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.

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Instant Analysis: LSU rolls against UAB in Senior Night

The Tigers rolled to a 41-10 win in the final game of the year at Death Valley.

On a cold and rainy night in Baton Rouge, the Tigers avoided many of the same struggles that limited them in last week’s ugly win at Arkansas.

The Tigers delivered an explosive offensive performance in a 41-10 win over UAB on Senior Night, moving to 9-2 on the season entering next week’s regular-season finale against Texas A&M. After that, LSU will face Georgia in the SEC Championship with a playoff spot potentially on the line.

The Blazers made things interesting early, taking advantage of a fumble from running back [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] as this was a 14-10 game in the second quarter. Still, the Tigers ultimately pulled away against the Conference USA foe, easily covering the two-touchdown spread.

It was a nice bounce-back game for [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], who completed 22 of 29 passes for 297 yards and a touchdown. Daniels reignited his connection with receiver [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag], who had seven catches for 129 yards. Daniels also led the team on the ground with 111 yards and a score on 12 carries.

With [autotag]Armoni Goodwin[/autotag] and [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] unavailable, Emery got the start at running back. He finished with 46 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, but he also fumbled twice. [autotag]Noah Cain[/autotag] proved to be more effective, totaling 76 yards and three touchdowns on a team-high 13 carries.

Defensively, LSU did a great job against the nation’s leading rusher in DeWayne McBride, who found the end zone but had just 34 yards. As a team, the Blazers managed just 48 yards on the ground. They also got spotty play, at best, from quarterbacks Dylan Hopkins and Jacob Zeno.

[autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] had a pair of tackles for loss in this game, while [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag] led the defense overall with eight tackles. LSU’s lone sack came from [autotag]Ali Gaye[/autotag], who was honored as part of the Senior Night festivities.

The Tigers performed as expected in this one and will look to keep their winning streak going against the Aggies — who have had a rough year but snapped a six-game losing streak against UMass on Saturday — in College Station next week.

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This LSU senior class has seen it all

When Harris got his offer in April of 2015, Les Miles was head coach, the top-grossing movie was the second installment in the Avengers franchise and ‘See You Again’ was Billboard’s top song.

Safety T[autotag]odd Harris[/autotag] committed to LSU on February 1, 2017.

It was national signing day — Ed Oregon’s first as LSU head coach. Harris was part of a defensive back class that included [autotag]Grant Delpit[/autotag], [autotag]Jacoby Stevens[/autotag] and [autotag]Kary Vincent[/autotag].

On the other side of the ball, it was the class that gave LSU [autotag]Justin Jefferson[/autotag] and [autotag]Clyde Edwards-Helaire[/autotag]. If that feels like a long time ago, it’s because it was. Delpit, Jefferson, and Edwards-Helaire are now in their third year in the NFL.

Harris is the lone player from the 2017 recruiting class to remain with LSU.

When Harris got his offer in April 2015, [autotag]Les Miles[/autotag] was head coach. The top-grossing movie that weekend was the second installment in the Avengers franchise, and Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s ‘See You Again’ was Billboard’s top song.

Barack Obama was still the president, and the most recent iPhone was the iPhone 6.

You get the point: Harris’ LSU journey began a long time ago.

Since he received that offer, he’s seen Miles fired and replaced by [autotag]Ed Orgeron[/autotag]. He intercepted Tua Tagovailoa in what was just Tua’s first year as the starter.

He missed significant time with an ACL injury but was a member of LSU’s title team and watched 2020 get upended by a global pandemic. He remained with LSU through yet another coaching change, with Orgeron heading out and Brian Kelly coming in.

He hasn’t been a part of the secondary rotation this year, but he’s stuck around. He’s going to leave LSU with a championship ring and a degree. Harris has had what you could call a full career, seeing it all. Some good, some really good. Some bad, and some really bad.

Senior Night ceremonies will occur on Saturday night as LSU hosts UAB in its final home game. Senior Night is meant to honor the Todd Harrises of the world.

