Tag: Rickie Collins

How many freshmen received redshirts in 2023?

LSU signed 26 high school recruits in the 2023 class. How many of them were able to retain their redshirts?

Out of the 26 high school recruits who signed with the LSU Tigers in the 2023 recruiting class, how many of them were able to retain their redshirts so they could possibly play an extra year?

The answer is 13 players. Nine on the offensive side of the ball four players on defense. A lot of these guys saw action in multiple games this season and most of them will see action in the bowl game as it does not count towards losing your redshirt.

Here are the 13 players who will receive a redshirt and be classified as redshirt freshmen for the 2024 season.

LSU officially announces three transfers additions

LSU officially announced the addition of three transfers to the team for the 2024 season on Friday.

LSU Football just officially announced the addition of three transfers to the team for the 2024 season. The Tigers announced the addition of [autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag], a safety from Texas A&M, [autotag]AJ Swann[/autotag], a quarterback from Vanderbilt and [autotag]Zavion Thomas[/autotag], a wide receiver from Mississippi State.

Gilbert played in 25 games over three years for the Aggies as he made 79 tackles, two tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks and two interceptions. Gilbert is from White Castle, Louisiana, so he is returning to the boot to play his final year of college football.

Swann played in 15 games for the Vanderbilt Commodores and threw for 2,731 yards. 22 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Swann will bring a lot of experience to a talented quarterback room. He will join [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], [autotag]Rickie Collins[/autotag] and [autotag]Colin Hurley[/autotag] in pursuit of the starting quarterback job.

Thomas is another Louisiana man who had left the state to play at another SEC school but he is now returning home. In 22 games, Thomas caught 42 passes for 507 yards and one touchdown. He made plays on special teams as well as he returned 10 kickoffs for 297 yards and a touchdown and 29 punts for 365 yards and a touchdown.

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BREAKING: LSU lands a quarterback in the transfer portal

Garrett Nussmeier will have some new competition in the quarterback room in 2024.

[autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] will have some new competition in the quarterback room in 2024.

With [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] leaving Baton Rouge for the NFL, there is an opening at the quarterback spot for LSU. Nusmeier is presumed to be the next man in line for the spot but things may have just changed.

LSU landed former Vanderbilt quarterback [autotag]AJ Swann[/autotag] from the transfer portal on Monday. Swann is a sophomore from White, Georgia, where he played for Cherokee High School. Swann has appeared in 15 games over the past two seasons. He made 12 starts for the Commodores and threw for 2,731 yards, 22 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

His career completion percentage is 56% but take those numbers with a grain of salt given his team and the caliber of competition.

Going from the worst team in the SEC year-after-year to one of the best teams in the SEC could elevate his game, but he will have to beat out Nussmeier, [autotag]Rickie Collins[/autotag] and incoming four-star 2024 recruit [autotag]Colin Hurley[/autotag] for the starting job.

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LSU QB coach Joe Sloan named to 247Sports All-Assistant Team

Jayden Daniels took a massive leap in his second season under Joe Sloan’s tutelage.

This fall, LSU turned in an offensive season so prolific that it rivaled the 2019 unit led by [autotag]Joe Burrow[/autotag]. For that, offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] was named a finalist for the Broyles Award.

But he’s not the only offensive assistant for the Tigers that’s drawing some postseason recognition. After his work with [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] — who transferred in from Arizona State and won the Heisman Trophy in 2023 — the last two seasons, quarterbacks coach [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] was named to the 247Sports All-Assistant Team.

Sloan has deep ties to the state having spent the nine seasons on staff at Louisiana Tech in various roles before joining LSU, most recently as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Here’s what 247Sports said about Sloan.

You know you’re having a good year when your quarterback wins the Heisman Trophy. Sloan took a great quarterback and developed Jayden Daniels into an elite player over the last two seasons.

The results this fall were jaw-dropping. The second-year transfer from Arizona State transfer threw 40 touchdowns against only four interceptions, and he rushed for 1,134 yards, the best mark by a quarterback. His efforts combined for 4,946 yards and 50 touchdowns — and he led the nation with an FBS-record 11.7 yards per pass attempt.

LSU had the nation’s fourth-best passing offense at 334.3 yards per game and no team averaged more yards through the air than the Tigers (11 yards per attempt) thanks to the efforts of Daniels.

After a solid first season in Baton Rouge, Daniels took a massive leap in Year 2 under Sloan’s tutelage. With Daniels heading to the NFL, potentially as a top-10 draft pick, Sloan’s stock is likely only to rise.

The Tigers don’t necessarily have a clear starter in 2024. [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] is the most game-tested passer on the roster, but he’s yet to start a game. [autotag]Rickie Collins[/autotag] only saw minimal action this fall in a redshirt year as a true freshman, and incoming quarterback [autotag]Colin Hurley[/autotag] likely won’t be ready to start in the SEC after reclassifying from the 2025 class.

