LSU is ranked 12th in the preseason coaches poll and part of the reason for that high ranking is the Tigers offensive line is expected to be one of the most dominating units in the country. But a big reason why LSU is not ranked in the Top Ten is because its defensive line is unproven.
On the offensive line, LSU returns four starters in Will Campbell, Emery Jones, Miles Frazier and Garrett Dellinger. Campbell could be a top ten overall pick in the NFL draft next year and Jones could be a first-round selection.
First-year starting center, DJ Chester, at six-foot-six 320 pounds, is expected to fit in nicely with this veteran group.
LSU’s offensive line is expected to produce a clean pocket for first-year starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and open holes for a group of running backs hungry to prove themselves.
“This year, we are going to line up, and we are going to make you stop us, they are going to know that we are coming right at them and it’s going to be in different ways, but they are going to know we are about to run the ball and we are going to see if they can stop us,” Campbell said.
Meanwhile, can the Tigers defensive line help stop opposing offenses. There is a concern they will not be a strong enough unit to help LSU get into the 12-team college football playoff.
Fifth-year senior defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory says the D-Line is ready to prove people wrong.
“It’s like people can either run away from a challenge or you can face it head on,” Guillory said. “Why not attack it full heartedly every single day?”
LSU’s coaching staff tried to address the defensive line by adding new players through the transfer portal. Guillory had a straightforward message to his fellow teammates on the D-Line.
“I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder” Guillory said. I know how it is now I know, they’re gonna go get guys. I know that we need a defensive line in the offseason at LSU. So I let those guys know, ‘Guys, they’re probably not gonna tell you but I tell you, They’re bringing guys here to take our spots, How do you want to face that challenge?”
In the end Guillory likes the mix of players defensive tackle, including the guys that transferred in like Gio Paez, Shone Washington and former Division II standout Jay’viar Suggs from Grand Valley State. He also pointed out incoming freshmen De’Myrion Johnson from Westgate High School and Dominick McKinley from Acadiana.
After just a few days of preseason camp, Campbell has seen a difference in the Tigers new D-line.
“Their demeanor coming out to practice everyday is so much different from last year, in a good way, they come out juiced up, ready to fight, ready to go, at the end of the day it’s just a fight in the trenches, it’s not always going to be pretty, you just got to be ready to go in there and get dirty and that’s what they are doing, I’m excited for them,” Campbell said.