Harris will be joined by [autotag]Micah Baskerville[/autotag], another guy who’s seen it all but followed a more linear career path.

In Kelly’s first few months on the job, Baskerville’s role was unclear. Reports from spring practice and training camp highlighted the emergence of [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag] and the eye-popping ability of [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag].

Baskerville was one of the best linebackers in the SEC in 2021. It was difficult to imagine him not being a key part of the defense in 2022, but for a moment in time, it looked like that would be the case.

Sometime in-between spring and the first few games of the fall, things turned around for Baskerville. He’s been the best coverage linebacker in the SEC while adding nine pressures and 23 stops.

Kelly took the time to highlight Baskerville at his press conference this week. Kelly said when his staff first arrived, the reports regarding Baskerville weren’t great.

“Everybody was like, ‘well, he doesn’t go to class, he doesn’t do this, he doesn’t do that,'” Kelly said. “And he’s been amazing, he’s gotten his degree, he’s been a great leader, he’s been inspirational in everything he’s done.”

Harris and Baskerville aren’t the only seniors who will be honored on Saturday night. Here are some other notable names and stories to reflect on during the festivities.

Note: This is not a comprehensive list, and some players going through the ceremony still have remaining eligibility. Likewise, Kelly said players may choose to leave who are not participating.

LSU linebacker corps set to stand out in 2022

LSU’s linebacker group was ranked third in the SEC by On3.

It’s not often that you lose the SEC’s leading tackler — and the nation’s second-leading tackler — and feel good about where your current linebacker group stands, but that’s a testament to LSU’s depth at the position.

Even with [autotag]Damone Clark[/autotag] moving on, the Tigers return a talented and experienced group headlined by [autotag]Mike Jones Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag] and [autotag]Micah Baskerville[/autotag]. Add in an exciting true freshman in five-star recruit [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag], and you have the makings of a very deep unit.

Despite the lack of general preseason hype surrounding this team, several of its position groups have received high praise from national publications. And in a recent ranking of SEC linebacker corps from On3’s Jesse Simonton, LSU came in third after Alabama and Georgia (unsurprisingly).

The Tigers are slightly inexperienced at linebacker after losing 135 tackles from Damone Clark last season, but their unit doesn’t lack upside or numbers. Senior Micah Baskerville is a solid starter inside, while Greg Penn III, Phillip Webb and 5-star freshman Harold Perkins Jr. were all top recruits who will push for snaps this fall. LSU’s LB room would be buoyed if former Clemson transfer Mike Jones Jr. can stay healthy and live up to his recruiting billing.

The Tigers have had some defensive woes over the last two seasons and will now be on their third defensive coordinator in as many years in Matt House. However, between what could be an elite defensive line, a secondary filled with experienced transfers and a deep linebacker group, this could be the season where LSU gets back to the hard-nosed defensive football the program is known for.

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Micah Baskerville named to preseason Butkus Award watch list

Baskerville was one of 51 players nominated to the watch list for the award, which is given to the nation’s top linebacker.

LSU linebacker [autotag]Micah Baskerville[/autotag] was named to the preseason watch list for the collegiate Butkus Award on Monday. The fifth-year senior is one of 51 linebackers around the country to appear on the watch list.

Baskerville started all 12 games he appeared in for the Tigers last fall, finishing second on the team in tackles with 83 behind [autotag]Damone Clark[/autotag]. He also had nine tackles for loss, two sacks, four pass breakups and an interception.

Though a full-time starter for the last two seasons and the most experienced member of the linebacker corps, he’ll have to earn a starting position once again this fall. Even with Clark’s departure, the Tigers have a lot of depth with players like [autotag]Mike Jones Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag], Virginia transfer [autotag]West Weeks[/autotag] and incoming five-star true freshman [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag].

Regardless of who starts in the off-ball linebacker spots, Baskerville figures to play a major role in the rotation and should be a veteran leader of this defense. He will look to become the second LSU player to win the Butkus Award, joining 2018 winner [autotag]Devin White[/autotag].

