Tag: Omar Speights

Aaron Murray thinks LSU football will be better than Alabama in 2023

Aaron Murray is the latest to join the LSU hype train.

What many thought would be a rebuilding year for coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] in Year 1 at LSU quickly turned into something more.

The Tigers upset Alabama, winning 10 games and the SEC West in 2022. Now, this is a team garnering College Football Playoff hype, but to get there, it likely needs to beat the Crimson Tide again.

Even though that game will be in Tuscaloosa, it may not be viewed as an upset by the time we get there. During an appearance on the 3 and Out podcast, Aaron Murray said he thinks LSU is the better team right now, citing its depth.

“LSU has built depth this offseason,” Murray said, per On3. “They’ve done a great job in the portal. They’ve done a great job recruiting, but it’s not to the level of Alabama,” Murray said. “But, if you asked me today, if you just want to compare starter vs. starter, LSU has more, I would say if you did a whole point category, LSU would get more points for me than Alabama if we want to break it down.”

LSU also has an advantage when it comes to the quarterback situation. Starter [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] is back, while Alabama looks to replace Bryce Young in a three-way battle between Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson and Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner.

“Especially at the big-time areas,” Murray said. “I think they’re better at quarterback. I think with their transfer running back that they have in there, which is kind of a coin flip, I think they’ve got better tackles, I think they’ve got better receivers, got a better tight end. Offensively, they’re better and they’ve got the quarterback. I mean, that’s the big hiccup. You know this. In today’s game, you need a QB, and right now for Alabama, we don’t know who that quarterback’s gonna be.

“And whoever it is of those three guys that they have on the roster right now, it’s not going to be to the same level as Jayden Daniels is.”

Murray also offered praise for LSU’s defense, which loses some major pieces but added big-time transfers like [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag] and [autotag]Duce Chestnut[/autotag].

“Then you look at LSU on defense,” he said. “They’ve got [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] back at defensive tackle, who is probably gonna be a first-rounder. They’ve got [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag]. The best linebacker in the country. Like position by position starter-wise, LSU is as talented as anyone in the country. It’s the two-deep. It’s all of a sudden if those starters get hurt at a couple key positions, they don’t have the depth to compete.

“And the problem is you face Alabama at the end of the season, how healthy are you going to be by the time you go to Tuscaloosa? That’s the only question, but if LSU is healthy, they’re the better football team this year.”

Murray is certainly not alone in this opinion, and it’s one we’ll likely see more as we approach the start of the season, especially if LSU can knock off Florida State in what will likely be a season-opening matchup between top-10 teams.

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LSU’s transfer portal class could put the team in College Football Playoff contention

LSU has been able to acquire a lot of talent through the transfer portal under Brian Kelly.

Since the advent of the transfer portal, the entire strategy behind roster-building has shifted.

Now, coaches can turn bad situations around much quicker, and contenders can take the leap from good to great with just a couple of additions. LSU will be one of the teams hoping to do just that this fall.

After bringing in a lot of veteran transfers last offseason, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] has done the same this time around. The team was particularly active on defense, bringing in [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag] and [autotag]Duce Chestnut[/autotag]. But the offense added promising Power Five position players like receiver [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] and running back [autotag]Logan Diggs[/autotag].

On3’s Jesse Simonton listed the Tigers’ transfer portal class as one that could impact the College Football Playoff race.

Brian Kelly doesn’t want to live long-term via the transfer portal, but the former Notre Dame head coach has used the outlet as a way to beef up LSU’s roster his first two seasons in Baton Rouge.

The SEC West champs added 13 transfers to the roster during the 2023 cycle.

For the second straight autumn, the Tigers’ secondary will feature a whole new host of faces, with Denver Harris, a former 5-star recruit from Texas A&M, Darian ‘Duce’ Chestnut, a Freshman All-American in 2021 from Syracuse, Ohio State backup corner Jakailin Johnson and Zy Alexander, an FCS All-American who had nine picks in two seasons at Southeastern Louisiana, all competing for starting spots.

All-Pac 12 transfer Omar Speights will pair with Harold Perkins to form one of the top 1-2 LB tandems in the country, while Maryland tackle Mason Lunsford (a 13-game starter last season) is a great addition to an offensive line that returns all five starters in 2023.

The Tigers also signed several quality defensive linemen/edge defenders who figure to compete for playing time this fall.

Two potential game-changing transfers on offense are former Alabama speedster Aaron Anderson, a New Orleans native, and Notre Dame tailback Logan Diggs.

Running back was a question mark for LSU entering the summer, but the recent addition of Diggs, who signed with Kelly in 2021 and had over 1,000 total yards as a sophomore in 2022) fills a real need.

