Tag: LSU Tigers

LSU desperately needs Flau’jae Johnson’s leadership to thrive in post-Angel Reese era

It’s time, Flau’jae. This is your team.

Looking at the LSU Lady Tigers this season, it’s clear that Kim Mulkey’s squad is struggling to find its leader. Team staple Angel Reese is no longer on the roster, and without her, LSU has seemingly lost its swagger, grit, and tough, no-nonsense type of basketball.

At the time of publishing, the Tigers are undefeated (12-0), and many wouldn’t bat an eye about a team steamrolling its competition. However, a light non-conference schedule hasn’t quelled the concerns about LSU. For example, there isn’t a ranked team with more 20-turnover games (5) than LSU. Moreover, Mulkey and her staff don’t believe the Lady Tigers have a clear leader.

Per Cory Diaz of the Lafayette Observer, LSU associate coach Bob Starkey expressed concern. “I think we have a void at leadership,” Starkey said. “When you do that, that can affect your team chemistry. We have certain players that want to lead at certain times, and that’s another area where we’re not consistent.”

To Starkey’s point, that couldn’t have been more evident during LSU’s win against Stanford. It took a combination of efforts from players like Mikaylah Williams and Kailyn Gilbert to walk away victorious. The win also included 21 points from Flau’jae Johnson, but she fouled out in overtime.

Transparently, a player of Flau’jae’s caliber can’t be off the floor with such a massive game on the line. It was a silent reminder that without Reese, Flau’jae has yet to step into the full-time leadership role that was left for her. Maybe she doesn’t have to lead the Tigers alone, but it’s clear. This is Flau’jae’s team.

There isn’t any other way around that, and to think otherwise is foolish. No one on the floor can do what she can at both ends or take over quite like she does. LSU is escaping with wins now because its schedule favors that. However, the road will only get more challenging when conference play begins, and until Flau’jae fully steps into the leadership spotlight, LSU will underachieve.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=421393237]

Jayden Daniels enjoyed his return to the Caesars Superdome in Week 15 win

Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels drew a pointed comparison between his first game at the Caesars Superdome and his return in Week 15:

It doesn’t matter if you spend just one year in Louisiana or twenty four — the Caesars Superdome is one of the most storied venues in the history of American football, and anyone who’s worn cleats and a helmet knows the arena has a different atmosphere. And that goes for former LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels, too.

Daniels returned to the Superdome on Sunday and led the Washington Commanders to a win over the New Orleans Saints on their home turf. It was a close one, too, at 20-19. And that tight margin meant something special to Daniels.

“My first game in the Dome, we lost by one point,” Daniels told reporters after the game, recalling his Tigers’ 24-23 loss to Florida State back in the 2022 season opener. “So it feels good to win by one point.”

It didn’t seem to matter how many times the Saints sacked Daniels (five times in the first half, and eight in total); he just kept bouncing back up and threading passes into tight windows while scrambling to make plays with his legs. The Commanders got their quarterback in this year’s NFL draft.

Maybe the Saints can find theirs next year. Spencer Rattler had some nice flashes in a second-half rally, but he isn’t on the same level as Daniels just yet. Neither is Jake Haener. Derek Carr’s best days are behind him at this point too. We’ll see if the Saints can finally draft a quarterback who can lead them to success next April, but in the meantime they’ve got to find a way to get some positivity going through the last three weeks of their season.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Former Kentucky star receiver Barion Brown has chosen his next home

Former Kentucky wide receiver Barion Brown has chosen his destination for 2025.

Barion Brown has been one of the most exciting players in Kentucky football history over the past three seasons. The speedy wide receiver has made big plays catching the ball, but has also been an elite kick returner. It was a disappointment for fans when he entered the transfer portal.

The talented playmaker certainly had any number of suitors for his services next fall, but has chosen where he will play in 2025. Brown will play for the LSU Tigers, per Pete Nakos.

Related: How much Kentucky assistant football coaches make

Brown, like the rest of the Wildcats offense, had a disappointing 2024 season, with just 29 receptions for 361 yards and 3 touchdowns. In his three seasons in Lexington, he totaled 122 catches for 1,528 yards and 11 scores. He also returned five kickoffs back for touchdowns during that time.

Kentucky fans are certain to miss him, but Brown will join an LSU team that hopes to compete for a College Football Playoff spot next year. Big Blue Nation wishes him well.

Garrett Nussmeier will remain at LSU, won’t enter 2025 NFL Draft

Nussmeier had some early 2025 NFL Draft buzz but will stay in school for one more year

Cross one of the more intriguing names at quarterback off the list for the 2025 NFL Draft. LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier announced in a lengthy video post on social media that he is returning to Baton Rouge for the 2025 college season.

