Tag: lsu news

Five things for LSU fans to be thankful for this year

In honor of Thanksgiving, here’s what LSU fans should be thankful for this holiday season.

The Tigers’ athletic department has a proud tradition of contending: not just in football, but in sports across the board.

When I began covering this team back in March, it seemed like the program was at something of a low point. The football team had just brought in [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] after back-to-back disappointing campaigns, while the basketball program was closing up a disappointing finish to a season that started strong and ultimately ended with the dismissal of [autotag]Will Wade[/autotag].

To add onto that, the baseball program had a new coach in [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag], who was tasked with replacing the legendary [autotag]Paul Mainieri[/autotag], and [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag] was in her first season trying to take the women’s basketball program to the next level. Change was the defining theme of this athletics department under [autotag]Scott Woodward[/autotag] just a few months ago.

But eight months later, and there seems to be an entirely new outlook for a number of LSU sports. With so much change in 2022 — much of it positive — here’s what Tigers fans have to be thankful for this holiday season.

Game time set for LSU at Arkansas in Week 11

The Tigers will have a morning kickoff in Fayetteville against the Hogs.

No matter what happens this weekend when the Alabama Crimson Tide roll into Baton Rouge, the Tigers will have to follow that up with a road trip that could be tricky against the Arkansas Razorbacks.

If LSU wins Saturday, it represents an obvious trap game. If not, it’s an opportunity for one loss to spiral into two. To make matters even more difficult, the road bout against the Hogs will be a morning kickoff at 11 a.m. CT in Fayetteville, LSU announced Monday.

The TV network for the game hasn’t been determined yet, and it could air on either ESPN or CBS.

Arkansas won this game in overtime by three points last year, snapping a five-game LSU winning streak. The Tigers will hope to start a new streak this time around and recapture the Golden Boot in Week 11.

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LSU AD Scott Woodward set to receive 4-year extension

LSU’s board of supervisors is set for a vote to approve Woodward’s extension — which would pay him $1.8 million annually — on Friday afternoon.

Tigers athletics director [autotag]Scott Woodward[/autotag] is sticking around for the near future.

Woodward is set to receive a four-year extension that will pay him $1.85 million annually. The university’s board of supervisors is set to hold a vote to approve Woodward’s extension on Friday afternoon.

Woodward’s contract includes academic incentives that could boost his pay by as much as $250,000 annually, per a report from ESPN’s Alex Scarborough. It could also net him $500,000 in bonuses for the 2025 and 2029 fiscal years if he meets certain incentives, and a national championship for one program or an SEC title for three would grant him an additional $500,000 in a “Milestone Performance Payment.”

LSU hired Woodward away from Texas A&M, where he pulled football coach Jimbo Fisher from Florida State, in 2019. Since joining his alma mater, Woodward has gained notoriety for his flashy coach hirings, which have included [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag], [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag], [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] and [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag].

Woodward is regarded as one of the top ADs in college sports, and it seems like he’ll be calling the shots at LSU, at least in the relative short term.

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Five former LSU athletes and coaches named to Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame’s 2023 class

Five more LSU alumni are joining the Hall.

Five former LSU players/coaches were recently named as 2023 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Inductees.

[autotag]Paul Byrd[/autotag], [autotag]Walter Davis[/autotag], [autotag]Wendell Davis[/autotag], [autotag]Paul Mainieri[/autotag] and [autotag]M.L. Woodruff[/autotag] are all going to be rightfully inducted into the Hall.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame already includes 25 Pro Football Hall of Fame members, 18 Olympic medalists — including 11 gold medal winners — 12 members of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, seven of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players, seven National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, 42 College Football Hall of Fame members and nine National High School Hall of Fame enshrinees.

It also features jockeys with a combined 16 Triple Crown victories, six world boxing champions, nine Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinees, seven College Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, 10 College Basketball Hall of Fame members, four NBA Finals MVPs, four winners of major professional golf championships, five National Museum of (Thoroughbred) Racing and Hall of Fame inductees and two Super Bowl MVPs, per LSU.

Here’s a rundown of LSU’s additions and why each was chosen, according to the press release from the Tigers.

Five players who need to have big games against Mississippi State

LSU will need these guys to have big games on Saturday.

Mississippi State’s air raid offense is unlike anything else LSU will see this year. Every offense in college football probably has some elements of the air raid in it by now, but Mike Leach’s version remains a full-fledged version of the offense.

In 2020, we saw what happens when a defense isn’t prepared for it. In fairness, that 2020 defense wasn’t prepared for much at all, much less the air raid. LSU responded in 2021, heading to Starkville with a much better plan. The Tiger defense consistently dropped eight guys into coverage, only rushing three.

LSU wanted to take away the passing lanes, preventing Will Rogers from making those patented quick throws. The Tigers also did a good job at making open field tackles, not allowing Mississippi State to take advantage of the space that the air raid creates.

The Tigers got that win last year because some players stepped up. Here are five guys who will need to do that on Saturday.

Brian Kelly updates the status of suspended LSU safety Joe Foucha

Foucha is currently set to miss the next three games after issues with getting his credits transferred from Arkansas.

