Tag: walker howard

LSU misses on 5-star QB Dante Moore

The LSU target announced his commitment to Oregon on Friday.

This recruiting cycle has been a whirlwind when it comes to LSU and quarterbacks.

The Tigers have been in the mix for a few big names, but have not yet been able to seal the deal. There are more top programs than there are five-star quarterbacks, so it’s not easy to land one.

On Friday, Michigan native [autotag]Dante Moore[/autotag] announced his commitment to Oregon. He went with the Ducks over LSU and some other top programs.

It felt like LSU had more hope with Moore than it did with some other recruits like [autotag]Arch Manning[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaden Rashada[/autotag]. Moore visited LSU on April 22 and attended the spring game where he spent some time with [autotag]Joe Burrow[/autotag]. A week later, he took a visit to Oregon.

LSU has a crowded quarterback room at the moment and has signed a blue-chip prospect in each of the last two cycles with [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] and [autotag]Walker Howard[/autotag]. It could be tough to convince another top recruit to sign on behind them without more clarity as to what the playing time situation will be.

According to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, Moore is the fourth-best QB in the class of 2023 and the 12th-ranked player overall.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag], offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] and quarterbacks coach [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] did a respectable job with his recruitment, but it just wasn’t enough.

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BREAKING: 4-star quarterback, LSU target Jaden Rashada commits to Miami

The Tigers were one of five finalists for Rashada.

LSU is running out of options if it hopes to sign a quarterback in 2023, and the pickings got even slimmer on Sunday afternoon as four-star Pittsburg, California, quarterback [autotag]Jaden Rashada[/autotag] committed to Miami.

Rashada — the No. 45 player in the country and No. 7 quarterback according to the 247Sports Composite — also included Florida, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and the Tigers in his list of finalists. However, it seemed to be a two-way battle down the stretch between the Gators and Hurricanes, and coach Mario Cristobal ultimately pulled it out.

After missing on [autotag]Arch Manning[/autotag] and Rashada over the course of just a few days, LSU may be getting a little more desperate. It doesn’t necessarily have to sign one in this cycle after adding [autotag]Walker Howard[/autotag] in the 2022 class, but if it wants to, there aren’t many highly rated prospects still on the table.

The clear best available option is [autotag]Dante Moore[/autotag], a five-star signal-caller from Martin Luther King (Detroit) who is rated as the No. 12 player in the country. Oregon holds the lone Crystal Ball prediction for Moore, and it also leads the way on the On3 RPM at 58.4%, followed by LSU at 12%.

The Tigers have a lot of ground to make up with Moore, who has also drawn interest from Notre Dame, Texas A&M and others. After missing on a west-coast prospect in Rashada, the Ducks seem to have focused their attention almost entirely on Moore, who would be the third-highest ranked quarterback to ever sign with LSU.

Only time will tell whether the Tigers will add a quarterback in this cycle, but with July on the horizon and only three quarterbacks in the top-20 yet to commit, time is running out unless coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] has a potential flip in mind.

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LSU’s quarterback room could be one of the nation’s best this fall

The Tigers have three passers with Power Five experience and a talented true freshman.

The Tigers have quite the quarterback conundrum this offseason, but their problem is a good one to have.

It’s unclear which passer will emerge to win the job at this point between [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], [autotag]Myles Brennan[/autotag] and [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag]. But all have their strengths, and LSU fans should feel good about any one of those three being thrust into action.

We’re past the transfer portal deadline, so any further attrition at the position seems unlikely before the beginning of the season. With a group of three players that all have high-level playing experience — plus a true freshman who could be the future at the position in [autotag]Walker Howard[/autotag] — the Tigers have one of the most talented groups in the country.

In a recent quarterback room ranking from CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah, LSU was listed at No. 5 in the nation behind Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan and Georgia. Here’s what Jeyarajah said about the group.

The Tigers don’t have a proven starter after losing top passer Max Johnson to the transfer portal, but the collection of signal-callers currently in Baton Rouge ranks among the deepest in the nation. LSU added former Arizona State starter Jayden Daniels, who posted more than 3,000 yards of total offense in 2021, while Myles Brennan returns after missing most of the last two seasons with injuries. Down the pipe, Garrett Nussmeier and high four-star recruit Walker Howard have the tools to compete for playing time right away. New offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock will have his selection of a dynamic, diverse group of passers in his first season. The ceiling depends on whether any of the four jump up and take the job.

After an inconclusive spring game, we’ll have to keep a careful eye on the competition once fall camp begins next month. In the meantime, LSU fans should be able to rest easy knowing coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] have a talented quartet of signal-callers to work with.

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5 star quarterback breaks down where LSU stands in his recruitment

Dante Moore is one of LSU’s top uncommitted targets.

Things are really starting to heat up in the race for the top available 2023 quarterbacks.

LSU may be focusing on Pittsburg (California) passer [autotag]Jaden Rashada[/autotag], who recently took an official visit to Baton Rouge, but the Tigers remain in the mix for another elite prospect.