Nussmeier is a redshirt junior who took over as the Tigers’ starter following Jayden Daniels, who is thriving with the Washington Commanders as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-2 Nussmeier started out the season strongly for LSU but faded in draft evaluation eyes as he faced tougher defenses in the SEC.

Still, he was often projected as a top-50 overall pick. Now that will wait for the 2026 NFL Draft. Nussmeier figures to enter the next college season as one of the top potential QBs in that year’s draft class.

 

Chiefs scouting report: LSU Tigers CB Zy Alexander

LSU #Tigers cornerback Zy Alexander should be on the Kansas City #Chiefs’ radar in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs made the right decision when they traded L’Jarius Sneed to Tennessee, but the team still needs to find a stable starting option to play across from Trent McDuffie. Several mid-round prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft offer the developmental upside to fill that role eventually.

LSU Tigers standout Zy Alexander is a tall, long-limbed corner unofficially listed at 6’2″, 194 lbs. The accuracy of his punches in press needs to improve, but he posts some impressive reps jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage. His length advantage also shows up at the catch point. Alexander tracks the ball well for interceptions and rakes the receiver’s hands to strip potential receptions.

Alexander quickly transitions from his backpedal to forward drive in off-man coverage. He lacks ideal long speed but shows impressive closing burst when attacking downhill or jumping short routes. He’s a willing run defender who rolls downhill to set the edge and prevent running backs from building momentum. His eagerness to fit the run isn’t consistent.

Alexander reads the quarterback’s eyes in zone coverage to cheat on routes and set up potential interceptions. His vision and instincts help him seamlessly transition between threats and gain the necessary depth to eliminate routes in the deeper portion of the field.

Alexander allows separation during the middle portion of fade routes in man coverage but showcases the recovery speed to reconnect with the receiver and make a play on the ball. This speed vulnerability is his greatest limiting factor as a prospect.

LSU’s regular season ended with its 37-17 win against Oklahoma. The Tigers qualified for a bowl game, but many draft prospects forgo those competitions and start preparing for the draft. Alexander is one of four Tigers who committed to participating in the East-West Shrine Bowl, one of the top two all-star events in the country.

Former Georgia TE enters the transfer portal for third time

Former Georgia TE, five-star recruit enters the transfer portal for third time in his career

Former Nebraska Cornhuskers tight end Arik Gilbert has entered the NCAA transfer portal. The former five-star recruit is once again searching for a new team after stints with Nebraska, LSU, and Georgia.

Ranked as the top tight end and No. 5 overall player in the 2020 class, Gilbert showed promise early in his career. As a freshman at LSU in 2020, he caught 35 passes for 368 yards and two touchdowns.

Gilbert transferred to Georgia in 2021 but didn’t play that season. In 2022, he appeared in three games with UGA and he recorded two catches and a touchdown before transferring to Nebraska. However, he did not play a game for the Cornhuskers and left the team after off the field issues in 2023.

Gilbert is immensely talented and has NFL written all over him but his off-field issues have made him not reach his potential.

A Georgia native, Gilbert now seeks a fresh start in the transfer portal looking for his fourth destination in five years.

Chiefs scouting report: LSU Tigers DT Paris Shand

The Kansas City #Chiefs could take a swing on LSU #Tigers defensive tackle Paris Shand late in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs need to add depth and developmental young talent to their defensive interior through the 2025 NFL Draft. Shand is one of several late-round options with the physical tools to catch Kansas City’s attention during the pre-draft process.

Betting on athletic and physical traits is the best way to land a gem late in the draft. Listed at 6’4″, 275 lbs., LSU Tigers defensive lineman Paris Shand is a ball of clay still waiting for the right opportunity to be molded into a complete player. He bounced between playing defensive end and defensive tackle at LSU. Deciding on his permanent position is the first step in his long-term development.

Shand engages his long arms early in plays to access the offensive lineman’s chest and pry up their pad level. He drives good power through his hands but lacks the counters to put the finishing touch on his bull rushes. Shand primarily uses chops, long-arms, swipe-rips, swims, and two-handed swipes in his pass-rush plan.

Shand lacks the bend to flatten his rush path to the quarterback. His lack of fluidity impacts his balance and leads to too many reps on the ground. He’s a stiff, linear athlete who projects best in a rotational role at the next level.

Shand’s play strength lets him stack and shed single blockers in run defense, but he lacks the mass to hold the point of attack against double teams. He sometimes stacks blocks with a long-arm before using a swim counter to work past the offensive lineman. Shand’s raw power lets him torque linemen out of the gaps, which creates open lanes to the ball carrier.

There’s one last chance for Shand to don the LSU uniform in his college career. The 8-4 Tigers qualified for a bowl game. Many draft-eligible players skip bowl games, but Shand’s current draft stock might incentivize him to get as many reps on tape as possible.

