Tag: Saivion Jones

Could Lance Heard be LSU’s starting right tackle?

Lance Heard could be LSU’s starting right tackle come kickoff.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] isn’t afraid to throw a freshman into the fire on the offensive line.

Last year, from week three on, LSU was anchored by two freshman tackles up front with [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] and [autotag]Emery Jones[/autotag].

We could see another freshman take over a starting role this year. According to reports from the scrimmage on Saturday, five-star [autotag]Lance Heard[/autotag] took some snaps with the first-team at right tackle.

In this package, Jones bumped over to guard with [autotag]Miles Frazier[/autotag] heading to the sideline.

Kelly and staff have been fans of Heard since arrived on campus. In the recruiting process, Kelly said Heard insisted on playing left tackle, even though Campbell will man that spot for a couple of years.

It’ll be a couple of years before Heard takes over the left tackle roll, but that comment was an insight into his confidence.

Earlier in camp, [autotag]Sai’Vion Jones[/autotag] said Heard was impressive against some of LSU’s best defenders. By all accounts, it sounds like Heard has more than earned his spot in this competition.

If Heard is ready to go, it offers a major boost to LSU’s depth up-front.

It allows Jones to be a swiss army knife for LSU’s offensive line. The Tigers might not be flush with options on the two-deep, but with Jones, Frazier, and [autotag]Garrett Dellinger[/autotag], LSU has three versatile linemen who can play almost anywhere.

There’s a natural trade-off if LSU rolls with Heard at right tackle. With an entire year under his belt, Jones has the experience that Heard doesn’t. That could be important with LSU gearing up to face one of the best pass rushers in the country Week 1.

With kickoff in two weeks, I wouldn’t bet on Heard getting the start, but it looks like he’ll be getting some playing time right away.

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Fight breaks out at LSU fall practice, according to multiple reports

Kyren Lacy and Malik Nabers were reportedly sent to the locker room, while Harold Perkins didn’t play another snap in the scrimmage.

There was reportedly a fight during LSU’s practice on Monday. The details of the fight are not clear, but among the players reported to be involved are [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag], [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag], [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag], [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] and [autotag]Denver Harris[/autotag].

According to Koki Riley of The Daily Advertiser, there were three separate scuffles. He noted that Perkins and Lacy appeared to start the first one.

Per Wilson Alexander of The Advocate, the fight involved punches thrown and players taken to the ground. Nabers and Lacy were sent to the locker room, while Perkins attempted to return to the 11-on-11 scrimmage but was pulled aside by coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and didn’t play another snap after that.

After the practice session, defensive end [autotag]Sai’Vion Jones[/autotag] told the media that Kelly’s frustrated message to the team following the fight was to “respect the brotherhood.”

This is currently a developing story, and we’ll keep you posted regarding any updates.

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2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 35 Sai’Vion Jones

Sai’Vion Jones could be poised to earn a starting job at defensive end this fall.

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.

There will be a lot said and written about the transfer additions brought in to replace [autotag]BJ Ojulari[/autotag] and [autotag]Ali Gaye[/autotag] along the edge, but we’re looking at a returning player who could also occupy that mantle in [autotag]Sai’Vion Jones[/autotag], who showed promise as a sophomore in 2022 and could be poised for a breakout.

Sai’Vion Jones Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Vacherie, Louisiana

Ht: 6-6

Wt: 280

247Sports Composite Ranking

Four Stars | No. 6 in Louisiana | No. 11 EDGE

Class in 2022: Sophomore

Career Stats

Year G Total Solo TFL Sack FF PD INT
2021 11 3 1 0 0 0 0 0
2022 14 23 11 6 4.5 1 1 0

Depth Chart Overview

Jones was one of the top recruits in Louisiana coming out of high school, and for good reason. A tremendous athlete, he also played basketball and competed in track and field, throwing the discus and shotput while even doing the high jump.

He saw action in 11 games as a true freshman for LSU in 2021, but he had a minimal impact and finished the year with just three total tackles. Still, he registered very solid Pro Football Focus grades in tackling and pass-rushing, setting up for a bigger Year 2.

He ultimately appeared in all 14 games last year, starting three times. His best career outing came in the start against Southern when he totaled six tackles. Jones also record sacks in four games.

He’ll have to compete with the likes of [autotag]Paris Shand[/autotag] and [autotag]Quency Wiggins[/autotag] for playing time as a junior, but given his massive frame and promising early career production, he has a chance to make a big impact.

Sai’Vion Jones’ Photo Gallery

Sophomore LSU edge rusher enters transfer portal

Zavier Carter entered the transfer portal after appearing in 18 games in two years with no starts.