Detroit five-star [autotag]Dante Moore[/autotag] visited LSU on April 22, and it is currently listed as the favorite to land him on the On3 RPM. Moore, the No. 12 overall prospect and No. 4 quarterback per the 247Sports Composite, told On3’s Sam Spiegelman that the Tigers remain high on his list.

He had a strong relationship with the prior coaching staff, and he has formed a good bond with the new staff under [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag], as well. Several other schools remain in the mix, including Texas A&M — which he will visit this weekend — as well as Michigan and Oregon.

Kelly is still looking to land a signal-caller in 2023, and if he misses on Moore and Rashada, things may be starting to look bleak. The top two passers in the state of Louisiana are likely heading elsewhere, as [autotag]Arch Manning[/autotag] doesn’t seem to have much interest while [autotag]Eli Holstein[/autotag] is committed to Alabama.

The Tigers’ quarterback room is in solid shape for the near future with [autotag]Walker Howard[/autotag] on campus, but landing a player like Moore would be a big get for Kelly.

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LSU quarterback Walker Howard says he’s learning from team’s veterans

Howard spoke positively about his transition to college as an early enrollee.

Many of the national conversations surrounding this year’s LSU team have focused on the quarterback competition, and for good reason.

It’s one of the most intriguing battles in the entire country, pitting a veteran coming off an injury in [autotag]Myles Brennan[/autotag] against a transfer with several years of Power Five experience in [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag]. Redshirt freshman [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], who saw some action down the stretch last season, also had an impressive spring and figures to be a factor.

But the player seemingly left out of that conversation is the one that could have the highest ceiling of the bunch and likely represents the future at the position: true freshman [autotag]Walker Howard[/autotag].

The former blue-chip prospect from Lafayette committed under the previous coaching staff, and it was a major early win for coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] to keep him in the transition class. Howard may be heading for a redshirt year, but he will likely be the starter in Baton Rouge sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, Howard said that he’s taking the opportunity to learn from the veterans in the quarterback room, according to On3’s Nikki Chavanelle.

“Every single day, every single rep, I learn something new,” Howard said. “That’s what’s awesome about having some older guys in front of you. You look at everything with a different perspective because I came in with not as much knowledge as these guys. I have to work harder than everybody else because they’ve been around, so that’s what I’m doing.”

Howard got to be a part of the action this spring after early enrolling, and he had positive things to say about the transition process overall.

“The transition has been awesome, I mean, at first, it was kind of rough at first,” Howard said. “I kind of hit a wall the first couple of practices but that’s what all the coaches told me, that I was going to hit a wall, it’s just all about how you bounce back. I feel like I’ve been really improving after every practice, that’s what it’s all about. The transition’s been awesome, I’ve loved every second of it.”

He also said that Kelly’s hands-on approach has made that transition easier.

“He’s very involved,” Howard said. “It makes me fired up to have a head coach so involved with me and the quarterbacks. He corrects me after every single thing I do. He’s just always trying to [help] me improve. I’m thankful for Coach Kelly always teaching me after every rep.”

Howard arrives with high expectations, though he likely won’t get the chance to live up to them this season barring significant injury. Still, it should be seen as a positive sign that Howard is taking the opportunity to learn from one of the most experienced quarterback rooms in college football.

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Breaking down each LSU quarterback’s best trait

Each of the quarterbacks in LSU’s competition has a different skill set. Here’s what all of them are best at.

Every quarterback is different.

With all the skills that go into playing the position, there are so many variables that determine who a quarterback is. How far can he throw it? Is he accurate? Can he run? Can he throw on the run?

Those are just a few of the physical traits and that’s before we even start talking about mental ability. How quickly can a quarterback diagnose a defense? How fast does he move through his progressions? Does he stare down his targets?

The combination of skills is endless. Every quarterback will have their own strengths and weaknesses.

LSU has four scholarship quarterbacks on the roster right now, each with very different skill sets. [autotag]Myles Brennan[/autotag] isn’t remotely the same player that [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] is, and [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] has plenty of unique traits as well.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] has made it clear that the offense will be tailored to whoever the starter is, but that doesn’t mean he prefers one skill set to another. Even if Kelly and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock did have a preference, they wouldn’t say it out loud at this point.

At the end of the day though, it may come down to just that. If they view Brennan, Daniels and Nussmeier in the same light, it could be Daniels’s ability to run that gets him the job. In Nussmeier’s case, it could be his ability to sling it.

Let’s dive right in.

Four-star 2023 QB visiting LSU on Saturday

Top-100 prospect Eli Holstein, an LSU legacy, is on campus Saturday for the first time under the new coaching staff.

LSU is all-in on the [autotag]Arch Manning[/autotag] sweepstakes but with a lot of competition for the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2023 class and the Tigers seemingly behind teams like Texas, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] has to focus some of his attention to other options for this cycle.

One of the best is [autotag]Eli Holstein[/autotag], a four-star quarterback from Zachary, Louisiana. Holstein is an LSU legacy, as his father Scott is a former punter for the Tigers. The Elite 11 quarterback pledged to Texas A&M last summer, but he decommitted in March and has since become one of the top recruiting targets for major programs around the nation.

