Tag: LSU Draft

Mekhi Garner listed among top 1-year transfers to watch at the combine

Garner had an excellent season after transferring from Louisiana last spring.

Workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine officially begin on Thursday, and when defensive backs take the field on Friday, [autotag]Mekhi Garner[/autotag] is one player who is sure to draw the attention of NFL scouts.

A transfer addition from Louisiana last offseason, Garner boosted his draft stock considerably in his lone season at LSU in 2022. He was one of the best defensive backs in the SEC, and he bolstered a Tigers secondary that leaned heavily on additions from the portal.

Garner was listed by On3’s Mike Huguenin as one of several one-year transfers to keep an eye on at the combine this week, and he was identified as a potential Day 3 steal.

Transfer from: Louisiana
The buzz: Mekhi Garner was a third-team All-Sun Belt pick in 2021, and though he has good size for a corner (6-1, 220), there were questions about whether his speed was enough for the SEC. That wasn’t an issue, as he quickly grabbed a starting role and had 43 tackles and seven pass breakups for a team that won the SEC West. He seems likely to go on Day 3 and could end up moving to safety. Garner is extremely physical but the speed question continues to dog him.

Garner gave LSU some really good cornerback play during his one campaign with the Tigers, and replacing his production is one of the biggest priorities this offseason. For his part, Garner isn’t exactly seen as an elite NFL prospect, but with a strong showing this weekend he could change his perception.

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Here’s where Kayshon Boutte stands among receivers on ESPN’s latest draft board

ESPN’s Matt Miller had some thoughts about where Boutte could end up.

ESPN’s Matt Miller released his top 10 wide receiver prospects for the 2023 NFL draft, and former LSU star Kayshon Boutte came in at No. 8.

According to Miller, a scout told him that Boutte looks like a first-round pick when he’s on the field, but isn’t out there enough to solidify that grade. Among the other issues keeping Boutte out of the top five are the injuries.

“The offseason brought two surgeries to repair a right ankle injury, and what was expected to be a breakout 2022 season leading to a round 1 grade and WR1 candidacy didn’t pan out,” Miller wrote.

Miller compared Boutte to Tyler Boyd and wrote his best fits could be the Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay Packers or Atlanta Falcons.

Boutte finished his LSU career with 1,782 yards and 16 touchdowns, putting him 18th in school history in both categories. He had over 500 yards in all three years and broke the SEC single-game receiving record as a freshman in 2020.

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BJ Ojulari projected as a 2nd-round pick by latest ESPN mock draft

Ojulari joins the Rams near the top of the second round in Matt Miller’s latest mock.

As we enter draft season, edge rusher [autotag]BJ Ojulari[/autotag] seems to be universally considered LSU’s top prospect and the program’s best shot at having a player hear their name called during the first night of the 2023 NFL draft.

A lot of mocks have shown Ojulari coming off the board late in the first, potentially with the last pick, this latest mock from ESPN’s Matt Miller has Ojulari falling out of the first round — which is just 31 picks this year after Miami’s first-round pick was stripped due to tampering.

Instead, he has Ojulari going to the Los Angeles Rams early in the second with the 36th overall pick.

Positional value comes into play here, and with no left tackle of value on the board, the front office pivots to pass-rusher. Ojulari (6-3, 250 pounds) had 12.5 sacks the past two seasons while playing off the edge of the LSU defense and wearing the famed No. 18 jersey awarded to a team leader.

The Rams never really found a replacement at the edge in 2022 after losing Von Miller in free agency, and Ojulari could provide the answer. Taking him here would be good value, to boot.

As Miller mentions, Ojulari was a leader both on and off the field for the Tigers this season. His production dipped a bit in 2022 due to the emergence of true freshman [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag], but Ojulari played a key role as part of a tough LSU front seven this season.

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2 former LSU defensive standouts hoping to boost stock at Senior Bowl on Saturday

Ali Gaye and Jay Ward will hope to boost their draft stocks on Saturday.

The Tigers will have a pair of representatives in the Senior Bowl game on Saturday in [autotag]Ali Gaye[/autotag] and [autotag]Jay Ward[/autotag].

The Senior Bowl is set for a 12:30 p.m. CT kickoff in Mobile, Alabama, with the game televised on the NFL Network. It will be held at South Alabama’s Whitney Stadium, and both teams will represent the American team.

Gaye was a JUCO transfer who started 26 of the 27 games he appeared in during his three seasons with the Tigers. He had 36 tackles (six for loss) and 2.5 sacks in his final season at LSU. Ward, meanwhile, played both nickel and safety this year.

Ward had 60 tackles, four pass breakups, 2.5 tackles for loss and an interception in 2022, and his versatility has garnered quite a bit of attention in Mobile this week.

Both players have an opportunity to boost their stock with solid performances on Saturday.

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LSU DB Jay Ward boosting stock at Senior Bowl

Ward has impressed at the Senior Bowl, especially when it comes to his versatility.

A former LSU defensive back is helping his draft stock in Mobile this week.

According to 247Sports, those attending the Senior Bowl have been impressed with [autotag]Jay Ward[/autotag]. Ward signed with LSU in 2019 and passed up his final year of eligibility to head to the league.

At LSU, Ward played safety and corner. He played 77 defensive snaps in 2019 as a member of LSU’s title team. He saw more time in 2020, breaking up five passes and intercepting three.

According to PFF, this past season Ward played 100 or more snaps in the box, at free safety, in the slot and at corner. That versatility is hard to find and should go a long way with NFL scouts.

Ward was a three-star who became an impactful defender over several years. His returning experience was key in 2022 as LSU turned to the transfer portal to fill the rest of the spots.

Where Ward ends up, and how that team elects to use him, will be fascinating.