LSU’s depth at the edge took another major hit on Thursday as sophomore linebacker outside linebacker [autotag]Zavier Carter[/autotag] entered the transfer portal. The news was first reported by On3’s Matt Zenitz.

Carter, a four-star recruit in the 2021 class, appeared in seven games as a true freshman and 11 this fall as a sophomore. He never made any starts, but he saw significant action against Purdue in the Citrus Bowl thanks to several opt-outs.

He finishes his LSU career with nine total tackles (two for loss), a sack and a forced fumble.

This loss hurts for LSU’s defensive line, but it still returns several edge rushers in [autotag]Quency Wiggins[/autotag] and [autotag]Sai’Vion Jones[/autotag]. The Tigers also added [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag], an Oregon transfer, and highly touted true freshman [autotag]DaShawn Womack[/autotag].

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Instant Analysis: LSU dominates Purdue to win Citrus Bowl, earn 10th win

The Tigers ended the year on a high note by blowing out Purdue 63-7.

The Tigers cruised against a shorthanded Purdue team in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Monday afternoon, taking down the Boilermakers 63-7 in a game that was never in doubt from the opening kick.

With the victory, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] earned his 10th win in his debut season as LSU snapped a two-game losing streak and ended the year on a high note.

It was a dominant offensive game from the Tigers, who led 35-0 at halftime and finished with 594 total yards. [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] got the start at quarterback, and he certainly didn’t look hobbled despite nursing an ankle injury suffered in the SEC Championship.

Daniels was pulled early in the second half, but he was efficient as ever, completing 12 of 17 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown while adding 67 yards on the ground. We also saw a healthy dose of [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], who played intermittently in the first half and was handed the reigns in the third quarter before true freshman [autotag]Walker Howard[/autotag] took over in the fourth.

Nussmeier looked the part again, completing 11 of 15 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns, though he threw an interception in the end zone. [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] also completed two passes for 50 yards on a pair of trick plays, one of which went to Daniels for a touchdown on a Philly Special.

In addition to his contributions in the passing game, Nabers led the Tigers in receiving with 163 yards on nine catches, including a 75-yard touchdown on a jet sweep. [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] had five catches for 88 yards and a touchdown, and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] also found the end zone.

While the Tigers were great through the air, they also totaled more than 200 yards on the ground. [autotag]Noah Cain[/autotag] got the start and took eight carries for 58 yards and two touchdowns, while [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] had 52 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.

Purdue struggled to do much of anything offensively in this one without quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who opted out. It played four signal callers, who went a combined 19 of 42 for 163 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions.

[autotag]Sai’vion Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Zavier Carter[/autotag] took advantage of their opportunities at the edge with each totaling a sack, while [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag] and [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] also brought the quarterback down once. [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Jarrick Bernard-Converse[/autotag] and [autotag]Quad Wilson[/autotag] all had interceptions, with Wilson taking one 99 yards to the house in the final minute.

LSU’s Year 1 under Kelly was filled with some very high highs and fairly low lows. But the Tigers took care of business on Monday as they put a bow on the 2022 season and will enter 2023 with a ton of momentum.

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LSU defensive end Ali Gaye makes draft decision official

Gaye will move on after three years as a starter for the Tigers.

In a move that didn’t come as much of a surprise, starting Tigers defensive end [autotag]Ali Gaye[/autotag] officially declared for the NFL draft on Tuesday, announcing that he would opt out of the Citrus Bowl matchup against Purdue.

The Tigers traveled to Orlando on Tuesday to prepare for the matchup, which will be played at Camping World Stadium on Jan. 2.

“LSU, thank you for allowing the opportunity too earn my degree here and be able to call myself an LSU graduate,” he said in his announcement post. “Tiger fans you have been amazing with your support and are the best fans in the world. With that being said, I have decided to forgo our bowl game and declare for the 2023 NFL draft. I thank every person who has supported me to make this lifelong dream a reality.”

A native of Gambia who went to high school outside of Seattle, Gaye joined LSU as a JUCO transfer in 2020, and he became an instant contributor on the defensive line. He’s started 26 of the 27 games he’s appeared in since then, totaling 87 tackles (18 for loss), seven sacks, three forced fumbles, 10 pass deflections and an interception.

He appeared in just four games in 2021 before an injury ended his campaign, but he started 12 of 13 games in 2022 as a fifth-year senior. Without Gaye available in the Citrus Bowl in addition to [autotag]BJ Ojulari[/autotag], it will be a big opportunity for [autotag]Sai’Vion Jones[/autotag] and true freshman [autotag]Quency Wiggins[/autotag].

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Oregon transfer Bradyn Swinson gives LSU needed veteran pass rusher

LSU needed an edge rusher in the portal. It got one in Bradyn Swinson.