With the rest of its returning roster + notable additions like Speights and Diggs, LSU has the makeup of a College Football Playoff team. Whether the Tigers can win the SEC West again and crack the field will likely depend on how a reshuffled secondary shakes out — starting in Week 1 in a monster game vs. FSU.

The Tigers certainly added a lot of new pieces, but this team should be talented once again after a surprisingly successful 10-win season in 2022.

LSU will hope these additions are enough to take yet another leap in 2023.

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LSU boasts one of college football’s top defenses entering 2023

Despite losing several key pieces, this defense has a lot of potential this fall.

As the offseason hype grows around LSU, much of the discussion has had to do with the offense.

Indeed, the Tigers bring back perhaps the SEC’s top returning quarterback/receiver duo in [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] and [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag]. Pair that with a young, promising offensive line and a running back room with plenty of options, and you have the makings of a great unit.

But defensively, the Tigers have a lot of potential, as well. There are players to replace, certainly, such as edge defenders [autotag]BJ Ojulari[/autotag] and [autotag]Ali Gaye[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Mike Jones Jr.[/autotag] and secondary starters [autotag]Jay Ward[/autotag], [autotag]Mekhi Garner[/autotag], [autotag]Jarrick Bernard-Converse[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Foucha[/autotag].

Still, LSU returns a lot of promising players. [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag] is widely expected to become one of the best players in the country, while [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] returns after a breakout season on the defensive line. He’ll be paired up inside with the player he replaced in [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag], who many expect to have a huge season, as well, as he returns from an ACL tear.

While the secondary will feature a lot of new faces, LSU will get veterans [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] back,

That’s not even mentioning the transfers who will see immediate action like defensive linemen [autotag]Paris Shand[/autotag] and [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag] and cornerback [autotag]Duce Chestnut[/autotag].

This group has a lot of talent, and ESPN ranked it as the No. 8 defensive unit entering 2023.

It always starts right up front with any defense, and getting back a healthyMaason Smithat tackle is a huge boost for an LSU unit that finished fifth in the SEC last season in scoring defense (22.5 points per game) and sixth in total defense (354.6 yards per game). Smith earned Freshman All-America honors in 2021, but tore his ACL in the opener last season against Florida State while celebrating a tackle. The 6-6, 310-pound Smith is a force in the middle of that defense, andMekhi Wingoshowed a year ago he was also capable of being a dominant interior defender. Throw in one of the best pass-rushers in the SEC, outside linebackerHarold Perkins Jr., and the Tigers will be a load for any opposing offensive line trying to block them. Perkins had 7.5 sacks and three forced fumbles as a freshman last season.

LSU will also benefit from having defensive coordinator Matt House and his staff back for another season. The continuity and carryover from 2022 should allow the Tigers to play even faster and more instinctively, and one of the keys will be how well several transfers fit on defense.

LinebackerOmar Speightstransferred in fromOregon State, where he was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection last season. There are some question marks in the secondary, although veteran safetyGreg Brooks Jr. is back. A number of transfers will get chances to win cornerback jobs. Among them:JK Johnson(Ohio State),Duce Chestnut(Syracuse),Denver Harris(Texas A&M) andZy Alexander(Southeastern Louisiana).

[autotag]Matt House[/autotag] is viewed as one of the top up-and-coming defensive minds in the game, and he’ll have a lot to work with as LSU has the makings of a potential College Football Playoff team this fall.

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5 LSU newcomers who can make an impact in 2023

These new faces could make an impact right away for the Tigers this fall.

LSU’s roster is filled with first-year Tigers.

Between the transfer portal and a full high school recruiting class, there are a lot of fresh faces in Baton Rouge.

LSU needs several to make an impact right away. Despite LSU’s 2022 success, this roster is still being built. That’s why [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and staff turned to the portal again to fill needs.

LSU’s not at a point where it can automatically reload like Georgia and Alabama do most years.

Next year, that could be the case. There was a heightened emphasis on transfers with several years of eligibility as opposed to last year when LSU needed help wherever found.

Here are five newcomers, transfers and freshmen alike, who can make an impact right away.

LSU has a pair of defensive breakout candidates in 2023, per PFF

Maason Smith and Harold Perkins could be in for massive campaigns.

The Tigers return a lot of talent on both sides of the ball in 2023. Some of that is more or less proven at this point.

Especially on offense, we know what we’re going to get from [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] and [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag], at least to an extent. On defense, there’s a bit more projection involved given some personnel changes. But the Tigers bring two players back on that side who could be set for massive campaigns.

Pro Football Focus included both [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag] among its 10 potential breakout candidates in 2023.

Smith, a former five-star recruit, dotted many of these lists last offseason. It may have materialized had he not torn his ACL on the opening drive of the season. Now, Smith is back and may finally be set to have that massive season everyone has been waiting for.

