Tag: Greg Penn III

10 Tigers crack LSWA’s All-Louisiana college football team

LSU is the preeminent program in Louisiana, and it dominates the all-state selections.

LSU is the premier football program in the state of Louisiana, and after a 9-3 season that saw the team deliver one of the most prolific offensive campaigns in recent college football memory, its players litter the LWSA All-Louisiana Team.

[autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] is the headliner having also been named the LWSA’s Offensive Player of the Year. He’s a first-teamer and is joined by his receiving duo of [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag], as well as offensive tackles [autotag]Emery Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag].

LSU added four more players on the Second Team with center [autotag]Charles Turner[/autotag] on offense and linebacker [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag] and safety Andre Sam on defense. Kicker [autotag]Damian Ramos[/autotag] was also named to the Second Team.

The Tigers will look to cap off the season with win No. 10 as they take on Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Monday morning.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

Greg Penn III earns ReliaQuest Bowl ‘Make it Possible’ award

The award is given to a player who demonstrates character and leadership both on and off the field.

LSU linebacker [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag] is taking home some bowl game hardware before a ball has even been kicked.

He’s been named the ReliaQuest Bowl’s “Make It Possible” Award winner, which is given to a player who typifies leadership both on and off the field.

The junior linebacker has played a major role on defense this season, starting 11 of 12 games in 2023 after starting all 14 in 2022. He has a career-high 82 total tackles (5.5 for loss), three sacks, two interceptions and three passes defended.

Penn, who has already announced his intentions to return to LSU in 2024, was voted the winner of the award by his teammates.

While LSU has struggled overall on defense this season, Penn has provided key leadership and experience on that side of the ball and will be back in 2024 to take an even bigger role.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

Report: LSU linebacker Omar Speights won’t play Saturday vs. Arkansas

Omar Speights will miss Saturday’s game with a hip flexor, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

LSU will be without starting linebacker [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag] for its game against Arkansas in Baton Rouge on Saturday night, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Speights missed last week’s game against Mississippi State with what Thamel is calling a hip flexor, and he was listed as doubtful to play against the Razorbacks by coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] earlier this week.

Speights, a First Team All-Pac-12 transfer from Oregon State, made eight tackles while starting at inside linebacker in the season opener against Florida State.

With Speights not expected to suit up, LSU will turn to veteran [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag] and true freshman [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] to hold down the inside linebacker group for the second week in a row.

Even without a key defensive starter, LSU will look to start SEC play 2-0 when it faces Arkansas on Saturday night at 6 p.m. CT.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

BREAKING: Pair of key defensive starters out for LSU against Mississippi State

The Tigers are missing two major contributors on defense for Saturday’s SEC opener.

LSU’s defense will be without two of its most impactful players on Saturday when the Tigers face a new-look Mississippi State offense.

Linebacker [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag], who was listed as doubtful on Thursday but still traveled with the team, didn’t dress and won’t play Saturday. Starting nickel [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag] also won’t play against the Bulldogs for undisclosed reasons.

Mason Taylor reportedly went through warmups and remains a game-time decision.

These are two very tough losses for the Tigers. Both are very experienced players and major contributors on the defensive side of the ball. With Speights out, you’re likely to see a heavy dose of [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag], Whit Weeks and [autotag]West Weeks[/autotag].

Without Brooks, [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] is likely to get the start at nickel.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

LSU dealing with injuries to pair of key players ahead of SEC opener at Mississippi State

LSU could be without starters Mason Taylor and Omar Speights on Saturday morning.

LSU is looking to earn a big SEC West road win on Saturday against Mississippi State, but it may be undermanned heading into that game.

Two Tigers starters are dealing with injuries leading up to the game and may not be able to play, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said Thursday night.

Tight end [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag], who exited Saturday’s win over Grambling with an ankle sprain, is considered day-to-day. Linebacker [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag], an accomplished transfer from Oregon State, will travel with the team to Starkville but is doubtful to play less than 48 hours before kick, according to Kelly.

Assuming Speights doesn’t play, LSU will turn to [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag], [autotag]West Weeks[/autotag] and [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] to shore up the inside linebacker group. Kelly said that [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag], who began the year playing off the ball but moved back to the edge last week, will remain on the outside.

Taylor, meanwhile, is the only returning player in LSU’s tight end room. He’s a major part of the offense, and without him, the Tigers would have to turn to a largely unproven group that includes JUCO transfer [autotag]Connor Gilbreath[/autotag] and true freshmen [autotag]Mac Markway[/autotag], [autotag]Jackson McGohan[/autotag] and [autotag]Ka’Morreun Pimpton[/autotag].

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

Instant Analysis: LSU drops 72 points in dominating home-opening win over Grambling

The Tigers bounced back in a big way with Saturday night’s 72-10 win over Grambling.

LSU got the bounce-back it was looking for at Tiger Stadium on Saturday night as the team breezed to a declarative 72-10 win over Grambling in its Week 2 home opener, tying for the third-most points scored in a game in program history.

The offense led by [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] had a much more efficient and balanced game than it did in the loss to Florida State. Daniels finished with 269 yards and five touchdowns — a career high — through the air, all of which came in the first half.

Daniels also completed 18 of 24 passes.

[autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] took over to start the second half, and while he wasn’t given the opportunity to do a whole lot, he completed 4 of 6 passes for 48 yards, 20 of which came on one play to [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag], and finished a touchdown drive with his legs.

