(RB Josh Williams – Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
RB Josh Williams, WR Kyren Lacy, TE Mason Taylor, OG Garrett Dellinger, OG Miles Frazier, OT Will Campbell, OT Emery Jones Jr., DE Sai’vion Jones, DE Paris Shand, DE Bradyn Swinson, LB Greg Penn III, LB Harold Perkins Jr., LB Whit Weeks, CB Zy Alexander, CB Sage Ryan, CB Javien Toviano, SS Major Burns, KR Kaleb Jackson, and PK Damian Ramos.
Key Players Departing:
QB Jayden Daniels (Commanders R1), RB Logan Diggs (Ole Miss transfer), WR Malik Nabers (Giants R1), WR Brian Thomas Jr. (Jaguars R1), OC Charles Turner III, DE Ovie Oghoufo, DE Mekhi Wingo (Lions R6), DT Jordan Jefferson (Jaguars R4), NT Maason Smith (Jaguars R2), LB Omar Speights, FS Andre Sam, and PT Jay Bramblett.
(DT Dominick McKinley – datboi_dom Instagram)
Top 10 Recruits:
Blue Star Recruits: DT Dominick McKinley (Lafayette, Louisiana).
4 Star Recruits: TE Trey’Dez Green (Zachary, Louisiana), DS Dashawn McBryde (Denham Springs, Louisiana), WR Kylan Billiot (Houma, Louisiana), WR Jelani Watkins (Humble, Texas), RB Caden Durham (Duncanville, Texas), OT Weston Davis (Beaumont, Texas), DS Jardin Gilbert (Texas A&M transfer), OL Coen Echols (Katy, Texas), and LB Tylen Singleton (Many, Louisiana).
2023 Results:
G01 vs. #8 FSU L 24-45
G02 GRAMBLING W 72-10
G03 @ Mississippi State W 41-14
G04 ARKANSAS W 34-31
G05 @ #20 Ole Miss L 49-55
G06 @ #21 Missouri W 49-39
G07 AUBURN W 48-18
G08 ARMY W 62-0
G09 @ #8 Alabama L 28-42
G10 FLORIDA W 52-35
G11 GEORGIA STATE W 56-14
G12 TEXAS A&M W 42-30
SEC vs. #1 Georgia L 30-50
BOWL vs. Wisconsin W 35-31
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 10-3 (3rd in SEC West)
Home: 7-0
Away: 2-2
Neutral: 1-1
SEC: 6-2
Non-SEC: 4-1
Head Coach: Brian Kelly
Louisiana State: 20-7
Career: 283-103-2
Bowl: 8-5
(LB Harold Perkins Jr. – Getty Images)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Garrett Nussmeier (48-78, 591 yards, 61.5%, 7.6 avg., 4 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: Josh Williams (55 car., 284 yards, 5.2 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving: Mason Taylor (36 rec., 348 yards, 9.7 avg., 1 TD)
TD’s Scored: Kyren Lacy (7)
Sacks: Harold Perkins Jr. (5.5)
Tackles: Major Burns (93)
Interceptions: Zy Alexander/Greg Penn III (2)
Pass Deflections: Zy Alexander (7)
Tackles For Loss: Harold Perkins Jr. (13)
Forced Fumbles: Harold Perkins Jr. (3)
Kick Returns: Kaleb Jackson (10 ret., 249 yards, 24.9 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Javen Nicholas (2 ret., 51 yards, 4.6 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Damian Ramos (12-15 fg/fga., 80%, 77-77 xp/xpa., 113 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 13 Garrett Nussmeier (RS JR)
RB: 27 Josh Williams (GR)
WR: 17 Chris Hilton Jr. (RS JR)
WR: 2 Kyren Lacy (SR/TR)
WR: 1 Aaron Anderson (RS SO/TR)
TE: 86 Mason Taylor (JR)
LT: 66 Will Campbell (JR)
LG: 72 Garrett Dellinger (SR)
OC: 79 DJ Chester (RS FR)
RG: 70 Miles Frazier (RS SR/TR)
RT: 50 Emery Jones Jr. (JR)
KR: 11 Zavion Thomas (JR/TR)
PK: 34 Damian Ramos (RS JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 35 Sai’vion Jones (SR)
NT: 90 Jacobian Guillory (RS SR)
DT: 96 Jalen Lee (RS SR/TR)
DE: 13 Bradyn Swinson (RS SR/TR)
LB: 30 Greg Penn III (SR)
LB: 4 Harold Perkins Jr. (JR)
NB: 8 Major Burns (SR/TR)
CB: 26 Ashton Stamps (SO)
CB: 27 PJ Woodland (FR)
FS: 14 Jardin Gilbert (RS JR/TR)
SS: 15 Sage Ryan (RS JR)
PR: 11 Zavion Thomas (JR/TR)
PT: 38 Peyton Todd (RS JR)
(NB Major Burns – Getty Images)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: A
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: A
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/01 vs. USC Trojans | The series is tied 1-1. The Tiger won (23-3) the last meeting between schools in 1984, and they lost (12-17) the inaugural meeting in 1979.
09/07 NICHOLLS COLONELS | First meeting between schools.
09/14 @ South Carolina Gamecocks | LSU leads the series 19-2-2. The Tigers won (52-24) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
09/21 UCLA BRUINS | LSU lost (27-38) the only prior meeting between schools in 2021.
09/28 SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS | First meeting between schools.
10/12 OLE MISS REBELS | LSU leads the series 65-42-4. The Tigers are 7-3 since 2014, and their last series win (45-20) was in 2022.
10/19 @ Arkansas Razorbacks | LSU leads the series 44-23-2. The Tigers are 7-3 since 2014, and their last series loss (13-16) was in 2021.
10/26 @ Texas A&M Aggies | LSU leads the series 36-23-3. The Tigers are 7-3 since 2014, and their last series loss (23-38) was in 2022.
11/09 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE | LSU trails the series 27-56-5. The Tigers are 2-8 since 2014, and their last series win (32-31) was in 2022.
11/16 @ Florida Gators | LSU leads the series 34-33-3. The Tigers are 8-2 since 2014, and their last series loss (19-27) was in 2018.
11/23 VANDERBILT COMMODORES | LSU leads the series 24-7-1. The Tigers won (41-7) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
11/30 OKLAHOMA SOONERS | LSU leads the series 2-1. The Tigers won (63-28) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
Prediction:
Home: 5-2
Away: 2-2
Neutral: 1-0
SEC: 4-4
Non-SEC: 4-0
Overall: 8-4 (9th in SEC)
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