LSU is likely to add a transfer quarterback and is currently pursuing several targets. Regardless of how the depth chart ultimately breaks down, it’s hard not to trust the coach leading the quarterback room at the moment if you’re an LSU fan.

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LSU visits NC State transfer quarterback MJ Morris

Quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan reportedly made the trip to Raleigh on Wednesday night to meet with the transfer target.

While LSU seems to be confident in backup quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] taking over the starting role for [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] in 2024, the Tigers are looking at an inexperienced depth chart at the position next season.

Coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] has not ruled out the team adding a transfer quarterback this offseason, and it seems the primary target is former NC State player [autotag]MJ Morris[/autotag].

The Tigers had reportedly already been in contact with Morris, and on Wednesday night, quarterbacks coach [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] made the trip up to Raleigh to visit Morris at his apartment, according to a report from On3’s Pete Nakos.

Morris has appeared in nine games in two seasons for the Wolfpack, throwing for 1,367 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions. He started at NC State this season, but after playing in four games, he opted to sit the rest of the year and preserve his redshirt season.

He will have three remaining years of eligibility.

As things currently stand, LSU’s quarterback room in 2024 comprises of Nussmeier — who has appeared in 17 games while attempting 174 passes in three seasons but has never made a start — as well as redshirt freshman [autotag]Rickie Collins[/autotag] and 2024 commit [autotag]Colin Hurley[/autotag], who is likely heading for a redshirt season as a true freshman after reclassifying from 2025.

While Nussmeier is likely to get his chance to lead this team after staying at LSU through Daniels’ tenure, it’s not surprising that LSU is looking to add another player with experience at the position.

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Brian Kelly not ruling out adding a transfer portal quarterback at LSU this offseason

While Garrett Nussmeier is likely to return, LSU could seek out a more experienced option in the transfer portal.

With star [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] set to move on following the 2023 season, LSU has a quarterback situation to figure out in 2024.

It will likely return [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], who has some experience and will be a redshirt junior, as well as redshirt freshman [autotag]Rickie Collins[/autotag] and incoming true freshman [autotag]Colin Hurley[/autotag].

While that group has talent, it does lack experience. There’s been some speculation LSU could look at adding a transfer quarterback, and it has reportedly been in contact with at least one in former NC State signal-caller [autotag]MJ Morris[/autotag].

When addressing the media on Tuesday, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] didn’t rule out the possibility.

“This is a world that we live in that has to be handled with transparency,” Kelly said. “If not, you’re going to find yourself without the right personnel. So if we were to ever do anything in the transfer portal relative to a quarterback, we’re talking to everybody in that room. We’re talking to recruits, we’re talking to everybody. It is about transparency, it’s about honesty and it’s about saying if we’re doing that, here’s why we’re doing it. And then making a decision and doing it.

“The most important thing here is what’s in the best interest of LSU’s football program. Not what’s in the best interest of a singular person. So everything we do in the portal is going to be to that end… This is not personal.”

Nussmeier could have certainly transferred last offseason with the opportunity to start, so his decision to stay at LSU is likely playing a factor in that decision. Still, the Tigers would enter 2024 with quite a few questions at the game’s most important position if they don’t seek out an experienced portal option.

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LSU has reached out to a transfer portal quarterback

LSU is in search of a quarterback for next season. 

With star quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] likely winning the Heisman Trophy and heading off to the NFL, LSU is in search of a quarterback for next season.

Is that a decision that could be made in-house? Sure. The Tigers have three different quarterbacks that have seen action this season. Daniels, [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] and [autotag]Rickie Collins[/autotag]. Nussmeier is the most experienced of the two who will return and he will be entering his redshirt junior season on the bayou next year. Nuss knows how to run the offense and he can likely run it well.

Collins is a freshman who has a lot of promise but LSU is still working on developing his skills. He will be redshirted this year and will be a redshirt freshman next year. In Brian Kelly’s opinion, there is nothing wrong with some competition at the quarterback position.

Kelly and the Tigers have reached out to former NC State quarterback [autotag]MJ Morris[/autotag] in the transfer portal to gauge his interest in Baton Rouge. Morris has appeared in nine games over his two years at NC State. He has experience at the Division I level and might be a good fit for the Tigers offense.

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Should LSU add a transfer quarterback in 2024?

Should LSU look at adding another QB in the transfer portal?

It’s that time of year again.

Soon, the transfer season will be in full-swing as the college football regular season winds down and the postseason begins.

As usual, the portal is set to be overflowing with quarterbacks. The nature of the position means you only have room to play one, making opportunities scarce for some quarterbacks.

LSU’s had success with transfer QBs in recent years. Between [autotag]Joe Burrow[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], LSU’s found two all-time great QBs through transfers.

