It’s report day for the LSU Tigers football team. Even though it’s 100-degrees out, football is right around the corner.
Here are five players who will need to have big seasons for the Tigers to return to the SEC Championship game and be a part of the four-team playoff.
1. QB Jayden Daniels
Doesn’t it always begin with the quarterback? There are many purple and gold fans who talk about Coach Brian Kelly winning a national title in his second season, like Kim Mulkey and Jay Johnson. Well, can Daniels win the Heisman in his second season as a starter at quarterback, just like Joe Burrow?
Did you know Daniels threw for more yards, had more touchdown passes and had a higher completion percentage than Burrow’s 2018 season, his first as a starter?
Joe Burrow:
2018 13 games 58% completion percentage, 2,894 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Jayden Daniels:
2022 14 games 69% completion percentage, 2,913 yards and 17 touchdowns.
The pieces are certainly there for Daniels to improve on his 2022 campaign, but to throw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns this season like Burrow did in 2019 might be asking for too much.
2. WR Malik Nabers
Kayshon Boutte’s slow start last season allowed Malik Nabors to connect right away with Daniels as Jayden tried to settle in as the starting QB. Nabers has the potential to be the next great receiver to come out of LSU. He caught 72 passes last season for 1,017 yards. Look for Mason Taylor and Brian Thomas Jr to become bigger parts of the offense, but when it’s 3rd and long and someone needs to make a play, Nabers will be that guy.
3. LB Harold Perkins
You need great playmakers on offense and you need them on defense too. Once LSU figured out how to use the talented linebacker last season, Perkins really flourished. He’s the main reason why they beat Arkansas on a cold day in Fayetteville. Perkins had eight tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles that day and he didn’t feel good. Perkins finished with 7.5 sacks last season, I’m thinking he can reach double digits in 2023.
4. DT Maason Smith
Kelly might be excited as anyone about the potential of a healthy Maason Smith manning the interior of the defensive line. Smith has the tools to be a first-round pick and create that push you need in the interior of the line.
5. FS Greg Brooks
I’m betting Brooks will not put huge numbers when it comes to interceptions, but he’s a guy Defensive Coordinator Matt House will be counting on to provide leadership for a secondary that’s bit of question mark, because of inexperience at the cornerback position. Brooks, who started for three seasons at Arkansas, before transferring to LSU prior to the 2022 season, has now started a whopping 44 games during his college career. A smart player that will be asked to serve as a coach on the field.
