2021 LSU Tigers Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Key Players Returning:

QB Max Johnson, RB Tyrion Davis-Price, RB John Emery, WR Kayshon Boutte, WR Jaray Jenkins, OC Liam Shanahan, OG Chasen Hines, OG Ed Ingram, OT Austin Deculus, DE Andre Anthony, DE Ali Gaye, DE B.J. Ojulari, DT Jaquelin Roy, LB Micah Baskerville, LB Damone Clark, CB Cordale Flott, CB Eli Ricks, CB/PR Derek Stingley, FS Jay Ward, SS Todd Harris, KR Trey Palmer, and PK Cade York.

Key Players Departing:

WR Arik Gilbert, WR Terrace Marshall, OT Dare Rosenthal, LB Jabril Cox, FS Jacoby Stevens, and PT Zach Van Rosenberg.

Top 10 Recruits:

Blue Star Recruits: 
DT Maason Smith (Houma, Louisiana), and S Sage Ryan (Lafayette, Louisiana).

4 Star Recruits: 
S Derrick Davis (Monroeville, Pennsylvania), WR Deion Smith (Jackson, Mississippi), WR Chris Hilton (Zachary, Louisiana), QB Garrett Nussmeier (Flower Mound, Texas), WR Brian Thomas (Walker, Louisiana), OT Garrett Dellinger (Clarkston, Michigan), RB Armoni Goodwin (Trussville, Alabama), and DE Landon Jackson (Texarkana, Texas).

2020 Results:

G01  MISSISSIPPI STATE  L  34-44
G02  at Vanderbilt  W  41-7
G03  at Missouri  L  41-45
G04  SOUTH CAROLINA  W  52-24
G05  at Auburn  L  11-48
G06  at Arkansas  W  27-24
G07  at #5 Texas A&M  L  7-20
G08  #1 ALABAMA  L  17-55
G09  at #6 Florida  W  37-34
G10  W  OLE MISS  W  53-48

Team Info:

2020 Overall:  5-5 (4th in SEC West)

Home:  2-2
Away:  3-3
Neutral:  0-0
SEC:  5-5
Non-SEC:  0-0

Head Coach:  Ed Orgeron

Louisiana State:  45-14
Career:  61-41
Bowl:  3-1

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing:  Max Johnson (88-150, 1069 yards, 58.7%, 7.1 avg., 8 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing:  Tyrion Davis-Price (104 car., 446 yards, 4.3 avg., 3 TD)
Receiving:  Keyshon Boutte (45 rec., 735 yards, 16.3 avg., 5 TD)
TD’s Scored:  Kayshon Boutte (5)
Sacks:  Andre Anthony (5.5)
Tackles:  Damone Clark (63)
Interceptions:  Eli Ricks (4)
Pass Deflections:  Ali Gaye/Jay Ward (6)
Tackles For Loss:  Ali Gaye (9.5)
Forced Fumbles:  7 Tied (1)
Kick Returns:  Trey Palmer (7 ret., 241 yards, 34.4 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns:  Derek Stingley (6 ret., 97 yards, 16.2 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  Cade York (18-21 fg/fga., 86%, 36-36 xp/xpa., 90 pts.)
Punting:  None

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  14  Max Johnson  (SO)
RB:  3  Tyrion Davis-Price  (JR)
WR:  1  Kayshon Boutte  (SO)
WR:  33  Trey Palmer  (JR)
WR:  2  Koy Moore  (SO)
TE:  87  Kole Taylor  (SO)
LT:  61  Cameron Wire  (RS JR)
LG:  70  Ed Ingram  (SR)
OC:  56  Liam Shanahan  (GR/TR)
RG:  57  Chasen Hines  (SR)
RT:  76  Austin Deculus  (GR)
KR:  33  Trey Palmer  (JR)
PK:  36  Cade York  (JR)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  11  Ali Gaye  (SR/TR)
NT:  92  Neil Farrell  (SR)
DT:  97  Glen Logan  (RS SR)
DE:  3  Andre Anthony  (GR)
LB:  23  Micah Baskerville  (SR)
LB:  22  Navonteque Strong  (SO/TR)
LB:  19  Mike Jones  (SR SO/TR)
CB:  7  Derek Stingley  (JR)
CB:  1  Eli Ricks  (SO)
FS:  5  Jay Ward  (JR)
SS:  4  Todd Harris  (RS JR)
PR:  7  Derek Stingley  (JR)
PT:  38  Peyton Todd  (FR)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  C
Running Backs:  C
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  C

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  C
Secondary:  B

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  A
Punt Returners:  B
Kickers:  A
Punters:  C

Schedule:

09/04 
at UCLA Bruins  |  First meeting between schools.

09/11  MCNEESE COWBOYS  |  LSU won (32-10) the only prior meeting between schools in 2010.

09/18  CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS  |  First meeting between schools.

09/25  at Mississippi State Bulldogs  |  LSU leads the series 73-38-3.  The Tigers are 7-3 since 2011, and their last series win (36-13) was in 2019.

10/02  AUBURN TIGERS  |  LSU leads the series 31-23-1.  The Tigers are 7-3 since 2011, and their last series win (23-20) was in 2019.

10/09  at Kentucky Wildcats  |  LSU leads the series 40-16-1.  The Tigers won (41-3) the last meeting between schools in 2014.

10/16  FLORIDA GATORS  |  LSU trails the series 31-33-3.  The Tigers are 7-3 since 2011, and their last series loss (19-27) was in 2018.

10/23  at Ole Miss Rebels  |  LSU leads the series 64-41-4.  The Tigers are 8-2 since 2011, and their last series loss (17-38) was in 2015.

11/06  at Alabama Crimson Tide  |  LSU trails the series 26-54-5.  The Tigers are 2-9 since 2011, and their last series win (46-41) was in 2019.

11/13  ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS  |  LSU leads the series 3-0.  The Tigers won (53-3) the last meeting between schools in 2004.

11/20  UL-MONROE WARHAWKS  |  LSU leads the series 3-0.  The Tigers won (31-0) the last meeting between schools in 2014.

11/27  TEXAS A&M AGGIES  |  LSU leads the series 34-22-3.  The Tigers are 8-2 since 2011, and their last series win (50-7) was in 2019.

Prediction:

Home:  6-1
Away:  1-4
Neutral:  0-0
SEC:  4-4
Non-SEC:  3-1

Overall:  7-5 (4th in SEC West)