Tag: Eli Ricks

True freshman QB Max Johnson in LSU’s shocking win over Florida

LSU defeated No .6 Florida behind a three-touchdown game from freshman QB Max Johnson and a 57-yard field goal by Cade York.

The LSU Tigers shocked the No. 6 Florida Gators on Saturday night in Gainesville as Cade York booted a 57-yard field goal with 27 seconds remaining to seal the win for the Tigers.

LSU moves to 4-5 on the season with the win while Florida drops to 8-2. The Gators will still play in the SEC Championship next week, but suffer a loss to the Tigers at a bad time.

Here’s a look at who shined, and who had work left to do after LSU’s latest victory.

Stud: QB Max Johnson

Brad McClenny-USA TODAY NETWORK

Max Johnson earned the start at quarterback for LSU and exceeded expectations. The running game for the Tigers was effective as well, as the team totaled 179 rushing yards.

Here are the studs and duds from LSU’s 37-34 win over No. 6 Florida on Saturday.

Johnson completed 21-of-36 passes for 239 yards and three touchdowns. After TJ Finley struggled last week, Ed Orgeron decided to give the other freshman the starting nod this week and it proved to be the right decision.

He also carried the ball 18 times for a total of 52 rushing yards.

With just one game remaining for the 2020 season, it should be an easy decision to start Johnson again next week after the performance he displayed on Saturday.

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WATCH: LSU CB Eli Ricks returns Florida QB Kyle Trask INT for go-ahead TD

LSU cornerback Eli Ricks stepped up in a big way for the LSU defense against the high-powered Florida Gators.

LSU may be a massive underdog on the road against the SEC Championship Game-bound Florida Gators, but freshman cornerback Eli Ricks just gave LSU a 14-7 lead in The Swamp with a 68-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Early in the second quarter, Ricks stepped in front of a pass from Florida quarterback Kyle Trask and took it 68-yards to the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown. the touchdown broke a 7-7 tie and gave LSU a 14-7 lead.

It was the first interception thrown by Kyle Trask since Florida’s meeting with Georgia on Nov. 7.

Ricks stepped up when LSU needed it the most. LSU was already without cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr., who was ruled out before the game, and Cordale Flott was ejected for targeting.

LSU’s defensive players of the week against South Carolina

The LSU defense improved at every position against South Carolina, with BJ Ojulari leading the way.

Through the first three games of the season, the LSU defense had schematic issues with busted coverages and plenty of missed tackles.

But last weekend against South Carolina, the defense made adjustments and looked much improved.

Freshman BJ Ojulari had a phenomenal game, and graduate transfer Jabril Cox was tied for the team lead in tackles.

Here’s a look into the defensive players of the week from the Tigers’ win over the Gamecocks.

BJ Ojulari

The Tigers freshman had three sacks against the Gamecocks and four tackles. He also had one quarterback hurry in the win.

Ojulari continues to impress the coaching staff every game, and he looks better each week.

The linebacker certainly has a bright future ahead, and his three sacks in the win will carry over to the remainder of the season. Tigers fans should be excited for Ojulari’s future in Baton Rouge.

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LSU CB Nathaniel Wiggins receives All-American jersey

The LSU Tigers have received a commitment from an All-American cornerback in each of the last two recruiting classes.

The LSU Tigers have received a commitment from an All-American cornerback in each of the last two recruiting classes; Derek Stingley Jr. in 2019 and Eli Ricks in 2020.

Stingley Jr. had one of the best freshman campaigns of all-time in 2019 en route to LSU’s run to the national championship. Ricks already has two interceptions in the first three games of his collegiate career.

Now, the Tigers have another All-American cornerback for 2021 in four-star Nathaniel Wiggins.

Wiggins, a 6-foot-2, 170-pounder from Westlake High in Atlanta, received his jersey to the All-American Bowl this week.

The All-American Bowl is scheduled to be played on Jan. 9, 2021, in San Antonio, Texas, and broadcasted on NBC.

For Wiggins, it is a dream come true, as he told Shea Dixon of 247Sports.

“It really felt great to be selected and received my jersey,” Wiggins said. “It was like a dream come true.”

