The 2023 LSU football season will be remembered for two things. Jayden Daniels winning the Heisman Trophy and an LSU defense that could not do its part and just be average, which might have been enough to get the Tigers into the College Football Playoff.
Linebacker Greg Penn says one of the reasons he plans to come back next season is so he can be part of the turn around on defense.
“Obviously this whole year we haven’t played to our standard, everybody in the building knows that. I think everyone has looked in the mirror and we know that we need to play better, I think starting in this bowl game, having great execution, and really playing hard, will help us going into the next year.”
A majority of LSU’s defense will be back next season, plus there’s the addition of Texas A&M safety Jardin Gilbert.
Two cornerbacks who were injured in 2023 will be healthy for 2024, Zy Alexander and JK Johnson.
Starting corner Sage Ryan considered going into the transfer portal, but changed his mind and is in the fold for 2024.
Cornerback Duce Chestnut has entered the transfer portal after one season at LSU. Not a surprise after not playing for most of the season.
A couple of LSU defensive tackles have decisions to make when it comes to entering the NFL draft. Maason Smith and Mekhi Wingo. Smith did not have a productive season, so it seems likely he’ll be back.
Wingo has not decided if he’s coming back. But after missing the final five games of the season because of an injury, Wingo will play in the bowl game. He wants to help LSU achieve back-to-back ten-win seasons.
“We got fight, we came in together and we all want to finish the season together, we had some high expectations that we didn’t live up to, but we still have that fight within us and want to get that ten win for the program,” said Wingo.
LSU will play Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl on January 1st at 11 AM.