Smith was a highly coveted player on the recruiting trail. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound interior defensive lineman was a five-star recruit and the No. 31 overall player in the 2021 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. He played in nine games his true freshman season with four starts. Last year was supposed to be his big breakout, but he suffered an ACL tear in the first game of the season that forced him to miss the entire year. If fully healthy, he is once again poised to be a big-time breakout player.

Perkins, meanwhile, was already a dominant player in his own right by the end of his true freshman season. Still raw, he was mostly utilized as a pass-rushing specialist but will likely see an expanded role that features more off-ball snaps this season.

Perkins was a five-star recruit and the No. 5 overall player in the 2022 recruiting class. He played 501 total snaps as a true freshman — the 11th most on LSU’s defense. Pass rushing is where he made his money last year, as he earned a 91.1 pass-rush grade on 154 such snaps. He was versatile in his alignment, recording 202 snaps on the defensive line as an outside linebacker, 177 in the box as an off-ball linebacker and even 115 snaps aligned in the slot. He’s one of the most athletically gifted players in the country, ready to make a major name for himself in 2023.

Both Smith and Perkins could become two of the top defensive players in college football this season, and between them and players like [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag] and [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag], LSU has the makings of a very good front seven.

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Where does ESPN rank LSU’s defense entering 2023 season?

Despite a lot of new faces, ESPN is buying this unit in its latest defensive power rankings for the 2023 season.

LSU returns a lot of talent in 2023 coming off a 10-win, SEC West championship season last fall.

That is especially true on offense, where the team returns starting quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], all of its top running backs, its two best pass-catchers arguably in [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag], as well as an offensive line that is young but promising and brings back all but one starter.

Defensively, though, there are a few more questions. The Tigers lost a good amount of production including their two starting defensive ends and much of their secondary. However, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] hit the portal once again to rebuild.

After adding players like [autotag]JK Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Denver Harris[/autotag] in the secondary, as well as linebacker [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag] and defensive line additions like [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag], [autotag]Ovie Oghoufo[/autotag] and [autotag]Paris Shand[/autotag], this group looks promising despite featuring a lot of new faces for the second year in a row.

Still, ESPN is buying the unit and ranks it as the No. 7 defense in the country entering the season.

2022 future defense power ranking: 9

Scouting the Tigers: LSU’s defense is in a good spot after a solid but not spectacular 2022 season under a new coaching staff. The unit brings back star power, especially with linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. for at least two more seasons. But there are some holes to fill, especially in the secondary and up front, as B.J. Ojulari moves on to the NFL. The return of dynamic defensive tackle Maason Smith, injured while celebrating during the 2022 opener, helps a line that loses both Ojulari and end Ali Gaye. Smith and Mekhi Wingo, a third-team AP All-America selection who had three sacks and six tackles for loss, give the Tigers two interior stalwarts, both with multiple years of eligibility left. Junior end Sai’vion Jones could see a bigger role after finishing third on the team in sacks (4.5) last fall. Jacobian Guillory and Arizona transfer Paris Shand provide depth inside. Ovie Oghoufo, a Texas transfer with 13 career sacks, should help fill the pass-rushing gap.

The Tigers have one of the nation’s best linebacker tandems in Perkins and Omar Speights, an Oregon State transfer who earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2022. The group also boasts junior Greg Penn III, who finished second on the team in tackles last season (78). Junior West Weeks is a solid depth player who had 28 tackles last season. Veteran safety Greg Brooks Jr. will lead the secondary after showing production and playmaking in 2022. Brooks and junior Major Burns project to start at safety. The cornerback spot is a bigger mystery, although LSU has options with transfers Duce Chestnut (Syracuse), Denver Harris (Texas A&M), JK Johnson (Ohio State) and Zy Alexander (Southeastern Louisiana), as well as holdovers such as Sage Ryan, an ESPN top-65 recruit in 2021. LSU also signed Javien Toviano (cornerback) and Da’Shawn Wommack (defensive end). The team’s overall defensive recruiting remains promising.

With the offseason additions plus the return of a budding superstar in linebacker [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag], this defense is certainly promising. You can never know for sure how a defense filled with transfers will look until it takes the field, but there will be no shortage of defensive talent in Baton Rouge this season.

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How to watch LSU football’s 2023 spring game on Saturday

We’ll get our first look at this year’s squad on Saturday afternoon.

As spring camp has drawn to a close, we’ll get our first real look at the 2023 LSU Tigers squad on Saturday as the team takes the field at Tiger Stadium for the spring game heading into coach Brian Kelly’s second season.

After winning the SEC West last season, LSU brings back a lot of key pieces from last year’s group including quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], leading receiver [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and standout true freshman linebacker [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag].