Throw [autotag]Zach Mettenberger[/autotag] and [autotag]Danny Etling[/autotag] in there, and LSU’s four most productive QBs in the last 15 years were all transfers.

It’s been a while since LSU’s found sustained success with a QB recruited from high school, but there’s plenty of optimism surrounding [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] next year.

That begs the question: Should LSU look in the portal?

Nussmeier’s shown flashes, but a first-year starter is a first-year starter. You don’t know what you have until you see it.

LSU was set to enter 2022 with a couple of talented options at the QB spot, and that didn’t stop this staff from recruiting Daniels.

This situation is different, obviously. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag], [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] have worked with Nussmeier for two years now. They know a lot more about him than they did about the available options when they first got here.

The assumption is that Nussmeier will coast to QB1 next year. He’s waited three years for this, electing not to transfer when he surely had options out there.

That could make it difficult to land a proven QB when there are schools out there that can promise a starting job. LSU would likely struggle to land a big name, such as Grayson McCall or DJ Uiagalelei.

But LSU could use another veteran signal-caller on this roster. After Nussmeier, it’s [autotag]Rickie Collins[/autotag] with 2024 commit [autotag]Colin Hurley[/autotag] set to arrive too.

Hurley, who already reclassified a sign a year earlier, won’t be ready to play QB in the SEC next year, and LSU has no idea what it has in Collins yet.

If the Tigers can find a veteran with some experience, but with two to three years of eligibility remaining, Kelly and staff should pursue.

That allows LSU to land a guy that doesn’t need to start right away in 2024 but can push Nussmeier or be an option in 2025.

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Instant Analysis: LSU drops 72 points in dominating home-opening win over Grambling

The Tigers bounced back in a big way with Saturday night’s 72-10 win over Grambling.

LSU got the bounce-back it was looking for at Tiger Stadium on Saturday night as the team breezed to a declarative 72-10 win over Grambling in its Week 2 home opener, tying for the third-most points scored in a game in program history.

The offense led by [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] had a much more efficient and balanced game than it did in the loss to Florida State. Daniels finished with 269 yards and five touchdowns — a career high — through the air, all of which came in the first half.

Daniels also completed 18 of 24 passes.

[autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] took over to start the second half, and while he wasn’t given the opportunity to do a whole lot, he completed 4 of 6 passes for 48 yards, 20 of which came on one play to [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag], and finished a touchdown drive with his legs.

True freshman [autotag]Rickie Collins[/autotag] also saw sporadic action late in the game, though he attempted and completed just a pair of passes for three yards.

Nabers ultimately led the team in receiving with 87 yards and a touchdown on five catches, while it was also another big night for [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag], who led the team in catches with six for 78 yards while catching a pair of touchdown passes.

The Tigers got a much bigger contribution from their ground game on Saturday night as [autotag]Logan Diggs[/autotag] had 115 yards and a touchdown on just 15 carries in his LSU debut after he missed last week’s game. Freshman [autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag] found the end zone twice while also totaling 62 yards on 11 carries.

[autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] (6 carries, 43 yards) and [autotag]Noah Cain[/autotag] (7 carries, 33 yards, 1 TD) also had solid production on the ground.

Defensively, it was a bit of a sloppy start as the Tigers allowed 259 yards in the first half. They tightened up after that, though, allowing just 61 yards in the second half.

It was another fairly quiet game for [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag], who saw more snaps off the edge but managed just one tackle. He did, however, breakup a pass and had a quarterback pressure that caused LSU only interception of the game, which was snagged by [autotag]Greg Penn III[/autotag] on a tip drill.

LSU showed signs of improvement against an inferior opponent, but it will face a tougher test next Saturday when it hits the road to take on Mississippi State in its SEC opener.

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2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 40 Whit Weeks

The younger brother of West Weeks, Whit Weeks impressed as an early enrollee this spring.

Going into the 2023 football season, LSU Wire will be looking at each player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Brian Kelly this season.

We’re looking at one of the more exciting true freshmen on the roster in [autotag]Whit Week[/autotag]s, who joins his brother [autotag]West Weeks[/autotag], a transfer addition last offseason from Virginia, in the linebacker corps.

Whit Weeks Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Watkinsville, Georgia

Ht: 6-3

Wt: 222

247Sports Composite Ranking

Four Stars | No. 12 in Georgia | No. 12 Linebacker

Class in 2022: High School

Career Stats

DNP

Depth Chart Overview

Sitting just outside the top 150 nationally as a high school prospect, Weeks played all over the field at Oconee County High School in Georgia. He was recruited as a linebacker but also saw action as a running back, receiver and kick returner.

Weeks early enrolled this spring and impressed during the spring game, taking an interception from fellow true freshman [autotag]Rickie Collins[/autotag] 55 yards to the house.

Earning a starting spot seems unlikely this fall, but Weeks should play a part in the linebacker rotation along with his brother this fall.

Whit Weeks’ Photo Gallery