Tag: LSU Bowl

Brian Kelly clarifies play-calling dynamic against Wisconsin

Joe Sloan will remain in the booth and send calls down to Cortez Hankton, who will coach on the sidelines.

With offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] heading off to Notre Dame, LSU will turn to quarterbacks coach [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] and receivers coach/passing game coordinator [autotag]Cortez Hankton[/autotag], who will serve as interim co-offensive coordinators for the matchup against Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

There were some questions about how exactly the two-coordinator dynamic will look in practice, but [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] clarified at his press conference on Friday.

Sloan will be in the booth, as he has been all year, and will send calls down to Hankton, who will be coaching from the sideline as he typically does. Kelly said he hopes keeping that setup the same will ease the change.

LSU will get a glimpse into its future in what could be an addition for Sloan and Hankton for the full-time role when it takes on the Badgers at 11 a.m. CT on New Year’s Day.

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

Former 5-star true freshman Da’Shawn Womack to see significant role in ReliaQuest Bowl

We’ll get an extended look at the promising young player against Wisconsin on New Year’s Day.

While the transfer portal and draft opt-outs have certainly taken some of the excitement out of bowl season in recent years, it has also provided a new utility to these games.

Teams often rely on young players, and they’re encouraged to do so as the bowl games don’t count toward the four-game redshirt limit. Despite seeing relatively little attrition ahead of the bowl game, that will also be the case for LSU.

Former five-star true freshman defensive end [autotag]Da’Shawn Womack[/autotag] said he will start at the JACK edge rusher position in dime packages — when the team has six defensive backs on the field — for the Tigers in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin, according to On3’s Shea Dixon.

Womack, a former top 40 recruit nationally from Baltimore, has appeared in 11 games this season as a rotational player. In that action, he’s totaled 11 tackles (1.5 for loss) and 1.5 sacks.

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

Latest updates on Lance Heard situation

Lance Heard’s future at LSU is in “limbo,” he told On3’s Billy Embody.

LSU was expected to be at full strength aside from quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], who opted out, in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin on New Year’s Day.

However, new broke on Wednesday that true freshman offensive tackle and former five-star recruit [autotag]Lance Heard[/autotag] did not make the trip to Tampa, leaving his status with the team unclear.

On3’s Billy Embody provided some updates on The Jordy Culotta Show Thursday after speaking to Heard. While he didn’t get into specifics, he said Heard is still evaluating his future, which is currently in “limbo,” though he is considering a return to LSU next season.

Embody didn’t know the specifics of Heard’s situation and whether his absence had to do with an intention to enter the portal, grades, NIL money or something else entirely.

Regardless, it will be one of the biggest stories to watch as LSU prepares for its postseason matchup against the Badgers.

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

On3’s Andy Staples makes pick against the spread on LSU’s bowl game vs. Wisconsin

Even without Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, LSU is a sizable favorite in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

LSU is a sizable favorite heading into its postseason matchup against Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl even with Heisman-winning quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] opting out.

The Tigers will be close to full strength in that game, and that has translated to them being a 9.5-point favorite in this one. However, On3’s Andy Staples isn’t quite convinced.

While discussing picks against the spread for this game with the Associated Press’ Ralph Russo, Staples took the Badgers to cover, though he thinks LSU will win outright.

“I will take Wisconsin to cover because it’s a big number,” he said. “Would have preferred it went to 10, but it’s a big number. I think the Badgers, against this defense, might be able to score. Because it’s a bad defense.”

Russo pointed out that we will really get to see just how bad LSU’s defensive unit is against a Wisconsin offense that hasn’t found much success this season.

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

Five things to know about the Wisconsin Badgers heading into ReliaQuest Bowl

Here’s what LSU fans should know about Wisconsin prior to the ReliaQuest Bowl.

There’s less than a week to go until LSU’s ReliaQuest Bowl meeting with Wisconsin kicks off.

The Tigers will be looking to make it back-to-back 10-win seasons to start the [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] era while Wisconsin is hoping to make the most of a 7-5 season.

LSU’s met Wisconsin a couple of times in the last decade, splitting the series at 1-1, but a lot has changed for both schools since they last met.

The game will kick at 11 a.m. CT on New Year’s’ Day.

Here are five things to know about the Wisconsin Badgers.

