We have some more clarity as we emerge from the spring, but there’s a lot more to be learned as LSU heads into the summer.
LSU had its spring game on Saturday, marking the end of the first spring practice with coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] at the helm.
The quarterbacks have been the biggest discussion point all spring and that won’t change as we move toward the fall. There are also some areas where we have more clarity now, such as the offensive line and linebacker rooms.
In the secondary, it looks like [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Foucha[/autotag], both Louisiana natives who transferred from Arkansas, are emerging as leaders.
However, there are plenty of questions that remain as Kelly has only been on the job for a few months. Much of spring practice was about solidifying the transition and installing the new playbooks.
On top of that, there could still be some players yet to come and go. After spring, players could have a better idea of their situation at a given school and elect to transfer. That could kick off a second round of transfers, and LSU still has a couple of roster spots left to use.
It’ll be a long time until we see LSU out on the field again, which means a lot can change before LSU takes the field against Florida State in New Orleans. Here are some remaining questions as it gears up for the break during the summer.
LSU picked up its fourth commitment in the 2023 cycle on Friday morning.
The Tigers have added another piece to their currently small 2023 class.
[autotag]Ryan Yaites[/autotag], a six-foot-one, 175-pound four-star safety from Denton, Texas, announced his commitment to play for coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and LSU via his Twitter account on Friday morning.
Yaites becomes the fourth commit from the class of 2023 and the second safety to commit. The other one is Michael Daugherty, a safety from Loganville, Georgia, who committed earlier this week. According to Rivals.com, Yaites was ranked as the No. 73 player in the country, the No. 11 safety, and the No. 8 player in the State of Texas.
Yaites was a Texas District 5-6A first-team selection at cornerback as a junior; as he helped Guyer reach the Class 6A-Division II state title game.
For the 2022 recruiting class, Kelly looked to the transfer portal and plucked away some of the best defensive backs available in [autotag]Jarrick Bernard-Converse[/autotag], [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Mekhi Garner[/autotag], and [autotag]Joe Foucha[/autotag].
For the class of 2023, so far he has put more of an emphasis on prep talent to add to a secondary that is full of elite players. LSU’s class currently ranks No. 24 in the nation, per the 247Sports Composite.
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Former Missouri Tiger Mekhi Wingo listed among the five best transfer portal talents available.
During the Texas Bowl broadcast, LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly stated they would need to build the rest of this 2022 class through the transfer portal. The team added a pair of defensive backs with Mekhi Garner of ULL and Joe Foucha of Arkansas in the last few days. Could they have their eyes set on former Missouri defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo?
Wingo had LSU among his top four schools as he prepares to transfer to a new school in 2022. Wingo is on a visit to LSU from Wednesday to Friday before checking out Oklahoma and USC.
Wingo was ranked as the No. 4 best player available in the transfer portal according to Brad Crawford of 247Sports. His overall transfer ranking put him at No. 10.
Mekhi Wingo â a three-star recruit in the Class of 2021 â will visit LSU Wednesday through Friday, Oklahoma Friday and Saturday and USC Sunday and Monday, according to 247Sportsâ Carl Reed. During his true freshman season in Columbia, Missouri, Wingo combined for 27 tackles, one interception and one sack in 11 games (three starts). Wingo earned All-SEC Freshman honors for his performance.
He would likely play inside for the LSU defense. The All-SEC Freshman defensive tackle would fill in nicely next to Maason Smith. The Tigers are replacing the losses of Glen Logan and Neil Farrell Jr, so a play the caliber of Wingo would be beneficial. He can be a plug-and-play guy for the defensive line and Jamar Cain.
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Foucha, a New Orleans native, was recruited by the Tigers when he was in high school, but joined the Razorbacks in the Class of 2018. He spent most of the last three years as a starter, including starting all 13 in 2021 when he had 75 tackles, including 7 1/2 for-loss and an interception.