Brian Kelly said LSU will be signing 8-10 transfers this cycle.

The Tigers are off to a good start, earning three commitments from front seven players on the eve of early signing day. Among that group is [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] — a veteran edge defender who spent the first three years of his career with Oregon.

Swinson, originally a three-star from Georgia, was recruited by LSU defensive line coach [autotag]Jamar Cain[/autotag] out of high school. Swinson was never a full-time player with the Ducks. He played just 542 defensive snaps in his three years there, with 334 of those coming in 2021.

In his career, he has 21 pressures and three sacks to his name. He’s batted a couple of passes and forced a fumble.

LSU will be losing [autotag]BJ Ojulari[/autotag] and [autotag]Ali Gaye[/autotag], two guys who have been solid contributors for several years now. In Ojuarli’s case, he blossomed into one of the nation’s best pass rushers in 2022.

The odds of finding another Ojulari on the transfer portal aren’t great. LSU likely won’t have another player of that caliber at that spot until five-star [autotag]DaShawn Womack[/autotag] lives up to his potential.

In Swinson, LSU doesn’t need a star. It just needs a veteran presence who can rotate in and stabilize the room. And despite the limited sack numbers, there’s reason to believe Swinsin is capable of more.

Among Pac-12 edge rushers with at least 70 pass rush snaps, Swinson ranked third in the conference in pass rush win rate per PFF. His overall pass-rush grade ranked ninth among the same group.

[autotag]Sai’Vion Jones[/autotag] is the lone returner who saw significant time at Ojulari’s JACK LB position in 2022 and relying on Womack to excel as a true freshman can’t be the only plan.

Swinson’s arrival removes some of the burden from the younger guys. It’ll also allow for more creative formations in obvious passing situations when LSU wants to overload the field with pass rushers.

Depth is critical on the defensive line. If you don’t have a true gamebreaker coming off the edge, the next best thing a staff can do is make sure the front seven players are staying fresh.

Getting Swinson addressed a critical need for LSU and it wouldn’t be surprising to see LSU continue to recruit pass rushers from the portal.

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Citrus Bowl provides LSU DE Sai’Vion Jones a chance for a breakout

LSU will need Jones to step up at edge rusher with BJ Ojulari opting out.

LSU will be without star pass rusher [autotag]B.J. Ojulari[/autotag] against Purdue as he opts out to prepare for the 2023 NFL draft.

As he has at points this year, expect [autotag]Sai’vion Jones[/autotag] to step into Ojulari’s role. Jones was one of LSU’s top players in the 2021 recruiting class and one of the best edge recruits in the country.

He didn’t see much time as a freshman, playing just 58 defensive snaps, but when Ojulari was in and out of the lineup in September this fall, there was an opportunity for Smith.

Stepping in against Southern, Jones totaled three pressures and a sack. He added sacks in week three and four too. On the year, Jones had 11 pressures and four sacks. At one point, he was one of the most efficient pass rushers in the SEC, but that production tailed off late in the season.

However, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] still highlighted Jones’ performance against Arkansas, which included a sack.

Jones’ pass rush win rate was just 7.4%, well below Ojulari’s mark of 18%. But Jones’ pass-rush productivity score of 8.0 ranked 11th among SEC edge rushers with at least 80 snaps.

He’s a guy that’s shown flashes, but hasn’t completely put it together. Going forward, LSU is needs Jones to take the next step. Ojulari, along with some members of the secondary, will be LSU’s biggest loss headed into 2023.

Pair that with the expected departure of [autotag]Ali Gaye[/autotag], and edge rusher is a need for LSU.

Jones is the most logical in-house option. There’s also [autotag]Quency Wiggins[/autotag], the talented freshman who took a redshirt this fall and played just two pass rush snaps.

LSU will be adding [autotag]Dashawn Womack[/autotag], a five-star pass rusher from Baltimore, as well.

Wiggins and Womack are talented, but unproven. Jones has yet to prove himself to an extent too, but we know he is a capable SEC player.

An LSU team that expects to compete for a title is going to need more than a couple of freshmen pass rushers.

[autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag] was elite coming after the quarterback, but his services will be needed at linebacker, and he isn’t your prototypical front player that can defend the run on the edge.

Jones will get his shot in the bowl game. A strong performance against Purdue would make coaches and fans feel a lot better about what LSU has in 2023.

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Instant Analysis: Tigers shut out New Mexico for third-straight win

The Tigers outgained the Lobos 633-88 in a 38-0 blanking.

LSU delivered another impressive performance in its last tuneup before it enters the meat of its SEC schedule in Week 4. The Tigers blanked the New Mexico Lobos in a 38-0 win as they move to 3-1 on the season.

