack, DE — Questionable
  • West Weeks, LB — Questionable
  • Garrett Dellinger, OL — Probable

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Brian Kelly updates LSU injury report ahead of Week 3 vs. South Carolina

The Tigers should be closer to full health when they face South Carolina in Saturday’s SEC opener.

LSU got its first win of the season against Nicholls on Saturday night, and it did so without several key players available.

Receivers [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag] as well as guard [autotag]Garrett Dellinger[/autotag] and tight end [autotag]Ka’Morreun Pimpton[/autotag] all missed the game with injuries, while the Tigers suffered a major loss as defensive tackle [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag] tore his Achilles and will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery Monday.

Brian Kelly updated the status of the injured players on Monday ahead of Week 3’s SEC opener at South Carolina, explaining that Dellinger was cleared to practice this week and likely would have played on Saturday if the stakes were higher.

When it comes to the receivers, Kelly said that Parker is “improving” as he tries to get full strength back after suffering a UCL injury. Kelly added that he expects Parker should be able to suit up on Saturday.

Hilton’s status is a bit more in question after missing the first two games with a bone bruise in his ankle. Kelly said Hilton remains day-to-day and while he’s running and back to full functionality, it will be a matter of pain tolerance that determines whether he plays against the Gamecocks.

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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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Brian Kelly updates LSU injury report ahead of Week 2 matchup vs. Nicholls

Chris Hilton Jr. and Kyle Parker are out Saturday while Garrett Dellinger was listed as questionable.

As LSU returns home from Las Vegas, where it lost 27-20 to USC in its season-opener, coach Brian Kelly’s squad has suffered a few bumps and bruises.

Kelly updated the injury report on Thursday ahead of the Tigers’ Week 2 home opener against Nicholls on Saturday, and it looks like we’ll see the same receiving corps we saw in the second half.

Both [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag], who missed the opener with a bone bruise in his ankle, and [autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag], who started in his place but exited early with a UCL injury, are out for this week.

Kelly also listed starting left guard [autotag]Garrett Dellinger[/autotag] as questionable.

Without Hilton and Parker, LSU will likely rely heavily on players like [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag], who had a breakout performance in Week 1, and [autotag]Zavion Thomas[/autotag] in their place. Redshirt freshman Shelton Sampson Jr. could also be poised to see increased reps.

If Dellinger can’t make the start, we could potentially see redshirt freshmen [autotag]Paul Mubenga[/autotag] or [autotag]Tyree Adams[/autotag] in his place.

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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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LSU Week 2 Injury Report: Kyle Parker doubtful, Princeton Malbrue suffers ‘serious’ knee injury

The Tigers are mostly healthy entering their home opener, but they are dealing with a couple of injuries to depth players this week.

LSU’s trip to Las Vegas for the opening game of the season against USC ultimately wasn’t a productive one.

The Tigers fell 27-20, squandering a fourth-quarter lead against the Trojans to drop their fifth-straight season-opener. On the bright side, the team returns home for Week 2 against Nicholls in what should be a tuneup game, and the team is relatively healthy entering the week.

The one piece of notable injury news [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] provided was that defensive end [autotag]Princeton Malbrue[/autotag], who was injured on a kickoff return, suffered what is thought to be a “serious” knee injury.

Receiver [autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag], who made the start in place of an injured [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] but exited the game early, suffered a UCL injury and is listed as doubtful as he is not expected to suit up against the Colonels.

However, Kelly said that while some other players will likely be listed on Wednesday’s injury report with “bumps and bruises,” everyone else is expected to play including Hilton, who is expected to start at receiver.

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