Tag: mike jones jr.

LSU’s SEC Media Days attendees announced

The Tigers have picked their contingent for the SEC Media Days in Atlanta next week.

It’s been a long (if eventful) offseason, but we now finally have a light at the end of the tunnel.

SEC Media Days are coming up, with festivities set to begin next Monday and run through Thursday at the Omni in downtown Atlanta. The event serves as an indicator that football is coming just around the corner, and on Tuesday, the SEC announced the full list of attendees for each school.

Joining head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] as representatives from LSU will be sophomore receiver [autotag]Jack Bech[/autotag], junior linebacker [autotag]Mike Jones Jr.[/autotag] and junior edge rusher [autotag]BJ Ojulari[/autotag].

Bech is coming off a big true freshman season with the Tigers. After an injury to star receiver [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag], Bech — a converted tight end — finished with a team-high 43 catches which netted 489 yards and three touchdowns.

Jones is a transfer from Clemson, and the versatile linebacker became a major contributor in his first year on the bayou last fall, starting the final five games of the season. Ojulari, meanwhile, became a full-time starter at defensive end as a sophomore last fall, finishing with the team lead in sacks with seven.

He is seen as one of the top defensive linemen in the country entering 2022 with some projecting him as a first-round pick in next year’s NFL draft.

There were some interesting omissions here, such as Boutte, and Kelly also elected not to bring any of the veterans added via the transfer portal this offseason, which is understandable.

We’ll be ready to bring you all the coverage from Atlanta when the SEC Media Days get underway on July 18. The four-day event will be televised on the SEC Network.

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WATCH: LSU football players make cool Mother’s Day tribute video

LSU Wire joins the players in wishing a happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there in Tiger Nation.

With Sunday being Mother’s Day, LSU’s football players came together to make a pretty special tribute video to show their appreciation for their own mothers and for all the mothers in the Tigers’ fanbase.

The video, which was posted on the football team’s Twitter account, features a number of players including linebacker [autotag]Mike Jones Jr.[/autotag], quarterback [autotag]Myles Brennan[/autotag], cornerback [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag], cornerback [autotag]Jarrick Bernard-Converse[/autotag], safety [autotag]Joe Foucha[/autotag], receiver [autotag]Jack Bech[/autotag] and others.

It was certainly a cool gesture to see, and props go to both the players and the LSU digital media team for putting it together. You can check it out below.

LSU Wire joins with the players in wishing a happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there in Tiger Nation.

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Plenty of reasons for optimism as LSU finishes up spring ball

Spring practice has now concluded, and LSU fans have plenty of reasons for spring optimism.

Spring practice is now over, and tt will be a while before things pick up again for [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and LSU.

It was an eventful spring with more buzz than usual. That’s what happens when a $95 million coach is making his first impressions leading a team with a handful of new players.

Not to mention the position battle at quarterback, the new-look secondary, and all the question marks on the offensive line. We had a lot to talk about this spring. So, now that’s it over and the dust has settled, how should Tigers fans be feeling?

We’re going to take some time to feel good about where LSU is at, some spring optimism if you will.

Spring practice served as a reminder that there is still plenty of talent on this team, some of which we didn’t even get to see over the last few weeks. The wide receiver group looks like a strength, and that was without [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag], who could be one of the best players in the country upon his return this fall.

These pass catchers are going to be fun to watch and be a major boost to whoever ends up throwing to them.

On defense, the front looks good, almost great. Defensive lines are critical to finding success in the SEC, and LSU has a handful of guys up front with NFL talent. They can pose a threat to even the best offensive lines in the SEC.

Linebacker looks like it’s the deepest it’s been in years with [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag] taking steps forward along with returning veterans like [autotag]Mike Jones Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Micah Baskerville[/autotag]. That doesn’t even account for [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag], one of the highest-rated linebackers ever signed by LSU who will be arriving soon.

The secondary is still a huge question mark, but [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Foucha[/autotag] look like they’re going to be reliable players that play a big part in the rebuild of that group.

The defense is in a much better spot than it was a year ago.

It won’t matter how good the defense is if the quarterback and offensive line aren’t figured out, but there are some reasons to start feeling good there.

There are talented options in the quarterback room, and each of them seems to be progressing while also earning the respect of the team. LSU doesn’t need a Heisman candidate under center next year, just someone who can run the offense. [autotag]Myles Brennan[/autotag], [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], and [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] all seem capable at this point, and at least one of them should turn into an SEC level starter by the fall.

The offensive line is going to have its bad moments this year, but it finished spring with some consistency as [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] held down the left tackle position. If Campbell ends up starting there, he will have times where he looks like a true freshman, but at the same time, you can’t help but wonder if LSU has found their elite left tackle to anchor the line for a few years.

Spring practice served as a time for Kelly to implement his program, to right the ship. It seems like that is what happened. This looks like a program with a clear direction led by someone who knows where he’s going. LSU hasn’t had that for a couple of years, and it’s refreshing to see.

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Former LSU linebacker announces transfer portal destination

Josh White is reuniting with the coach who initially recruited him.