Wiggins committed to LSU back in August over offers from Alabama and Clemson, among others.

 

 

 

 

 

Studs and duds from LSU’s 45-41 loss to Missouri

The No. 17 LSU Tigers dropped their second game of the season on Saturday as they lost 45-41 at Missouri.

The No. 17 LSU Tigers lost, 45-41 at Missouri on Saturday in a way that no one could have expected.

The Tigers allowed 586 total yards of offense to Missouri, including 406 passing yards for Connor Bazelak.

With a 1-2 record, LSU now has to make adjustments before their big matchup next week at Florida.

Here are the studs and duds from the Tigers’ crushing loss on Saturday.

Stud: Myles Brennan

Brennan completed 29-of-48 passes for 430 yards and four touchdowns. Saturday marked his first game of the season without throwing an interception.

The Tigers’ junior quarterback looked efficient in the pocket, but failed to convert a pass on fourth and goal that would have won the game for LSU.

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Offensive, Defensive Players of the Week from LSU’s win over Vanderbilt

The defending national champion LSU Tigers got back on track last with a 41-7 victory over Vanderbilt to move to 1-1 on the season.

The LSU Tigers got back on track last with a 41-7 victory over Vanderbilt to move to 1-1 on the season after a disappointing loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs to kick it off.

Junior quarterback Myles Brennan was tremendous in his second career start, completing 23 of 37 passes for 337 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Brennan completed a pass to 11 different receivers in the win.

Brennan has now thrown for over 300 yards with at least three touchdowns passes in each of his first two starts.

For as good as the offense was, Bo Pelini’s defense was equally as outstanding.

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After giving up a record 623 passing yards to Mississippi State’s K.J. Costello in the season-opener, Pelini’s defense allowed just 266 total yards in the win over Vandy.

Vanderbilt quarterback Ken Seals completed 11 of 25 passes for 113 yards and was intercepted twice.

In last week’s win, LSU had several standout individual performances on both sides of the ball.

Who was the best?

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Four takeaways from LSU’s 44-34 loss to Mississippi State

LSU had issues on both sides of the ball during Saturday’s 44-34 loss to Mississippi State. But Myles Brennan rebounded after a slow start.

The LSU Tigers took a heartbreaking 44-34 loss at home to the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday after not losing a single game for 672 days straight.

The loss to Mike Leach’s team ends the Tigers’ 16-game winning streak and it is the first season-opening loss since the Tigers lost to Wisconsin in 2016.

It’s clear the Tigers have much to work on moving forward, but should be able to get their feet under them against an easier opponent in the Vanderbilt Commodores next week.

Here are four takeaways from Saturday’s game.

1. QB Myles Brennan started slow, but improved.

Brennan, the Tigers’ junior quarterback, replaced Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow. Though he started slow, he showed improvement in the second half. In his first start as a Tiger, Brennan finished with three passing touchdowns and two interceptions.

Sure, this isn’t the offense from last season. That was evident early on during the game. The Tigers’ first five possessions ended in a three-and-out. But Brennan continued to remain calm and slowly progressed as the game went along.

But remember back to the opener against Miami in 2018, Burrow’s first game as a Tiger. He only passed for 140 yards that game. The time for Brennan to excel will come, but there is developing to do.

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Studs and duds from LSU’s 44-34 loss to Mississippi State

LSU gave up 623 passing yards in the 44-34 loss to Mississippi State on Saturday. Which Tigers players made an impression?

LSU proved no match for Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense as the Tigers fell, 44-34 on Saturday to the Bulldogs.

The defending national champions lost 14 players from the 2019 team, and star cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. was out for the opener due to an illness, and it was plenty noticeable based on the overall performance.

The Tigers gave up 623 passing yards to Bulldogs quarterback K.J. Costello, and started slow on offense in comparison.

Here’s a look at who performed especially well, and who could afford to do much better next week.

Stud: DL Ali Gaye

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive lineman Ali Gaye was a force to be reckoned with on Saturday, getting pressure on Costello and making his presence known every snap. He nearly had a few interceptions, and helped cause a fumble in the fourth quarter that resulted in a Tigers touchdown.

Gaye finished out the game with three tackles, one sack and three pass breakups.

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