The list of 51 will be trimmed further to semifinalists on Oct. 31 and finalists on Nov. 21. The winner is set to be announced on or before Dec. 7. Here’s the full watch list.

Preseason Collegiate Butkus Award Watch List

Darren Anders, Bowling Green
Jeremy Banks, Tennessee
Micah Baskerville, LSU
Seth Benson, Iowa
JD Bertrand, Notre Dame
Tatum Bethune, Florida State
Troy Brown, Ole Miss
Ben Bywater, BYU
Jack Campbell, Iowa
Levani Damuni, Stanford
KD Davis, North Texas
Mohamoud Diabate, Utah
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia
Justin Flowe, Oregon
Sherrod Greene, South Carolina
Kyle Harmon, San Jose State
Calvin Hart Jr., Illinois
Daiyan Henley, Washington State
Nick Jackson, Virginia
Jestin Jacobs, Iowa
Carl Jones Jr., UCLA
Mikel Jones, Syracuse
Tyrice Knight, UTEP
Carlton Martial, Troy
Ventrell Miller, Florida
Jackson Mitchell, UConn
Jaylen Moody, Alabama
Isaiah Moore, N.C. State
Darius Muasau, UCLA
Donavan Mutin, Houston
Anfernee Orji, Vanderbilt
DeMarvion Overshown, Texas
Deshawn Pace, Cincinnati
Ivan Pace, Cincinnati
Owen Pappoe, Auburn
James Patterson, Buffalo
Bumper Pool, Arkansas
Luke Reimer, Nebraska
Merlin Robertson, Arizona State
Noah Sewell, Oregon
Trenton Simpson, Clemson
Isaac Slade-Matautia, SMU
Mariano Sori-Marin, Minnesota
DeAndre Square, Kentucky
Drake Thomas, N.C. State
Henry To’o To’o, Alabama
David Ugwoegbu, Oklahoma
Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington
Payton Wilgar, BYU
Dorian Williams, Tulane
Dee Winters, TCU

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Pair of veteran linebackers no longer listed on LSU’s roster

Antoine Sampah and Phillip Webb appear to have moved on.

Though the official deadline to enter the transfer portal and maintain immediate eligibility passed on May 1, there can always be attrition during the summer ahead of fall camp.

It seems that has happened at LSU as a pair of veteran linebackers — [autotag]Antoine Sampah[/autotag] and [autotag]Phillip Webb[/autotag] — are no longer listed on the 2022 roster. Both joined the team as members of the 2020 recruiting class and were ranked as top-100 national prospects coming out of high school.

However, injuries limited them over the course of their careers. Sampah appeared in just six games in three years while not recording any defensive stats, while Webb has only played in three games. All of those came last season, and he registered a single assisted tackle during the 2022 campaign.

The Tigers have a good amount of depth at linebacker with returning players like [autotag]Micah Baskerville[/autotag], [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag] and [autotag]Mike Jones Jr.[/autotag], in addition to incoming five-star true freshman [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag].

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Plenty of reasons for optimism as LSU finishes up spring ball

Spring practice has now concluded, and LSU fans have plenty of reasons for spring optimism.

Spring practice is now over, and tt will be a while before things pick up again for [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and LSU.

It was an eventful spring with more buzz than usual. That’s what happens when a $95 million coach is making his first impressions leading a team with a handful of new players.

Not to mention the position battle at quarterback, the new-look secondary, and all the question marks on the offensive line. We had a lot to talk about this spring. So, now that’s it over and the dust has settled, how should Tigers fans be feeling?

We’re going to take some time to feel good about where LSU is at, some spring optimism if you will.

Spring practice served as a reminder that there is still plenty of talent on this team, some of which we didn’t even get to see over the last few weeks. The wide receiver group looks like a strength, and that was without [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag], who could be one of the best players in the country upon his return this fall.

These pass catchers are going to be fun to watch and be a major boost to whoever ends up throwing to them.

On defense, the front looks good, almost great. Defensive lines are critical to finding success in the SEC, and LSU has a handful of guys up front with NFL talent. They can pose a threat to even the best offensive lines in the SEC.

