Tag: maason smith

How can LSU fix its defense in 2024?

Harold Perkins is the key to a successful defense, but the defensive line has to step up as well.

[autotag]Matt House[/autotag] orchestrated one of the worst LSU defenses in 2023.

The Tigers had some good athletes on that side of the ball, but there were times when watching the defense was like agony. Don’t fret, because there is hope on the horizon. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

[autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] is back on campus in Baton Rouge after being the defensive coordinator for Missouri the last two seasons.

[autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag] is about to be one of the most dangerous men on the planet in Baker’s defense. [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] is also in a great position to be successful.

On3’s Jesse Simonton recently discussed what LSU will need to do to fix the defense next fall.

“I think the key is are they going to unleash Harold Perkins and can they get better production out of these blue-chippers that they have on the defensive line?” Simonton said. “Because those guys just have not delivered the results.”

Perkins is the key to a successful defense, but the defensive line has to step up as well. With [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] declaring for the NFL draft, LSU now has two returning defensive linemen from last year’s team as well as the recruits in the 2024 recruiting class.

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LSU defensive tackle Maason Smith declares for the 2024 NFL draft

Maason Smith made his return in 2023 after missing nearly the entire 2022 season with a torn ACL.

The Tigers have now lost both starters on the interior of the defensive line after defensive tackle [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] announced that he would be entering the 2024 NFL draft on Tuesday evening.

“Thank you to Louisiana State University for taking a chance on a kid from a small town like Houma. It has been an honor,” Smith said in his announcement on Instagram. “With that being said, my family and I have decided that it is time to take the next step in my career and declare for the 2024 NFL Draft.”

A junior and former five-star recruit from Houma, Smith appeared in nine games with four starts as a true freshman in 2021. He entered his 2022 season with high expectations, but he tore his ACL on the opening drive of the season against Florida State and missed the rest of the season.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C15eHjSsbIf/?hl=en

Smith’s return in 2023 was highly anticipated, but it took him a bit to get back to his pre-injury level of play, and he finished the year with fewer sacks (2.5) and tackles for loss (4.5) than he did as a true freshman despite starting all 12 games he appeared in.

LSU is losing all three of its primary interior defensive line players as [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] also declared for the draft and West Virginia graduate transfer [autotag]Jordan Jefferson[/autotag] exhausted his eligibility.

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2024 NFL mock draft: Ravens reload in the trenches with depth at edge rusher

We’re doing a 2024 NFL mock draft roundup, and the Baltimore Ravens are projected to add depth at defensive tackle

The Baltimore Ravens are 13-4 and set to enjoy a week of rest after claiming the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a much-needed first-round bye.

Even with Lamar Jackson and company ready to roar into the playoffs, it’s never too early for a look ahead to the 2024 NFL Draft.

Baltimore currently has about $19,485,086 in salary cap space per Over The Cap, and they’re spending about $120+ million plus on the offensive side of the football.

The Ravens also have 27 players scheduled to hit free agency, and some tough decisions will be made regarding who returns to Baltimore.

With the Reese’s Senior Bowl fast approaching and draft coverage set to begin, we’re looking at an updated mock draft roundup for Wild Card Weekend. 

LSU defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson declares for the NFL draft

Jordan Jefferson became a full-time starter this season when Mekhi Wingo went down.

LSU has now lost two veterans along the defensive line to the NFL draft as defensive tackle [autotag]Jordan Jefferson[/autotag] announced his intention to go pro. His decision to enter the draft is mostly a formality as he had exhausted his eligibility in five seasons of college football.

A transfer addition this past offseason from West Virginia, where he started 17 games, Jefferson was mostly expected to be a rotational player behind [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag]. However, when Wingo went down midway through the season, Jefferson became a regular starter.

He ultimately started six of the 13 games he appeared in during his lone season in Baton Rouge.

Despite playing a diminished role, Jefferson finished 2023 with a career-high in tackles with 36 (seven for loss) with 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

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Brian Kelly optimistic about the defensive tackle position for 2024

The LSU Tigers currently have nine defensive tackles on the 2023 roster.

The LSU Tigers currently have nine defensive tackles on the 2023 roster. [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag], [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag], [autotag]Fitzgerald West Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Bryce Langston[/autotag], [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag], [autotag]Tygee Hill[/autotag], [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag], [autotag]Preston Hickey[/autotag] and [autotag]Jordan Jefferson[/autotag].

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] added onto that with the addition of [autotag]Shone Washington[/autotag], a transfer from East Mississippi Community College. Who knows how many of those guys will return for next season or how many will leave? We do know that Kelly feels confident about the guys he has on his roster for next fall.

“We feel good about retention,” Kelly said, per On3. “So I think both of those things factored into where we’re at at the defensive tackle position.”