Brian Kelly excited to see what Cortez Hankton and Joe Sloan can do in bowl game

Two of LSU’s assistant coaches will have a huge opportunity against Wisconsin on New Year’s Day.

LSU has an interesting opportunity to evaluate two guys on its own staff heading into the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin.

With Mike [autotag]Denbrock[/autotag] heading off to Notre Dame, [autotag]Cortez Hankton[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] will serve as the interim co-offensive coordinators in the bowl game and will split play-calling opportunities.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said both he and the players were excited to see what the duo is capable of.

“We’ve got a great staff and Joe and Cortez have hit the ground running, excited about what they’re gonna bring to the offense. I know our players are excited. We’ll look forward to this week getting their spin on it, we’ve got a lot of really good players and I think they’re excited about that,” Kelly said, per 247Sports’ Glen West.

Kelly added that both coaches will be in consideration for the full-time role.

“I think it’s important that anytime you have vacancies that you evaluate the staff that you currently have,” Kelly said. “We had the No. 1 offense in the country. For me not to evaluate the staff for those kind of openings I think would be foolish. There’ll be a strong consideration for the coaches that are in leadership roles right now for that position.”

We’ll get our first look at Sloan and Hankton calling the shots when the Tigers take on the Badgers at 11 a.m. CT on New Year’s Day.

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

NEW: Mekhi Wingo will reportedly play vs. Wisconsin in ReliaQuest Bowl

Mekhi Wingo missed the final five games after undergoing surgery for a lower-body injury.

Though LSU will be without its star quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 1 against Wisconsin, the team will be getting a major boost on defense.

Defensive tackle [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] will make his return to the field against the Badgers, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] told On3’s Shea Dixon on Wednesday. One of the most impactful players on that side of the ball, Wingo missed the final five games of the season after undergoing surgery for a lower-body injury suffered against Auburn.

Wingo said at the time that he would return for the College Football Playoff, and even with the Tigers falling short of that goal, he will make his way back to the field for the postseason.

Wingo has yet to announce a draft decision. In seven games this fall, he totaled 22 tackles (three for loss) and 2.5 sacks.

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

LOOK: LSU shows off new Nike cleats for bowl game

The Tigers will be breaking out some new kicks for the postseason.

When LSU takes on Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 1, it will do so in some new kicks. The Tigers shared the clean purple Nike Flywire cleats they will be debuting against the Badgers, dubbing them a “Christmas present.”

LSU is looking to reach the 10-win threshold for the second year in a row after finishing the regular season 9-3. Though the Tigers won’t have Heisman winner [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], paving the way for the [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] era to begin, the rest of the active roster is expected to be available.

Wisconsin went 7-5 this season in the first campaign under new coach Luke Fickell.

The Tigers kick off their postseason contest at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa at 11 a.m. CT with the game being televised on ESPN2.

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: OT Lance Heard did not travel with LSU to ReliaQuest Bowl

Lance Heard appeared in 12 games as a true freshman this season, recording one start.

LSU made its way down to Tampa on Tuesday for a New Year’s Day matchup against Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl, but it will be without a key reserve on its offensive line.

Offensive tackle [autotag]Lance Heard[/autotag] did not make the trip, according to On3’s Shea Dixon. The reasoning behind it is unclear, especially as coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said he expected everyone from the final week of the regular season to be available aside from quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], who opted out of the game.

A former five-star recruit from Monroe, Heard appeared in all 12 games this season, notching one start at right tackle against Army.

Heard is a promising talent and was expected to compete for a starting role, so if this is a sign he intends to enter the transfer portal, it would be a major loss for LSU.

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

What should LSU fans expect from Joe Sloan and Cortez Hankton calling the plays?

Here’s some background info on LSU’s play-callers for the bowl game.

With [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] off to Notre Dame, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] promoted [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] and [autotag]Cortez Hankton[/autotag] as interim co-offensive coordinators for LSU’s bowl meeting with Wisconsin.

Sloan and Hankton have strong resumes, which could make them both candidates for the full-time job.

Sloan already served as a full-time FBS coordinator while at Louisiana Tech. Hankton has served as LSU’s passing game coordinator for the last two seasons, after having a similar role on a national championship-winning Georgia team.

Today, we’ll look at some of their tendencies to see what LSU fans can expect in the bowl game, or if they take over the full-time job moving forward.

With [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] taking over, we were likely to see some changes in the offense anyway, but let’s dive right in.