Linebacker looks like it’s the deepest it’s been in years with [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag] taking steps forward along with returning veterans like [autotag]Mike Jones Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Micah Baskerville[/autotag]. That doesn’t even account for [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag], one of the highest-rated linebackers ever signed by LSU who will be arriving soon.

The secondary is still a huge question mark, but [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Foucha[/autotag] look like they’re going to be reliable players that play a big part in the rebuild of that group.

The defense is in a much better spot than it was a year ago.

It won’t matter how good the defense is if the quarterback and offensive line aren’t figured out, but there are some reasons to start feeling good there.

There are talented options in the quarterback room, and each of them seems to be progressing while also earning the respect of the team. LSU doesn’t need a Heisman candidate under center next year, just someone who can run the offense. [autotag]Myles Brennan[/autotag], [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], and [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] all seem capable at this point, and at least one of them should turn into an SEC level starter by the fall.

The offensive line is going to have its bad moments this year, but it finished spring with some consistency as [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] held down the left tackle position. If Campbell ends up starting there, he will have times where he looks like a true freshman, but at the same time, you can’t help but wonder if LSU has found their elite left tackle to anchor the line for a few years.

Spring practice served as a time for Kelly to implement his program, to right the ship. It seems like that is what happened. This looks like a program with a clear direction led by someone who knows where he’s going. LSU hasn’t had that for a couple of years, and it’s refreshing to see.

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Former LSU linebacker announces transfer portal destination

Josh White is reuniting with the coach who initially recruited him.

Former Tigers linebacker [autotag]Josh White[/autotag] wasn’t in the transfer portal long before finding a new home.

White entered the transfer portal on March 28, and he announced via his Twitter account on Monday night that he will be heading to Baylor to join coach [autotag]Dave Aranda[/autotag] for the 2022 season.

White was a four-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting class, and during his recruitment, the Houston native considered the in-state Bears under then-coach Matt Rhule, but he ultimately committed to the Tigers.

Now, he’ll reunite with Aranda, who initially recruited White to Baton Rouge when he served as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator before taking the helm in Waco. He will have four remaining years of eligibility.

According to The Athletic’s Max Olson, he had a number of other offers from Power Five teams.

White was the nation’s No. 142 prospect and No. 9 inside linebacker coming out of high school, and he’ll hope to make a bigger impact in the Big 12. As a true freshman with the Tigers in 2020, he appeared in 10 games and totaled six tackles (two solo). He didn’t see the field during his sophomore season in 2021.

With White’s departure, the Tigers will likely look to returning players like [autotag]Mike Jones Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag] and [autotag]Micah Baskerville[/autotag], as well as five-star true freshman [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag], who coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] flipped from Texas A&M in the 2022 cycle.

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LSU senior Micah Baskerville returning for his fifth season

After pulling out of the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Micah Baskerville will return to LSU

LSU Tigers senior linebacker Micah Baskerville announced that he would not enter the 2022 NFL Draft and return to LSU. Baskerville tallied 83 tackles this past season, nine for a loss, two sacks, one interception, and three passes defended.

Last month, Baskerville had accepted an invitation to NFLPA Collegiate Bowl but withdrew his name and headed back to LSU.

The linebacker came to LSU as a four-star prospect according to the 247Sports composite. Baskerville ranked as the top inside linebacker in Louisiana and No. 6 in the nation.

In Baskerville’s first two years at LSU, he was not a start and appeared in 12 total games. He had 33 tackles, 4.5 for loss, and one sack in those two years. Baskerville became a starter in his junior season.

When Baskerville became a starter, he had 55 tackles and 4.5 for a loss. He started 7 of 8 games that season for the Tigers. Baskerville has 171 stops, 18 tackles for a loss, and started 21 games out of 40 during his LSU career.

Baskerville coming back will bring experience to the defense and should be counted on to be the defensive leader and the team. Also, if he has a good season, he could raise his draft stock for the 2023 NFL Draft. The Tigers will now have Mike Jones Jr, Greg Penn III, and Josh White returning as linebackers.