One of LSU’s biggest offseason additions didn’t suit up for the season-opening loss against Florida State, and shortly after kickoff, we found out why.

Safety [autotag]Joe Foucha[/autotag] is one of several Tigers players dealing with academic suspensions, and he is set to miss the next three games, as well. At his press conference on Wednesday, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said that Foucha’s suspension stems from issues with transfer credits from Arkansas, where he previously started 33 games.

“It’s really unfortunate,” Kelly said. “Joe’s done everything we’ve asked him to do.”

Foucha is reportedly attempting to appeal his suspension, and Kelly said that the team hopes to get him back as soon as it can.

One of several high-profile transfer additions in the secondary, Foucha was expected to be a major contributor in defense. Sophomore [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] started in his place on Sunday and performed fairly well, recording eight tackles (two for a loss).

Given the way LSU’s defense performed on Saturday, it will certainly hope to get Foucha back in the fold, if for no other reason than to replenish the depth in the defensive backfield.

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An update on Joe Burrow’s recovery

It’s unclear when Joe Burrow will return to the field

After an appendectomy a couple of weeks ago, it remains unclear when former LSU and current Bengals QB Joe Burrow will return to the field.

According to Burrow’s father, Jimmy, it still might be a few weeks before Burrow is back out there. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor refrained from making a prediction.

Taylor added that he doesn’t expect this to hamper Burrow’s preparation for the season. Even if Burrow was healthy, he would not be taking the field for the Bengals’ preseason opener.

Last year, Burrow led the NFL in yards per attempt and completion percentage as led the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance.

His passer rating of 108.3 was good enough for second in the NFL, only behind Aaron Rodgers. Burrow, now 25 and in his third year, shouldn’t be too affected by missing the first few weeks of camp. This is a guy who was playing at an MVP level in 2021 and looks like he could be one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks for years to come.

Now, his receivers are only more experience and the offensive line has a chance to take another jump. The Bengals’ offense should be one of the best in the league and contend in the AFC.

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LSU DL Maason Smith named to Bruce Feldman’s ‘Freaks’ list

LSU DL Maason Smith could be one of the top DL in the country this fall due to his exceptional athletic ability.

On Wednesday, The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman released his annual “Freaks” list.

According to Feldman, the list is compiled of “the players who generate buzz inside their programs by displaying the unique physical abilities that wow even those who observe gifted athletes every day.”

In other words, these are the guys that jump off the screen. The types of players that NFL scouts can’t get enough of come draft season.

LSU DL Maason Smith made the list, coming in at 12.

Feldman said that Smith hit 19.5 MPH on the GPS this summer and has an 11-foot vertical.

This is a guy who’s listed at 6’5′ and 300 lbs. on LSU’s website. To have that type of athletic ability with that size gives him a chance to do some disruptive things on a football field.

As a freshman, Smith tallied 16 pressures and four sacks despite playing in just nine games. He showed an ability to play all over the line, lining up inside and at defensive end. He has the chance to be a physical force in 2022.

The defensive line should be the strength of LSU’s defense this fall. Along with Smith, the unit is led by B.J. Ojulari and Jaquelin Roy. Transfer Mekhi Wingo, who like Smith, was a freshman last fall, has a chance to be a big contributor as well.

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Here’s everything Mike Denbrock said at his press conference

LSU OC Mike Denbrock met with the media to discuss everything from the QB battle to the progression of the tight ends.

With fall camp in full swing, coaches are speaking to the media for the first time in a minute.

Earlier this week, LSU’s offensive coordinator took to the stand.

Mike Denbrock said the offense was starting to take shape and he’s happy with the direction the unit is going. He’s been pleased with the effort as well.

Denbrock spoke some about every position on the offense, from the QBs to the TEs.

Before arriving at LSU, Denbrock spent the last five years at Cincinnati. Under Denbrock, UC QB Desmond Ridder became an NFL draft pick.

Prior to Cincinnati, Denbrock spent seven years with Brian Kelly at Notre Dame. His relationship with Kelly goes back to the 80s when they both got their start at Grand Valley State.

Denbrock has done a lot of different things on offense in his career. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what his scheme will look like at LSU. Brian Kelly and Joe Sloan could also have some input in the design.

With that said, let’s take a look at what Denbrock said when he met with the media.

An advanced stats look at Jayden Daniels

Here’s an advanced stats look at Jayden Daniels in 2021

We still don’t know much about who will start at quarterback for LSU when the season begins in less than a month.

We do know that it is a three-horse race between Myles Brennan, Garrett Nussmeier, and [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag].

Of those three, Daniels has the most experience. Brennan has made a few starts and Nussmeier has seen some action, but neither has given us a huge sample size.

Daniels started three years at Arizona State, which means we have a wealth of information.

The situation Daniels is in now is different than the one at Arizona State. He has better wide receivers and the coaching staff isn’t in complete turmoil.

That doesn’t mean we can’t learn anything about who Daniels was as a Sun Devil. Let’s jump right in and see what the advanced stats tell us about his last three years.