Former Tigers linebacker [autotag]Josh White[/autotag] wasn’t in the transfer portal long before finding a new home.

White entered the transfer portal on March 28, and he announced via his Twitter account on Monday night that he will be heading to Baylor to join coach [autotag]Dave Aranda[/autotag] for the 2022 season.

White was a four-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting class, and during his recruitment, the Houston native considered the in-state Bears under then-coach Matt Rhule, but he ultimately committed to the Tigers.

Now, he’ll reunite with Aranda, who initially recruited White to Baton Rouge when he served as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator before taking the helm in Waco. He will have four remaining years of eligibility.

According to The Athletic’s Max Olson, he had a number of other offers from Power Five teams.

White was the nation’s No. 142 prospect and No. 9 inside linebacker coming out of high school, and he’ll hope to make a bigger impact in the Big 12. As a true freshman with the Tigers in 2020, he appeared in 10 games and totaled six tackles (two solo). He didn’t see the field during his sophomore season in 2021.

With White’s departure, the Tigers will likely look to returning players like [autotag]Mike Jones Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag] and [autotag]Micah Baskerville[/autotag], as well as five-star true freshman [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag], who coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] flipped from Texas A&M in the 2022 cycle.

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LSU breakout candidates: What can linebacker Mike Jones Jr. be this year?

Jones found his groove down the stretch in 2021. Can he build on that in 2022?

Recently, we took a look at [autotag]Garrett Dellinger[/autotag] and [autotag]John Emery[/autotag], two guys who LSU could be counting on to breakout.

Today, we’ll take a look at linebacker [autotag]Mike Jones Jr.[/autotag], who could also be critical to the Tigers’ efforts in 2022.

Jones transferred to LSU in the summer of 2021, and it seemed like a perfect match. LSU needed help after a dreadful 2020 on defense that saw some of its worst play at safety and linebacker in years. Jones was seen as a guy that could aid the team in both places.

In 2020 at Clemson, he was named to the All-ACC list by Pro Football Focus. As a redshirt freshman in 2020, he saw action in all 15 games, including special teams snaps against LSU in the national championship game.

When Jones only played one snap in the opener against UCLA, many were surprised. The next three games presented more snaps for Jones, but against Auburn, he was back down to just two snaps. A couple of weeks later against Florida, just one again.

It wasn’t until after the bye week, against Alabama, that Jones saw more time. That bye week is also the period in which LSU almost entirely reinvented its defense, resulting in it looking like one of the best units in the country down the stretch.

In that Alabama game, Jones lined up all over the place, much like people thought he would when he first joined LSU. Playing a role in its new blitz packages, Jones recorded three pressures and a sack.

Jones saw a healthy amount of playing time the next week against Arkansas, where LSU held the Razorbacks to just one touchdown all night. Against ULM the next week, Jones added three more pressures.

While he never became a dominant or All-SEC player with LSU in 2021, he found a role, starting the final five games, something that wasn’t close to guaranteed when he was riding the bench against UCLA.

Jones is a former four-star recruit and was ranked as the 210th best player in 2018 on the 247Sports Composite. He’s talented and versatile, a combination defensive coordinators love to see.

With the loss of [autotag]Damone Clark[/autotag], a linebacker whose speed allowed him to have an effect in the passing game, LSU needs Jones to step up. The opportunity is there with a new staff and some open spots on that defense.

In a conference where speed is the name of the game, and a sport where defense is more about making plays than trying to play consistently from drive to drive, someone with Jones’ ability is invaluable.

Will he be one of the best defenders in the SEC? Probably not, but it is on the high end of probabilities. Can he be a real difference-maker for LSU? Yes, and the Tigers probably need him to be.

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LSU senior Micah Baskerville returning for his fifth season

After pulling out of the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Micah Baskerville will return to LSU

LSU Tigers senior linebacker Micah Baskerville announced that he would not enter the 2022 NFL Draft and return to LSU. Baskerville tallied 83 tackles this past season, nine for a loss, two sacks, one interception, and three passes defended.

Last month, Baskerville had accepted an invitation to NFLPA Collegiate Bowl but withdrew his name and headed back to LSU.

The linebacker came to LSU as a four-star prospect according to the 247Sports composite. Baskerville ranked as the top inside linebacker in Louisiana and No. 6 in the nation.

In Baskerville’s first two years at LSU, he was not a start and appeared in 12 total games. He had 33 tackles, 4.5 for loss, and one sack in those two years. Baskerville became a starter in his junior season.

When Baskerville became a starter, he had 55 tackles and 4.5 for a loss. He started 7 of 8 games that season for the Tigers. Baskerville has 171 stops, 18 tackles for a loss, and started 21 games out of 40 during his LSU career.

Baskerville coming back will bring experience to the defense and should be counted on to be the defensive leader and the team. Also, if he has a good season, he could raise his draft stock for the 2023 NFL Draft. The Tigers will now have Mike Jones Jr, Greg Penn III, and Josh White returning as linebackers.

LSU linebacker Micah Baskerville to declare for the draft

Another linebacker opts for the next level.

