LSU returns to the football practice field today as Spring Practice kicks-off. New defensive coordinator Blake Baker will begin installing his system and Coach Brian Kelly has already announced Harold Perkins will move back to inside linebacker.
The plan was for Perkins to play inside linebacker in 2023, but after the season opening loss to Florida State, the game plan changed, and Perkins was moved back to the outside in the hopes he could have more of an impact.
Perkins will play the weakside linebacker spot in Baker’s defense but expect to see him still rush the passer. His role could be like Missouri linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper.
Hopper was a Butkus Award finalist in 2023, which is an award that goes to the nation’s best linebacker.
LSU enters spring very thin at defensive tackle. Just two DTs from the 2023 team return, veteran Jacobian Guillory and Jalen Lee, a transfer from Florida who saw very little playing time last season.
Former Warren Easton star Shone Washington will participate in spring practice. Washington signed with Georgia out of high school, but after one season with the Bulldogs he transferred to East Mississippi Community College.
Reserve offensive lineman Kimo Makane’ole will move to defensive tackle and incoming freshman Ahmad Breaux from Ruston will also move from defensive end to defensive tackle.
LSU will have to wait until the state’s top prospect gets on campus. Defensive tackle Dominick McKinley from Acadiana High walks into a great situation to see the field right away.
LSU’s defensive secondary was a mess last year, but there is strength in numbers for new secondary coach Corey Raymond and safeties coach Jake Olsen.
Cornerback Zy Alexander will not participate in spring after tearing his ACL against Army.
But Ohio State transfer JK Johnson should be available after missing last season with a leg injury. The Tigers also added another Ohio State cornerback Jyaire Brown, who appeared in 14 games for the Buckeyes over the last two seasons.
Sage Ryan returns, so does Ashton Stamps and Javien Toviano.
Former Texas A&M starter Jardin Gilbert from University High is the big addition at safety. Another former UHigh standout also returns to Baton Rouge in Austin Ausberry.
Major Burns is back and Ryan Yaites is a promising young player.
There are also a bunch of incoming freshmen defensive backs. Dashawn McByrde, Joel Rodgers, PJ Woodland, JuJuan Johnson, Wallce Foster and Bernard Causey.
With receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr off to the NFL, there will be plenty of passes that will have to be caught in 2024. Who will be the main guy, will see a dynamic duo or a three-headed monster?
Zavion Thomas (Mississippi State) and CJ Daniels (Liberty) are the two new additions through the transfer portal.
They join a quality group of receivers already on the roster led by Kyren Lacy, who caught 30 passes for 558 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023.
Can Aaron Anderson have more of an impact? Is Shelton Sampson ready to become the next star receiver? Don’t forget about Chris Hilton, who could emerge as one of the top receivers in the SEC.
They will be catching passes from Garrett Nussmeier. Vanderbilt transfer A.J. Swann and redshirt freshman Rickie Collins will be there to push Nussmeier, but the Nuss Bus is your expected starter in 2024.
Nussmeier has the arm strength and athleticism to be a top-notch quarterback, but improving his accuracy will be a focus during the spring. He’s completed 62-percent of his passes the last two seasons.
LSU is also thin at running back this spring. Trey Holly is suspended following his arrest for attempted second-degree murder for a shooting that took place in his hometown of Farmerville.
That leaves Josh Williams and Kaleb Jackson as the only two scholarship running backs on the roster. Williams could be limited at times as result of tendinitis in his knee.
Incoming freshman Caden Durham does not arrive until the summer.