The Tigers are one of them, and they had Holstein on campus for a visit on Saturday, according to On3’s Sam Spiegelman (subscription required). Spiegelman reports that offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] has been pursuing Holstein heavily in recent weeks. It’s Holstein’s first visit to Baton Rouge under the new coaching staff.

His father isn’t the only connection Holstein has to LSU. His brother Caleb played high school ball at St. Thomas More in Lafayette, the same school where recent Tigers signee [autotag]Walker Howard[/autotag] played. Caleb was also recruited by current LSU quarterback coach [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] to play at Louisiana Tech.

Holstein is currently rated as the No. 54 overall prospect and No. 8 quarterback in the 2023 cycle. Landing a blue-chip in-state quarterback in back-to-back cycles would be a huge win for Kelly, and he’ll hope to make an impression on Holstein this weekend.

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Rapid reactions from LSU’s spring game

Here’s what everyone thought about Brian Kelly’s first spring game in Baton Rouge.

Football is back. At least, for one day.

As coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and the LSU Tigers took the field for the annual spring game, there were a lot of questions about how the four horsemen quarterback race would play out, how the freshmen would look and what would be the big difference between an [autotag]Ed Orgeron[/autotag] spring game and a Kelly spring game.

Not only that, but it was a massive day for recruiting as the Tigers had a ton of top talent in the house, and Kelly pulled out all the stops as he welcomed back some of the top LSU players of all time. [autotag]Tyrann Mathieu[/autotag], [autotag]Ja’Marr Chase[/autotag], [autotag]Joe Burrow[/autotag], [autotag]Derek Stingley Jr.[/autotag], and more were on hand to witness the future of LSU football.

So, let’s take a look at some of the reactions on social media to see what people thought about the game.

WATCH: Walker Howard scores first touchdown in Death Valley on a long pass

Howard concluded Saturday’s scrimmage with a deep touchdown pass on a wheel route, his first in a Tigers uniform.

It only took[autotag] Walker Howard[/autotag] a few quarters to throw the first touchdown pass of his career as a Bayou Bengal.

From the shotgun formation in the fourth quarter, Howard hit running back [autotag]Corren Norman[/autotag] on a wheel route over the left side for a 64-yard touchdown pass, the first of what will hopefully be many more to come for the young freshman from Lafayette, Louisiana.

It has been a fun day watching the new-look Tigers and their stable of quarterbacks embrace the competition. LSU has a four-man race at the position, and realistically all four of the guys have a shot at winning it.

They all made some good plays on Saturday and shown good command of the offense at times. We will see how it all shakes out in the fall, but for now, the future of LSU at the quarterback position looks very bright. [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], [autotag]Myles Brennan[/autotag], [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], and [autotag]Walker Howard[/autotag] can all get the job done.

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Is Garrett Nussmeier emerging as a legit option at QB?

LSU’s quarterback battle may be more than just a two-man competition.

The biggest story surrounding LSU football this spring is the quarterback battle. That will continue to be the case until a starter is finally named, which probably isn’t happening until August.

Despite it being an open competition, many assumed that it was really just a battle between [autotag]Myles Brennan[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag]. These are the guys with experience and the guys the coaching staff went out of their way to get on the roster.

But all spring, there have been some signs that Garrett Nussmeier is in the conversation to. Recently, The Athletic’s Brody Miller wrote a story on Nussmeier, stating a staff member said Nussmeier is right in the thick of it.

After [autotag]Walker Howard[/autotag], the highly touted quarterback LSU signed in February, joined the program, many assumed that Nussmeier might not have a future at LSU.

He was sandwiched in-between the veterans and hot-shot freshman. In the age of the transfer portal, not every quarterback would stick around in that situation.

For now, Nussmeier is still here, and he’s competing.

He didn’t play much in 2021, so it’s hard to tell if the sample size is adequate to get some real takeaways. According to PFF, Nussmeier’s average depth of target was 13.6 yards, almost four yards more than Max Johnson’s.

At the same time, Nussmeier said earlier this spring that he is trying to shed that gunslinger label. It’s not that he doesn’t want to sling it, but that label has led some to see Nussmeier as a guy that wasn’t ready, as a guy who took risks for the heck of it and someone who couldn’t go through the basic progressions of an offense.

That being said, it’s still the arm talent that’s drawing the most attention this spring. That’s not to say Nussmeier hasn’t improved in other areas, it sounds like he has, but there’s been tweet after tweet saying Nussmeier just made a dynamite throw throughout the spring.

He’s not going to run a 4.2 forty, but he’s got legs. If the quarterbacks were to race, Daniels would probably win, but Nussmeier might be the guy coming in second.

This isn’t to say Nussmeier should be the favorite to start, it’s probably still one of the older guys. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] didn’t spend time re-recruiting Brennan and going after Daniels to have them ride the bench, but the best man will play, and Nussmeier has a chance to prove that’s him.

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