The Tigers also added quite a bit of talent in the transfer portal, and we’ll get our first look at players like [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag] and [autotag]Paris Shand[/autotag] on Saturday.

This year’s format will be a full-on offense vs. defense scrimmage that will feature some special teams work, as well, according to a release from LSU.

Here’s what you need to know to follow this game, which begins at 1 p.m. CT with gates opening at noon.

How to Watch

  • Date: Saturday, April 22
  • Location: Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge
  • Time: 1 p.m. CT
  • Stream: SEC Network+
  • Radio: LSU Radio Network
  • App: Watch ESPN (ESPN+ subscription required)

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Matt House praises Oregon State transfer Omar Speights’ leadership

Omar Speights could prove to be just the veteran LSU’s defense needs

LSU isn’t returning a ton of experience at linebacker but did add some in the transfer portal with the addition of [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag].

According to defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag], that added experience is making a difference in the linebacker room.

“I love Omar’s approach,” House said in a press conference Tuesday, “The focus he comes in with, the attention to detail he has in his work.”

House said Speights might not be the vocal guy, but is when he needs to be on the field.

“He does a great job modeling, to that whole room, and to Harold (Perkins),” House said.

Speights began his career at Oregon State, where he was an all-conference performer with the Beaver defense.

Speights’ arrival comes as LSU is trying to develop [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag] into a traditional inside linebacker. Perkins emerged as a star last year due to his ability to play the edge and tackle in space. He didn’t see much time stacked inside.

House said Perkins came to LSU to learn how to play linebacker, and that’s what they’ve been working on in the spring.

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LSU State of the Program: Linebackers an intriguing group in 2023

Here’s how LSU’s linebacker room shakes out entering 2023.

Spring practice is underway at LSU.

The Tigers got a couple of sessions in before heading to spring break. When they return, the action will ramp up and eventually conclude with a final event in Tiger Stadium.

Throughout the spring, we’re taking a position-by-position look at the state of LSU’s program.

With just a couple of groups to go, we’re focusing on the linebackers today. This is one of the more intriguing spots on the roster given the star power of [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag]. However, there are some questions when it comes to depth.

Let’s jump right in, starting with the immediate future.

(Check out the previous posts in our State of the Program series on LSU’s quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, tight ends, offensive line and defensive line.)

Anonymous coaches name LSU a transfer portal winner so far

The Tigers currently have the best transfer class in the country, according to 247Sports.

There’s no denying the transfer portal has been key to Brian Kelly’s strategy at LSU.

The Tigers coach inherited a depleted roster when he took the job just over a year ago, and a 10-win, SEC West championship season in 2022 would not have been possible were it not for the impactful additions through the portal. With many of those transfers being veterans who are now moving on, LSU had to hit the portal again this offseason, albeit in a less desperate situation.

Once again, the transfer portal has treated Kelly well. He’s brought in a group of immediate impact players at positions of need, especially at linebacker and in the secondary, and LSU’s transfer class ranks as the best in college football, per 247Sports.

Sometimes industry folks can overrate or underrate certain players, so it can be best to hear things directly from the mouths of those who are more directly involved. ESPN discussed which teams are winning the portal so far with several anonymous coaches, and LSU unsurprisingly came up. However, one SEC coordinator did question how sustainable Kelly’s roster strategy is.

LSU always will be one of the best-positioned programs for top high school players, especially from within the state. But the team had roster issues during its recent coaching transition, and it hit the portal for quarterback Jayden Daniels (Arizona State), defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo (Missouri), cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse (Oklahoma State) and others. The roster is in better shape now, and LSU signed ESPN’s No. 7 recruiting class but also kept mining the portal.

Top additions include linebacker Omar Speights, who earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors at Oregon State in 2022, as well as defensive backs Duce Chestnut (Syracuse), Denver Harris (Texas A&M) and JK Johnson (Ohio State). LSU also bolstered its defensive front with Ovie Oghoufo (Texas), Jordan Jefferson (West Virginia) and Jalen Lee (Florida).

“That might not be what Brian Kelly wants to do, but last year, they were depleted and they took a bunch of kids out of the portal,” an SEC coordinator said. “This year, they’re taking a ton of kids out of the portal. It’s kind of one of those never-ending cycles, where once you do, you’ve got to keep doing it to replenish. LSU might be a little bit different, where you can get some blue chips that can help you right away, but it’s hard.”

There’s a lot to like about the Tigers’ transfer class. Speights has been one of the top linebackers in college football over the last few seasons, and that should continue in Baton Rouge. Additions like Chestnut and Harris should give the secondary plenty of talent, while LSU added a lot of depth on the defensive line.

Relying so much on the portal may not be ideal, but it has also allowed Kelly to turn things around at LSU much quicker than many expected. With this transfer haul, he’s set to have a competitive team in the SEC West once again.

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