The LSU Tigers will have to replace not one, but two starting linebackers from the 2021 roster. After Damone Clarkeopted to skip the bowl game and declare for the NFL draft, his fellow linebacker Micah Baskerville will do the same and forgo his extra year of eligibility.

According to this report from Geaux247, Baskerville won’t return to the Tigers in 2022 but instead declare for the NFL draft.

Like some others on the roster, LSU senior linebacker Micah Baskerville had an extra year of eligibility he could use since the 2020 season did count towards a player’s eligibility. Like several of his teammates, the Shreveport, La. native announced on his Instagram page he was declaring for the 2022 NFL Draft.

Baskerville emerged as a regular starter during his junior season in 2020 and started the final 20 games he played in. He missed the Texas Bowl for undisclosed reasons but finished second on the team with 83 tackles – 9.0 for loss – a pair of sacks, an interception and three passes broken up.

Baskerville and Clark combined for 218 tackles, 26 TFLs, and 7.5 sacks this past season. A large part of that production came from Clark, but Baskerville was a vital part of the linebacker group. New defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Matt House will be tasked with replacing them.

We saw part of the future plan in the Texas Bowl loss to Kansas State. The team used Mike Jones Jr and Greg Penn III in the game. They could be the started duo or incoming recruit DeMario Tolan could be part of the rotation. Clark will now focus on the Senior Bowl while Baskerville prepares for the NFL draft.

LSU vs Kansas State: Five reasons for Tigers optimism in the Texas Bowl

How do the Tigers come away with a win?

Just one more day until the LSU Tigers finally takes the field against the Kansas State Wildcats in the final non-championship bowl game of the 2021 campaign.

The team comes limping in with a very depleted roster, but it is ample opportunity for a lot of the younger players to see the field. While the offensive will likely be mostly the same group they expected to start the season with, the other positions have a little different feel to them.

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The Tigers look to finish with a high note as they prepare for a new era of LSU football. Sitting at 6-6, they can either finish with a winning record or a losing one for the first time since 1999.

We will stick to the former here with five reasons the team finds a way to win in Houston.

Depth Chart released for the LSU-Kansas State Texas Bowl game

A look at the depleted two-deep roster for LSU.

Ahead of Tuesday’s bowl game against the Kansas State Wildcats, the LSU Tigers have released their two-deep depth chart for the game. As expected it shows a pretty depleted roster.

The biggest name not seen on the depth chart is starting cornerback Dwight McGlothern. One can expect that he might be moving on from the program. We haven’t heard any injury news on him to think that it might be a health issue.

At quarterback, they have Garrett Nussmeier as the starter with Tavion Faulk as the backup. The thought is that it would be Matt O’Dowd since he was the backup to Max Johnson for the season finale against Texas A&M but all that has changed.

I would still believe that Jontre Kirklin is more likely to play as the wildcat quarterback in this game. If they weren’t granted the waiver for Nussmeier’s redshirt, it will be up to him to make the decision on if he wanted to give up the redshirt year. LSU might also put them as the starter as to not give Kansas State any insight as to how they are planning on attacking the defense.

Darren Evans is expecting to be the starter at cornerback with no McGlothern. The safety tandem of Jay Ward and Todd Harris Jr are listed as the starters. Freshman Sage Ryan is listed as the backup at nickel to Pig Cage.

At linebacker, they won’t have Micah Baskerville and Damone Clark opted out so it will be former Clemson transfer Mike Jones Jr and Greg Penn II.

A full look at the two-deep:

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Panthers add to OL in early 3-round 2022 NFL mock draft

With college football heading into full swing this weekend, it’s time to start earmarking some potential draft targets for the Panthers in 2022.

Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule hardly minced words a few weeks back about the state of his offensive line, likening it to the ongoing construction on Interstate 85 down near Spartanburg, S.C. Unfortunately, his team’s roadwork might take a bit longer than that highway will.

With college football kicking off into a full swing this weekend, perhaps it’s time to keep tabs on who the Panthers will potentially look to draft next spring. According to our guys over The Draft Wire, Carolina should be adding some help on far-from-finished offensive front.

So, in his recent three-round mock draft, editor Luke Easterling has them nabbing Texas A&M lineman Kenyon Green. He is now in his junior season as an Aggie and was named to the 2021 Walter Camp Preseason All-America First Team and the Athlon Sports Preseason All-America First Team.

Green started each of his ten games from 2020 at the left guard position. His play on the interior earned him a handful of honorable selections from numerous outlets including a spot on the All-SEC Second Team and the AP All-America Second Team.

The 6-foot-4, 325-pounder has made the move to left tackle for this season. Whether he sticks out on the edge or slides back to guard when his transition to the NFL rolls around, the Panthers will likely be seeking out help for the left side of their line come next season. Veterans Cameron Erving and Pat Elflein are no sure bets.

Since Carolina had traded their 2022 second-rounder to the New York Jets for quarterback Sam Darnold, Easterling finishes off his forecast for the Panthers by mocking them LSU linebacker Mike Jones Jr. in the third. Jones Jr. transferred over to the Tigers after three years as a nearby Clemson Tiger.

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