True freshman [autotag]Rickie Collins[/autotag] also saw sporadic action late in the game, though he attempted and completed just a pair of passes for three yards.

Nabers ultimately led the team in receiving with 87 yards and a touchdown on five catches, while it was also another big night for [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag], who led the team in catches with six for 78 yards while catching a pair of touchdown passes.

The Tigers got a much bigger contribution from their ground game on Saturday night as [autotag]Logan Diggs[/autotag] had 115 yards and a touchdown on just 15 carries in his LSU debut after he missed last week’s game. Freshman [autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag] found the end zone twice while also totaling 62 yards on 11 carries.

[autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] (6 carries, 43 yards) and [autotag]Noah Cain[/autotag] (7 carries, 33 yards, 1 TD) also had solid production on the ground.

Defensively, it was a bit of a sloppy start as the Tigers allowed 259 yards in the first half. They tightened up after that, though, allowing just 61 yards in the second half.

It was another fairly quiet game for [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag], who saw more snaps off the edge but managed just one tackle. He did, however, breakup a pass and had a quarterback pressure that caused LSU only interception of the game, which was snagged by [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag] on a tip drill.

LSU showed signs of improvement against an inferior opponent, but it will face a tougher test next Saturday when it hits the road to take on Mississippi State in its SEC opener.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

Omar Speights says Harold Perkins will play more outside the box against Grambling

Harold Perkins could be back in his old role on Saturday night.

A lot was made of LSU’s decision to use [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag] in a traditional linebacker role last week, rather than the free flowing player we saw last year.

Perkins pass rushing ability was limited and he wasn’t able to make plays near the line of scrimmage.

According to LSU linebacker [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag], Perkins will play something closer to his 2022 role on Saturday night.

“I think this week we’ll put him more outside the box. Let him be him type stuff this week,” Speights said.

Speights added the move will open up more opportunities for [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag], who manned that inside linebacker spot for much of last year.

LSU’s defense came out flat in the second half last week, but Speights said the focus and intensity at practice this week has improved.

With SEC play beginning next week, it’s critical for LSU to use this week as a chance to get right.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 30 Greg Penn III

After coming on at the end of his true freshman season, Greg Penn III started all 14 games last season.

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.

This is a defense that has been largely remade over the last two seasons, but we’re looking at a returning starter who has been around for both. [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag] came on at the end of his true freshman season in 2021, and he became a full-time starter last season.

Greg Penn III Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

Ht: 6-2

Wt: 235

247Sports Composite Ranking

Four Stars | No. 10 in Maryland | No. 23 Linebacker

Class in 2022: Sophomore

Career Stats

Year G Total Solo TFL Sacks FF PD INT
2021 10 11 5 0 0 0 0 0
2022 14 78 42 6 0 0 3 0

Depth Chart Overview

Penn certainly arrived at LSU as a true freshman with some expectations as a top-250 recruit, but he wasn’t expected to see the field a ton in his first season on the bayou.

In fact, he played in 10 games, though he was mostly a rotational player in all but one of them. He got the start for LSU’s loss to Kansas State in the Texas Bowl, where he notched seven of his 11 total tackles for the season.

His real breakout came as a sophomore in 2022, when he started all 14 games and finished second on the team in tackles. He has a chance to retain that starting job this fall, but it will likely depend on a few factors.

The Tigers added an All-Pac-12 inside linebacker in [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag], and depending on how much work [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag] sees inside, Penn could see more of a rotational role alongside players like brothers [autotag]West Weeks[/autotag] and [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag].

This will certainly be a position battle worth watching in fall camp.

Greg Penn III’s Photo Gallery

LSU State of the Program: Linebackers an intriguing group in 2023

Here’s how LSU’s linebacker room shakes out entering 2023.

Spring practice is underway at LSU.

The Tigers got a couple of sessions in before heading to spring break. When they return, the action will ramp up and eventually conclude with a final event in Tiger Stadium.

Throughout the spring, we’re taking a position-by-position look at the state of LSU’s program.

With just a couple of groups to go, we’re focusing on the linebackers today. This is one of the more intriguing spots on the roster given the star power of [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag]. However, there are some questions when it comes to depth.

Let’s jump right in, starting with the immediate future.

(Check out the previous posts in our State of the Program series on LSU’s quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, tight ends, offensive line and defensive line.)

Tigers land massive commitment from top transfer portal linebacker

With the addition of Omar Speights, LSU has the No. 1 transfer class in the country.

LSU’s transfer portal haul this spring just keeps getting better.

On Thursday, the Tigers picked up a monumental commitment through the portal from former Oregon State linebacker [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag]. A First Team All-Pac-12 selection in 2022, Speights led the Beavers with 83 tackles.

He finishes his career in Corvallis with 308 tackles (25 for loss), five sacks, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries. The Philadelphia native has been a full-time starter for the last three seasons.

This was a massive pickup for LSU, which currently has just four scholarship linebackers on the roster: [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag], [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag], [autotag]West Weeks[/autotag] and early-enrollee [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag]. True freshman [autotag]Christian Brathwaite[/autotag] also joins the team this summer.

With Speights’ addition, LSU has the No. 1 transfer class in the country this offseason.

[mm-video type=video id=01gq6ggxfx33kgp0546z playlist_id=01eqbz5s7cf4w69e0n player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gq6ggxfx33kgp0546z/01gq6ggxfx33kgp0546z-d2aead9a153e0cba3aea759fc65febc0.jpg]

[listicle id=63787]

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno