2023 was not the season many of us expected from Maason Smith. The former five-star defensive tackle out of Terrebonne Parish was selected as a preseason first-team All SEC player after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the first game of the 2022 season.
He was projected to be a disruptor at the point of attack, someone who could plug holes in the run game and rush the passer.
Smith battled injuries in preseason camp, was suspended for the season opener for accepting improper benefits pre-NIL and then it took a few weeks to knock off the rust.
He also missed not having a defensive line coach. The expected D-line coach, Jimmy Lindsey, suffered a medical emergency prior to camp, John Jancek tried to fill that role and eventually Pete Jenkins was brought in to help get the best out of a struggling defensive line.
After putting up a stat line of 28 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks, there was hope Smith would return in 2024 and anchor the defensive line.
But Smith has chosen to forgo his two remaining years of college eligibility and enter the NFL draft.
LSU’s three most productive defensive tackles are now headed to the NFL. The departures of Mekhi Wingo, Jordan Jefferson and now Smith leave LSU very thin at that position, just two scholarship players.
Jacobian Guillory is still around as he’s made 51 tackles in 39 games. Jalen Lee is a transfer from Florida who barely saw the field last year. The former Live Oak star has a real shot to make a difference in 2024.
There are a couple of incoming players that provide hope.
Shone Washington comes to LSU after one season at East Mississippi Community College. Washington originally signed with Georgia out of Warren Easton High School. He only appeared in one game for the Bulldogs in 2022. Washington is considered one of the top junior college players in the country.
Five-star defensive tackle Dominick McKinley from Acadiana High School in Lafayette should see the field right away as his recent verbal pledge is huge.
There’s still time to get a few players out of the transfer portal. It would help if LSU hired a defensive line coach as I’m sure coach Brian Kelly is diligently working on that.
But as it stands now, add defensive tackle as a big question mark for the 2024 season.