LSU is continuing to add to its 2022 roster through the transfer portal. On Tuesday they added former ULL cornerback Mekhi Garner and now you can put Joe Foucha in the defensive back room. The former Arkansas Razorbacks’ safety is returning to his home state of Louisiana.
Foucha has spent the last four seasons with Arkansas after signing in the 2018 recruiting class. According to his 247Sports profile, Foucha was a three-star safety prospect from New Orleans. He appeared in 40 games over four seasons for the Razorbacks.
During that time he accumulated 230 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 12 passes defended, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He is an experienced third-level defender and LSU could certainly use the help in the secondary.
Foucha created pressure on nine of his 29 pass rush attempts in 2021, a total of 31% pressure rate. He primary dropped back in coverage or played the run. Foucha announced his commitment on Twitter.
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Arkansas safety and team captain Joe Foucha announced today on his Twitter account that he was entering his name in the transfer portal.
Arkansas safety and team captain Joe Foucha announced today on his Twitter account that he was entering his name in the transfer portal. The senior from New Orleans, Louisiana, has one year of eligibility remaining. Chatter among insiders already speculates that Foucha may want to head back to his home state.
Arkansas isn’t going to lose to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday inside War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The game is considered more of a break for a Razorbacks team that needs it.
Still, there is some amount of intrigue as Arkansas has some positions with which to tinker because of injury.
Is Dalton Wagner going to be back from his finger injury? Can Joe Foucha be a leader in the Arkansas secondary? Will another, underused player step to the fore against the FCS team?
Plenty of questions and while none of them may carry a ton of weight against the Golden Lions, they could provide clues for how Arkansas finishes its final four games after.
With that in mind, here are the four players, including two from Pine Bluff, we will be keeping an eye on Saturday.
Arkansas RT Ty Clary
Aug 31, 2019; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks offensive lineman Ty Clary (66) blocks Portland State Vikings defensive tackle Anthony Del Toro (98) during the game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Is Ty Clary the semi-permanent answer at right tackle?
Coach Sam Pittman has called the fifth-year senior his most versatile lineman. He also declined to start Clary until injuries pressed him into action. Clary will get at least one more start (barring something odd) at right tackle as usual starter Dalton Wagner is expected to miss the game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
But Wagner should be back for Mississippi State two weeks from Saturday, after Arkansas’ bye. Clary could continue playing super-sub or he could play well enough to continue to earn starts.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff RB Kierre Crossley
Crossley, a Texas native, began his career at FCS Central Arkansas. With the Bears, he led the team in yards rushing as a freshman. Now, having transferred down the road to the southeast, he’s doing the same with UAPB.
Crossley leads the Golden Lions with 252 yards and five touchdowns. As the Pine Bluff is more of a running team than a passing one, expect a healthy dose of Crossley on Saturday.
Arkansas S Joe Foucha
Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral (2) runs for a first down while being pursued by Arkansas defensive back Joe Foucha (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Oxford, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
With fellow safety and Preseason All-American Jalen Catalon out for the season, the back of the Arkansas defense will be led by Foucha. He’s fifth on the team in tackles with 41 and has four tackles for-loss and two pass break-ups.
Foucha has been a solid, if unspectacular player, for most of the last couple seasons with the Razorbacks. More will be thrust upon him now, though, as the Razorbacks attempt to turn things around in the second half of the year without their star.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff LB Monroe Beard III
The sophomore linebacker from Tennessee has been a borderline All-SWAC player this season. He leads the Golden Lions in tackles, tackles for-loss, sacks and forced fumbles.
Even on a bad team by SWAC standards, Beard has been a good player. He could still put up good numbers against the Razorbacks, as such.
Arkansas picked up its most yards of total offense in more than decade, but the Rebels made the singular stop when it mattered most to get the victory.
The loss is Arkansas’ second in a row. The Hogs host Top-25 Auburn in Week 7 in Fayetteville.
It was a day to remember for the Hogs offense, though. And these are the Razorbacks Wire Players of the Game.