Chiefs scouting report: LSU Tigers DE Sai’vion Jones

The Kansas City #Chiefs could target LSU #Tigers defensive end Sai’vion Jones in the 2025 NFL draft.

An injury to Charles Omenihu revealed the Kansas City Chiefs’ lack of depth at defensive end. The team needs to bring in several potential contributors along the line to help boost the defense’s production, especially considering the offense’s recent struggles. The 2025 NFL Draft should give the Chiefs a chance to reload.

LSU Tigers defensive lineman Sai’vion Jones primarily aligns as a 4-tech in a three-point stance or a 5-tech in a two-point stance for the Tigers. His muscular frame and long arms stick out on tape. According to Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy, Jones’s verified height and weight are 6’4 3/4″, 280 lbs., making him one of the few defenders in the class capable of playing defensive end or outside linebacker.

Jones’ pass rush plan is a work in progress. He lacks the bend to win around the corner consistently and doesn’t deploy hand counters to revive his rush once the offensive tackle gets into his frame. However, his foundation makes him a valuable Day 3 developmental option.

Jones uses club-swims, long-arms, pull-swims, rips, spins and two-handed swipes to pressure the quarterback. He counters into the B-gap when offensive tackles overset and is starting to develop secondary rush moves to keep himself alive late in plays.

Jones’ arm length helps him stack and shed blocks as a run defender. He pries up the offensive lineman’s pad level to win the leverage battle and hold the point of attack. Jones sets a nice edge to prevent outside runs and separates from blockers with good timing to pursue the ball.

The Tigers finished their season 8-4 and qualified for a bowl game. Whether or not Jones plans to play in that game is unknown. Jones and LSU teammates Zy Alexander, Greg Penn III, and Bradyn Swinson have committed to attending the East-West Shrine Bowl, an all-star event for top draft-eligible prospects in late January.

How did former LSU OC Mike Denbrock do at Notre Dame in 2024

How did former LSU OC Mike Denbrock do in his return to Notre Dame?

After coordinating the most explosive offense in the country at LSU in 2023, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock left the Tigers and returned to Notre Dame. 

In year one with the Irish, Denbrock put together another successful campaign.

The Fighting Irish finished the regular season ranked third in the nation with an average of 39.8 points per game.

Denbrock fostered a balanced attack on offense as Notre Dame was efficient on the ground and through the air.

A year after Jayden Daniels ran for over 1,000 yards in Denbrock’s offense, Fighting Irish QB Riley Leonard found similar success on the ground, averaging 60.1 yards per and running for 14 scores. With his arm, Leonard averaged 174.3 yards per game and threw 16 touchdowns.

Running back Jeremiyah Love leads the ground attack, averaging 79.1 rushing yards per game for a total of 949 on the season. Notre Dame ranks second in the country with yards per rush with 6.3.

That’s similar to the 6.2 yards per carry LSU averaged under Denbrock last year, which led the country.

Under Denbrock’s tutelage and with Heisman-winning quarterback Daniels in 2023, LSU led the country with 45.5 points and 543.5 yards per game. Notre Dame ranked No. 7 with 39.2 points per game. Denbrock has maintained a similar scoring output this year, averaging 39.8 points, which puts the Irish scoring offense top five nationally.

Denbrock’s first year back in South Bend was an undeniable success and the Fighting Irish will look to stay hot as they head into the College Football Playoff.

What Flau’jae Johnson’s Unrivaled NIL deal means for her WNBA status

Flau’Jae Johnson’s Unrivaled deal might reveal her future WNBA plans.

LSU star Flau’jae Johnson has a new NIL deal with Unrivaled, and the partnership could have huge implications.

Despite having rosters loaded with talent, Unrivaled is ensuring that it also has stars for the foreseeable future. Earlier this year, the league announced a special NIL deal with UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers, and now it’s doing the same with LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson.

On Thursday, the new basketball organization announced that it’s signing the young hooper to a sponsorship that ensures her league equity. As part of the agreement, she will also create unique content for Unrivaled. (Perhaps we’ll get some Flau’jae originals or hype music from the rapper.)

https://www.instagram.com/flaujae/reel/DDNEnYnJtPg/

However, there’s a big elephant in the room. Johnson is still in college and has yet to indicate if she’s going to the WNBA, leaving many to wonder what her new deal means for the future.

Here’s a hint: Per Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal, Flau’jae is expected to join Unrivaled in January 2026. Johnson would have to forgo her senior season at LSU to do that. If she decides to skip her final year, it could also mean she’s declaring early and going to the 2025 WNBA Draft.

She would technically meet the league’s criteria of being a senior or turning 22 in the same calendar year as the draft. That means she could play an entire WNBA season with Bueckers and still join her in Miami when Unrivaled’s second year starts.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=421393237]