Another factor that could play into the strength of the defensive tackle position is [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] playing in the Tigers bowl game and how that could mean that he will return for his senior season at LSU. With Wingo and a 100% healthy [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag], the Tigers defensive line could make some noise next fall.

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LSU signee earns Most Outstanding Defensive Player honors for state class

Gabriel Reliford picked up some state accolades after his senior season.

One of the biggest moves late in the recruiting cycle for LSU came when it managed to flip four-star defensive lineman Gabriel Reliford from Texas A&M.

Reliford, a top-250 player from Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, chose to stay in his home state for college football, and he’s been honored as the Most Outstanding Defensive Player in Louisiana 4A football.

He was also named to the 4A All-State team by the LSWA.

Reliford is one of 28 players who signed his national letter of intent with the Tigers during the early signing period, and he’ll look to immediately add some key depth to a defensive line that could take some losses after this season as it awaits decisions from [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] and [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag].

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2024 NFL mock draft: Ravens add elite depth at the cornerback position

We’re looking at a 2024 NFL Mock Draft and the Baltimore Ravens are projected to land cornerback Quinyon Mitchell out of Toledo

The Baltimore Ravens are 11-3 and preparing for a gigantic Christmas night matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16.

Even with Lamar Jackson and company roaring toward the playoffs, it’s never too early for a look ahead to the 2024 NFL Draft.

Baltimore currently has about $6,150,461 in cap space per Over The Cap, and they’re spending about $120+ million plus on the offensive side of the football.

The Ravens also have 27 players scheduled to hit free agency, and some tough decisions will be made regarding who returns to Baltimore.

With the Reese’s Senior Bowl fast approaching and draft coverage set to begin, we’re looking at an updated mock draft roundup for Week 16.

Brian Kelly likes LSU’s interior DL depth after signing JUCO prospect Shone Washington

Brian Kelly also said he likes where the team is with retention at defensive tackle as Maason Smith and Mekhi Wingo face draft choices.

LSU shored up the interior of its defensive line during early signing day on Wednesday as it inked a commitment from East Mississippi Community College’s [autotag]Shone Washington[/autotag].

A former three-star Georgia signee in 2022, Washington won a national title with the Bulldogs as a true freshman before transferring to the JUCO ranks. He’ll join an LSU defensive line in 2024 where he could be an instant impact player.

The Tigers haven’t added any transfer portal players on the defensive line, and coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said Wednesday that he feels good about the depth there with Washington and the prospect of some retentions.

“We really satisfied that piece early on before the transfer portal even got busy,” Kelly said of Washington’s addition. “So we used him as kind of the model, if somebody is at that caliber of player or better, maybe we’d be interested. And we feel good about retention. And so I think both of those things factored into where we’re at at the defensive tackle position.”

LSU is notably awaiting draft decisions from this season’s starting duo of [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] and [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag]. Regardless of what that pair ultimately decides, Washington should help LSU up front in 2024.

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LSU defensive tackle Fitzgerald West enters the transfer portal

Fitzgerald West played on both sides of the ball in his two years at LSU.

LSU’s defensive line depth took a hit as defensive tackle [autotag]Fitzgerald West[/autotag] announced that he would be entering the transfer portal.

A former three-star recruit from Lafayette Christian Academy who played on both sides of the ball in high school, West saw action on both offense and defense as well as special teams while appearing in five games during his true freshman season.

After taking a redshirt year, he moved to focus solely on the defensive line this season, but the result was a decrease in playing time. He appeared in just two games, blowout wins over Grambling and Army, earning a tackle in each contest.

West’s departure only raises further questions about depth along the defensive line, which could be set to lose [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] after this season.

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Where LSU’s 2024 class ranks after latest commitment

Here’s where LSU’s class ranks after its latest commitment.

LSU added a blue-chip recruit to its 2024 class last week, picking up a commitment from Louisiana defensive tackle [autotag]Gabriel Reliford[/autotag].

According to the On3 Industry Ranking, Reliford is the 23rd-best defensive lineman in the class and the 220th overall recruit.

On3’s own rankings are even higher on Reliford, putting him in the top 100.

So where do recruiting services rank LSU’s class after its latest commitment?

On3: 12th

247Sports: 12th

ESPN: 14th

Rivals: 8th

The Reliford commitment didn’t move the needle rankings-wise, but it filled a major need for LSU. After missing out on defensive tackle [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag], LSU needed more depth on the interior line. With [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] and [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] potentially off to the league, the Tigers need to reload at that spot.

LSU sits outside the top 10 on most sites, which isn’t up to the standard set in years past, but this class is deep and has depth.

Rivals is the highest on Brian Kelly’s class right now, slotting the Tigers at eighth.

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