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Maason Smith listed among CBS Sports’ top draft-eligible players in 2023

Smith was expected to have a breakout season before suffering a torn ACL on the opening drive of the season.

When taking account of the talent LSU will return in 2023, it’s easy to look past [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag]. But overlook him at your own peril.

The former five-star recruit had an encouraging true freshman season in 2021, and he was expected to have a breakout season and become one of LSU’s top defensive players in 2022.

That’s not how things played out, as Smith missed nearly the entire season after suffering a torn ACL on the opening drive of the year against Florida State. It’s been a long rehab process already for Smith, but he’s expected to be back at full strength for the 2023 season.

He’s been listed by CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli as one of the top-20 draft-eligible prospects in college football next season.

Maason Smith, DT, LSU: Maason Smith missed most of the 2022 season due to a torn ACL he suffered in the season-opener against Florida State as he celebrated a tackle for loss. It robbed LSU of a disruptive force for the season, but he will be back to full health for 2023, and that’s a huge boost for the Tigers defense. Players who can blow up an offensive line from the interior are always appreciated, and that’s precisely what Smith can do.

LSU loses quite a bit along the defensive line this offseason, including both starting edge rushers. But bringing a force like Smith back into the fold alongside [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag], who had a fantastic season playing in Smith’s place should help this front tremendously.

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Kayshon Boutte surprisingly listed as 1st round pick in latest Touchdown Wire mock

Boutte has first-round talent despite a disappointing season in 2022.

There’s no denying that [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag] had a disappointing season in 2022.

Coming off an ankle injury that cut his 2021 season — which was shaping up to be a phenomenal one — short, Boutte returned to LSU this fall expected to be one of the nation’s top receivers.

That’s not exactly how things played out. He finished second on the team in receiving but had just 538 yards and two touchdowns on 48 catches. He had moments, but he wasn’t the dominant player many expected him to be, and quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] developed a stronger connection with [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag].

Boutte — who entered the year as a projected first-round pick — initially made the surprising decision to return to LSU in 2023, but he later reversed course and declared for the draft, opting out of the Citrus Bowl. While Boutte’s draft stock took a hit this season, he’s a first-round pick to the Cowboys at No. 26 in the latest mock from Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar.

If there’s one thing we learned in Dallas’ 2022 season, and certainly in their 19-12 divisional round loss to the 49ers, it’s that this offense cannot live on CeeDee Lamb and a bunch of roleplayers alone. That showed up a lot in Dak Prescott’s more interception-prone moments, and it’s time for Prescott to have more help both outside and in the slot. Boutte’s stock dropped a bit due to a slow start to the 2022 season, but he turned it on just fine as things progressed. His six-catch, 107-yard game against Georgia in the SEC Championship game allowed Boutte to show how he can house just about any route against a great defense.

Boutte would certainly give Dallas another premium weapon, though it would admittedly be a bit surprising to see him go this high after the season he had. The talent is undeniable, but the production could be seen as a red flag.

Regardless, Boutte is a talented receiver who shouldn’t last long in April’s NFL draft.

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Tracking every LSU player who declared for the 2023 NFL draft

Keeping track of the LSU players who have decided to move on to the next level.

With the 2022 season now behind us, it’s decision time for upperclassmen regarding whether they will enter the 2023 NFL draft, which begins on April 27 and runs through the 29th.

Players have until Monday to make their decisions known, and a number of LSU players have already done so. Some of these decisions were expected, while others came as a slight surprise.

The Tigers had 10 players drafted last year despite a 6-7 season, and though the number probably won’t reach quite that high this time around, there will still be a number of former LSU players who hear their names called.

Here’s a running tracker of the players who have decided to forego their remaining eligibility and declare for the draft so far. We’ll keep this page updated with any additional players who declare before Monday’s deadline.

Starting LSU offensive lineman enters 2023 NFL draft

Anthony Bradford will leave LSU with at least one starter on the OL to replace in 2023.

The Tigers will have at least one starter to replace on the offensive line next year as fourth-year player [autotag]Anthony Bradford[/autotag] has declared for the 2023 NFL draft, according to a post on his Instagram account.

Bradford appeared in 29 games during his time in Baton Rouge with 17 starts. The majority of those came in 2022 when he started 12 of 13 games, primarily at guard. The Muskegon, Michigan, native is a versatile player capable of seeing action at both guard and tackle, and his loss will certainly hurt LSU’s depth moving forward.

Still, this team is projected to return its other four starters on the offensive line, and [autotag]Garrett Dellinger[/autotag] seems like the clear choice to slide in. [autotag]Marlon Martinez[/autotag] and true freshman [autotag]DJ Chester[/autotag] are also players who could get looks there, in addition to right tackle [autotag]Emery Jones[/autotag], who could potentially be moved.

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Mike Jones Jr. announces departure after Citrus Bowl win

The veteran linebacker is moving on in 2023.

An LSU linebacker announced he’d be moving on following LSU’s Citrus Bowl win over Purdue.

Speaking to WAFB’s Jacques Doucet, linebacker [autotag]Mike Jones Jr.[/autotag] said that he would be moving on following the game.

“This is it,” Jones told Doucet. “An old dog’s last walk around the park.”

Jones transferred to LSU prior to the 2021 season after three years at Clemson. He played a key role in LSU’s defense improving over the course of 2021. Most notably, he notched three pressures and a sack in Tuscaloosa as LSU fell just short of a major upset.

He was named a team captain for the 2022 season along with [autotag]BJ Ojulari[/autotag] and [autotag]Ali Gaye[/autotag].

Jones didn’t see as much action this fall with LSU turning to some of its younger linebackers but stepped up in the bowl game playing the JACK position, once again proving his versatility.

In his career, Jones has played safety, linebacker, and served as a pass rusher. Those traits alone should earn him some looks from NFL teams.

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