Coach Brian Kelly’s team has now won three-straight games since dropping its season opener against FSU in New Orleans.

It was about as dominant a performance as you’ll see at this level of football. Though the final tally on the scoreboard wasn’t anything spectacular, LSU outgained the Lobos by a stunning 633-88 margin, entirely controlling the game on both sides of the ball.

The offense looked sharp once again, and it was another efficient performance from quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], who completed 24 of 29 passes for 278 yards. He didn’t find the end zone through the air or on the ground, but he is still yet to throw an interception this season.

Early in the third quarter, Daniels exited the game and entered the medical tent with an apparent injury. He left the tent and grabbed a helmet, seemingly being cleared to return, but the game was already out of hand and the coaches would hold him out as a precaution.

In his place, Garrett Nussmeier looked much better than he did in his previous action against Southern in Week 2. He completed 9 of 10 passes for 135 yards and a 57-yard touchdown pass to [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag], who finished with three catches for 76 yards.

With [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag] out, [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] unsurprisingly also played a big role in the passing game, leading the team with 65 yards on six catches. Kelly also said the team wanted to work on getting the ball in Jack Bech’s hands, and the result was a seven-target, six-catch night in which he totaled 43 yards.

Jaray Jenkins (five catches, 57 yards), Kyren Lacy (four catches, 41 yards) and freshman tight end Mason Taylor (four catches, 34 yards) all made impacts, as well.

The ground game was dominant once again. In total, the Tigers managed 219 yards headlined by [autotag]Noah Cain[/autotag], who led the team in both yards and carries with 94 on 11 attempts. He found the end zone twice, including a 49-yard touchdown. Daniels contributed as well with nine attempts for 37 yards.

[autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] saw an increased role in his second game back from suspension, leading the running back room in carries with nine for 45 yards. [autotag]Armoni Goodwin[/autotag] got the start and had just 24 yards on eight carries, though he also scored twice.

I could be even more effusive in my praise of LSU’s offense, but the defense deserves just as much credit for holding New Mexico to double-digit yardage. True freshman linebacker Harold Perkins continues to demonstrate his versatility, leading the team in tackles with eight.

[autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]West Weeks[/autotag], [autotag]Ali Gaye[/autotag] and [autotag]Saivion Jones[/autotag] all notched a sack, as well.

This wasn’t a very good New Mexico team, but it’s never easy to shut out an opponent in college football. That should give the Tigers a ton of confidence as they prepare for their first true road game of the year against an Auburn team that survived a wild overtime game against Missouri on Saturday.

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How has Mekhi Wingo fared in Maason Smith’s absence?

Losing Smith was devastating. How has Wingo performed for LSU in replacement?

The expectations for [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] were sky-high entering 2022. The sophomore was expected to be one of the best players in the SEC and a force on the defensive line.

LSU had a lot of questions, but he wasn’t one of them.

When Smith went down on the first drive of the year, there was some concern for where that unit was headed. Smith was the anchor that the rest of the defense could be built around.

You can’t replace him, but that’s what [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] has been tasked with doing. Three games in, we can start to gain a sense of how Wingo has played in Smith’s absence.

It’s not always easy to judge how an interior defensive lineman has played. The work doesn’t always show up in the stats and without a playbook, you don’t know what their assignment is on every play.

With that being said, let’s jump right into Wingo’s performance.

There were a few occasions on Saturday in which Mississippi State tried to test LSU’s defense on fourth and short. For the most part, LSU held strong, and Wingo made his presence known on a few of those stops.

Close to the three-minute mark in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs tried a run up the middle on fourth and one. Wingo fought off the left tackle to collapse inside, meeting [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] and Mike Jones Jr. to make the stop.

Despite finding some success early, Mississippi State went away from the run game as Wingo and others defended the front.

According to PFF, Wingo has been one of the best run-defenders in the SEC. His 82.7 run defense grade ranks third among interior defensive linemen that have played 100 snaps.

Wingo has five stops on the year and hasn’t missed a tackle.

The biggest difference between Wingo and Smith comes when rushing the passer. Smith’s pass rushing ability was considered exceptional for a defensive tackle.

LSU often takes Wingo out when using a pass rush package, opting to put in [autotag]Sai’vion Jones[/autotag] or an extra defensive back to bring off the edge. Wingo’s one sack on the year came against Southern, but he has applied at least one pressure in every game.

At this point, it’s hard not to be pleased with Wingo’s performance. He was expected to have a prominent spot in the rotation whether Smith was healthy or not, now he’s the guy.

Playing up front next to [autotag]Jaquelin Roy[/autotag] helps, too. At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, Roy is a force and one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the SEC.

Roy and Wingo are a duo up front that should be formidable against 95% of offensive lines in the country, maybe more.

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