LSU reports for fall camp on Wednesday with high expectations after Head Coach Brian Kelly led the Tigers to an SEC West title and a ten-win season in his first season. With Kim Mulkey and Jay Johnson both winning national titles in their second seasons, the expectation is that Kelly will do great things this year.
Here are the five things to watch as LSU opens the season.
1. Line play
Kelly said during his appearance before the Baton Rouge Rotary Club that he believes the offensive and defensive lines are a strength of his team. The Tigers return four starters on the O-line. Last season, it was unclear who would start and where.
This season Will Campbell and Emery Jones are back after starting as freshmen at the tackles. Charles Turner is set to start at center as a fifth-year senior and Miles Frazier is back at left guard. The versatile Garrett Dellinger could be the other starter at guard, after appearing in nine games last year.
Senior Marlon Martinez will battle with Turner at the center position, the Tigers also added Mason Lunsford, a transfer from Maryland and five-star tackle Zalance Heard says he plans on playing his freshman season at one of the tackle positions.
On the defensive line, LSU is excited about the return of Maason Smith, who is expected to be a dominant force after tearing his ACL in the season opener last year. At the other tackle, it’s Mekhi Wingo who was an all-SEC performer last season.
Sai’von Jones from St. James High School has been waiting for his opportunity to play at defensive end. I’m personally excited to see what DE Quency Wiggins can do, a redshirt freshman from Madison Prep.
Kelly is also excited about edge rusher Ovie Oghoufo, a transfer rom Texas who has 13 sacks in his career at Texas and Notre Dame.
2. New cornerbacks
Kelly mentioned at SEC Media Days that the secondary is a concern as LSU lost its top three cornerbacks from last season. Former Southeastern Louisiana cornerback Zy Alexander could start at one of the corner positions.
He was an All-Southland performer last season and nine career interceptions in three seasons with the Lions. Ohio State cornerback JK Johnson and Texas A&M cornerback Denver Harris have also been brought in. Duce Chestnut also has a great chance to start after starting the last two seasons at Syracuse. Former Acadiana star Laterrance Welch will also get a chance to get plenty of playing time.
3. Loaded running back room
LSU has eight scholarship players on its roster, but only one football. Out of the running backs on the team last season, Josh Williams had the most rushing yards with 532. Noah Cain had the most touchdowns with 10. Willliams, Cain and Armoni Goodwin are all returning. Kelly expressed optimism that John Emery can play this season after missing the spring because of academic issues. Former Rummel star Logan Diggs is transferring in from Notre Dame after rushing for over 1,000 yards and 7 touchdowns for the Fighting Irish. Incoming freshmen Trey Holly and Kaleb Jackson will also be fighting for playing time.
4. Battle at FG kicker
Damian Ramos replaced Cade York and made ten field goals last season but was not very accurate beyond 40 yards out. Ramos made some clutch kicks in the Florida, Alabama and Arkansas victories. But Nathan Dibert is also expected to compete for field goal duties. He handled kickoff duties last year and arrived on LSU’s campus in 2022 after he was one of the nation’s top prep kickers in 2021.
5. Punt Returner
LSU’s special teams were so bad last year, this top five list features special team positions twice. The Tigers had trouble fielding punts that they eventually had Gregory Clayton Jr back there and most of the time he just called for a fair catch. Former Edna Karr standout Aaron Anderson, a transfer from Alabama, could be a potential solution this year. I’m sure several other players will also get a look.