LSU preview – Syndication Server

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.

Kayshon Boutte and BJ Ojulari headline group of Tigers on PFF’s All-SEC team

According to PFF, LSU has plenty of talent to rely upon this fall

LSU might still have some depth issues as it makes its way out of the coaching transition, but there’s plenty of talent at the top.

PFF released its 2022 All-SEC projections and plenty of Tigers made the list.

WR [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag] was the only representation LSU has on the first team. Boutte is expected to be one of the best playmakers in the country and a first-round pick in 2023. However, he’s coming off a season where an injury ended his year.

The second-team defense had a few Tigers. DE [autotag]B.J. Ojulari[/autotag] and DT [autotag]Jaquelin Roy[/autotag] made the cut.

Both Ojulari and Roy have the talent to be first-round picks next spring.

LB [autotag]Micah Baskerville[/autotag] joined Ojulari and Roy on the second team. Brian Kelly recently spoke about how crowded their linebacker room was but said Baskerville is a player that will certainly help them.

Down on the third team, LSU had a total of five appearances. WR [autotag]Jack Bech[/autotag] was recognized on offense. LSU will need a reliable player like Beck to compliment some of the playmakers they have on the outside.

On the third team defense, LSU was represented by DE [autotag]Ali Gaye[/autotag], LB [autotag]Mike Jones[/autotag], CB [autotag]Mekhi Garner[/autotag], and CB [autotag]Jarrick Bernard-Converse[/autotag].

This would suggest that LSU is capable of having a pretty good defense this year. Positions that were once concerns now have players projected to be some of the best in the SEC.

If DC Matt House can get that system installed, LSU will create problems for opposing offenses.

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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.

Will Campbell and Mekhi Wingo ranked among top newcomers in 2022

LSU has a lot of new faces in 2022. These two should be some of the best.

A new season means new faces.

There will be plenty of those for LSU in 2022 after the roster turnover brought on by the coaching change.

ESPN ranked the top 50 newcomers in college football, whether they be transfers or freshmen.

A couple of Tigers appeared on the list.

OT Will Campbell ranked 16th. ESPN has been high on Campbell since he was a recruit, ranking him 14th in the ESPN 300.

“It’s rare to see a true freshman come in and start at left tackle for an SEC program, but Campbell is a 6-foot-6, 325-pound lineman who has the talent and strength to play right away.”

DL Mekhi Wingo came in a few spots later at 20. ESPN wrote that Wingo was one of the more coveted defensive linemen in the portal and should be part of an excellent rotation for LSU.

It’s promising to see a pair of guys on this list that will be in the trenches for LSU. Having a strong OL and DL are critical to success in the SEC and Campbell and Wingo should be central pieces for the next two to three years.

When it came to guys leaving LSU, Eli Ricks ranked fifth. Ricks was a big loss for the Tigers only made worse by the fact that he went to Alabama.

LSU Tigers: CFN College Football Preview 2021

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the LSU football season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the LSU football season with what you need to know.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– LSU Football Schedule Analysis
– LSU Tigers Previews
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

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2020 Record: 5-5 overall, 5-5 in SEC
Head Coach: Ed Orgeron, 6th year, 45-14 (62-41 overall)
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 29
2020 CFN Preview Ranking: 5
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 1

LSU Tigers College Football Preview 2021: Offense

– There was no way to possibly match the historic steamroller of a 2019 attack, but what 2020 LSU had to do with its offense was beyond a rebuild – and it showed.

The O went from becoming the standard for offensive greatness to a not-that-bad 434 yards and 32 points per game. It was a wildly inconsistent offense that defined the idea of growing pains, and now there’s a whole lot of talent returning for new offensive coordinator Jake Peetz.

As the very least, Peetz – a young coach with mostly NFL assistant experience – will try to get the 2019 offensive style back after working last year with Joe Brady at Carolina.

– The quarterback situation became a whole lot clearer this offseason. It was supposed to be Myles Brennan’s gig going into last year – and he was brilliant in just three games of work. He threw for over 1,100 yards with 11 touchdowns and three picks, but he was lost for the year with an abdominal injury. It should be his job again now that he’s back … maybe.

TJ Finley had some big moments and looked the part of a potentially special passer, but he transferred to Auburn. That all but locked up at least the No. 2 job – and more likely No. 1A – for Max Johnson, a 6-5, 219-pound sophomore who wasn’t quite accurate enough, but he threw for almost 1,100 yards with eight scores and a pick. He finished off last year with three touchdown passes in the win over Florida, and threw for 435 yards and three scores in the win over Ole Miss.

The receivers are there to make the passing game go – but this is still a slight area of reloading. Leading pass catcher Terrace Marshall is gone, but sophomore Kayshon Boutte led the team with 735 yards and five scores, 6-4 Jaray Jenkins averaged over 17 yards per catch, and … it’s LSU. There’s plenty of high-end talent working into the mix – even if the experience isn’t quite there.

Tight end Arik Gilbert took off for Georgia – that’s a massive hit – but 6-7 Kole Taylor is a massive target, and there’s a deep group of decent options behind him. There’s no Gilbert, though.

– The ground attack was a problem. It sputtered too much averaging just 122 yards per game, but at least the veteran backs are in place to do more if the line can get the job done – that’s the hope.

232-pound Tyrion Davis-Price is a big back who led the team with 445 yards per carry, and John Emery averaged over five yards per carry. However, the 1,217 rushing yards were the fewest by a mile in a long, long time – more on that in the Keys To The Season.

The loss of projected OT Dare Rosenthal to the transfer portal is a hit – he’s got top 50 NFL Draft pick potential – but 6-6, 311-pound Cam Wire is a decent veteran who should be fine in the role.

The other four starters are expected to be back, and there’s way, way, way too much next-level talent to be so mediocre again. Expect a night-and-day improvement overall.

– What You Need To Know: Defense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– LSU Football Schedule Analysis

NEXT: LSU Tigers College Football Preview 2021: Defense

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College Football News Preview 2020: LSU Tigers

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the LSU Tigers season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the LSU Tigers season with what you need to know.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– LSU Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

2019 Record: 15-0 overall, 8-0
Head Coach: Ed Orgeron, 5th year, 40-9
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 1
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 1
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 7

No one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.

5. College Football News Preview 2020: LSU Tigers Offense 3 Things To Know

– How the hell do you follow THAT? It was among the most efficient and effective offenses of all-time, leading the nation with 569 yards and 48.4 points per game. It was unstoppable when it got rolling, put up 42 points or more in 12 of the 15 games, and …

Everyone left.

Offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger is still around, and Scott Linehan is a good, veteran coach to step in for Joe Brady as the passing game coordinator, but how do you possibly replace eight draft picks, four starters on the offensive line, five of the top eight receivers, the leading rusher – who finished third on the team in receptions – and … that guy.

CFN in 60 Video: LSU Tigers Preview
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– Remember, this time last year, Joe Burrow wasn’t Joe Burrow. He was a good, promising veteran quarterback who might be a mid-round draft pick with a little bit of luck. No one could’ve seen that the greatest season ever by any college quarterback was coming. All he did was hit 76% of his throw for 5,671 yards with 60 touchdowns and six interceptions, and he ran for five scores, too.

He won the Heisman, he won the SEC Championship, he won the Heisman, and he became the No. 1 overall draft pick ahead of Chase Young and Jeff Okudah – all-timer prospects for their respective positions.

The junior saw a little time last year – throwing for 353 yards and a touchdown with a pick – and he’s got the skills and upside to come up with a huge season by any normal and reasonable standards.

Myles Brennan doesn’t have to be Joe Burrow, but anything he does will pale in comparison. It’s Brennan or bust when it comes to experience with a slew of talented-but-untested freshmen – Max Johnson and TJ Finley are true, and Peter Parrish is redshirt – fighting for the No. 2 job.

The biggest overall plus is another loaded receiving corps.

Justin Jefferson is done, and TE Thaddeus Moss left early, but Ja’Marr Chase is coming off an 84-catch, 1,780-yard, 20 touchdown season, Terrace Marshall caught 46 passes for 671 yards and 13 scores, and on the way are a whole lot of talented wideouts from the recruiting class to restock the shelves, along with superstar tight end prospect Arik Gilbert.

– Three starters from the offensive line were drafted, and another graduated. The cupboard is hardly bare – Ed Orgeron offensive lines are always going to be good – but this is a bigger deal to figure out than any other part of the O.

Austin Deculus is back to man one tackle job, but it’s 6-7, 314-pound Dare Rosenthal who has the biggest upside. He left school for personal reasons, but he’s expected to be back for the season – he should end up shining at left tackle. Junior Ed Ingram should be solid at left guard.

Who will they all block for?

Clyde Edwards-Helaire wasn’t exactly the unsung cog in the system, but he certainly took a backseat in national coverage to Burrow and all the great receivers. He ran for 1,414 yards and 16 scores, and caught 55 passes for 453 yards and a touchdown. Now he’ll be doing his thing for the Kansas City Chiefs after being taken in the first round.

It’ll be a true running back-by-committee approach – and it’ll work just fine. 226-pound battering ram sophomore Tyrion Davis-Price was third on the team with 295 yards and six scores, former superstar recruit John Emery ran for 188 yards and four touchdowns, and 215-pound Chris Curry ran for 90 yards in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl win over Oklahoma. They’ll all get their chances.

NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: LSU Tigers Defense 3 Things To Know

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