© Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
The Tigers have their rotations cemented as Saturday’s Spring Game nears, wide receiver room flaunts an embarrassment of riches.
Brian Kelly and Co. will hold a walkthrough on Thursday morning as they put the final preparations in for Saturday’s Spring Game in Tiger Stadium at 1 p.m. CT.
The Bayou Bengals have worked through weeks of camp with rotations emerging in a big way over the last few practices.
Offensively, it’ll be a new-look scheme with redshirt junior Garrett Nussmeier lining up under center. After the departure of Heisman-winning signal-caller Jayden Daniels and a pair of projected first round wide receivers in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr, there will be significant intrigue into how this unit looks this fall.
On Saturday, Tiger fans will get a glimpse into the future of the group.
“The big thing coming into this offseason was developing our identity as an offense and really trying to start that from inside out,” offensive coordinator Joe Sloan said. “Everything’s going to start from inside out from the offensive line out to the perimeter. We want to be known as a physical football team that’s explosive on the perimeter.”
When it comes to the other side of the ball, Kelly assembled an all-star staff headlined by cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond and defensive line coach Bo Davis. The overseer of all will be defensive coordinator Blake Baker as he also makes his return to Baton Rouge.
Now, it’s full steam ahead to Saturday’s Spring Game with starters and backup rotations coming to light over the last few weeks of camp.
LSU will spend the rest of the offseason fine-tuning the little things, but here is a projected depth chart before Saturday:
Offense
The Quarterbacks
Starter: Garrett Nussmeier (R-Jr.)
Backups: AJ Swann (Jr.) or Rickie Collins (R-Fr.)
It’s Nussmeier’s time to shine in Baton Rouge with backups Swann and Collins battling it out this offseason for QB2 duties. Along with the trio of signal-callers, we’ll see early-enrollee Colin Hurley take a few snaps on Saturday.
The Running Backs
Starter: Josh Williams (Gr.)
Backup: Kaleb Jackson (Soph.)
Josh Williams has handled first team duties for the LSU offense with sophomore back Kaleb Jackson sliding in and earning starting reps as well. LSU will add four-star, Top 10 back Caden Durham this summer as well as hope to get Trey Holly back in the mix as he handles off-the-field issues.
The Wide Receivers
Starters: Kyren Lack (Sr.), Chris Hilton Jr. (R-Jr.) and Aaron Anderson (R-Soph.)
Backups/Rotation: CJ Daniels (Gr.), Zavion Thomas (Jr.), Kyle Parker (R-Fr.) and Shelton Sampson (R-Fr.)
Kyren Lacy has taken over as LSU’s WR1 this offseason with Chris Hilton also asserting himself as a starter during camp. The pair of electrifying wideouts appear to have cemented starting duties, but the third receiver slot is up for grabs with Anderson, Daniels, Thomas and Parker all battling it out. Regardless, LSU will utilize a five or six man rotation this season with significant weapons outside. Saturday will give a look into the embarrassment of riches wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton has in his arsenal.
The Tight Ends
Starter: Mason Taylor (Jr.)
Backups: Mac Markway (Soph.) and Ka’Morreun Pimpton (Soph.)
Taylor will be involved more this season with Joe Sloan taking over as the playcaller for the Tigers. He’s spoken highly of his prized tight end, calling him one of the program’s best players, and will utilize his skill set in a variety of ways.
As for Markway and Pimpton, the pair of sophomores have taken strides in the right direction and look to take on a bigger role this season. Markway has looked exceptionally sharp during spring camp and appears to have locked up that TE2 role.
The Offensive Line
Starters: Will Campbell (Jr.), Garrett Dellinger (Sr.), DJ Chester (R-Fr.), Miles Frazier (Sr.), Emery Jones (Jr.)
Backups: Tyree Adams (R-Fr.), Paul Mubenga (R-Fr.), Coen Echols (Fr.), Christian Stamps (R-Fr.), Bo Bordelon (R-Soph.)
LSU returns four starters from a season ago up front with DJ Chester being the lone new face in the mix. Campbell and Jones will look to become the top tackle duo in college football while Chester looks to prove he can hang with the top guns. Through camp, it’s been rave reviews for Chester while he “handles himself like a pro both on and off of the field.”
Defense
Defensive Tackle
Starters: Jacobian Guillory (R-Sr.), Jalen Lee (R-Sr.) or Kimo Makane’ole (R-Jr.)
Backups: Kimo Makane’ole (R-Jr.) and Shone Washington (R-Soph.)
The depth at defensive tackle is razor thin with a quartet of Tigers battling it out this offseason. A piece to monitor will be Makane’ole, who switched from offense to defense this offseason, but nonetheless, reinforcements will be on this way this offseason via the Transfer Portal and five-star DL Dominick McKinley.
Defensive End
Starters: Sai’vion Jones (Sr.) and Bradyn Swinson (Sr.)
Backups: Paris Shand (Sr.), Da’Shawn Womack (Soph.)
LSU will execute a new scheme under defensive coordinator Blake Baker with both Swinson and Jones benefitting from a two defensive end look. Along with the pair of upperclassmen, expect sophomore Dashawn Womack to be used significantly this season. The former five-star recruit has taken strides in the right direction with those within the program impressed with what he provides.
The Linebackers
Starters: Greg Penn III (Sr.), Harold Perkins (Jr.)
Backups:Whit Weeks (Soph.), West Weeks (Sr.)
Harold Perkins and Greg Penn III have looked the part with defensive coordinator Blake Baker working alongside them routinely. It’s also important to mention the Weeks Bros. handling business on the practice field this spring. It’ll be exciting to watch the second-level this season, especially with Perkins back in the inside linebacker spot. Saturday will give a better look into how Perkins will be utilized this fall.
STAR Role
Starter: Major Burns (Sr.)
Backups: Kylin Jackson (R-Fr.) and Ryan Yaites (Soph.)
Burns will now play a hybrid safety/linebacker role in defensive coordinator Blake Bakers scheme and has shined during Spring Camp. Those within the program feel this will be his sweet spot and it’s brought intrigue into the fall. Behind him will be youngsters Kylin Jackson and Ryan Yaites.
The Cornerbacks
Starters: Ashton Stamps (Soph.), PJ Woodland (Fr.)
Backups: Javien Toviano (Soph.), JK Johnson (R-Jr.)
PJ Woodland has asserted himself a starter as spring camp comes to a close. He’s spent the last two weeks running with the first team on the opposite side of Ashton Stamps and has the entire program buzzing about what could be this fall. The backups will be Javien Toviano and JK Johnson, but they’ll be given an equal opportunity to work with the first team on Saturday.
The Safeties
Starters: Jardin Gilbert (R-Jr.), Sage Ryan (R-Jr.)
Backups: Dashawn McBryde (Fr.), Jordan Allen (R-Soph.)
The rise of Sage Ryan has been a major takeaway during Spring Camp as he continues making his presence felt during both 7v7 drills and 11v11. Just two and a half weeks ago, Ryan had a three-interception day and he hasn’t slowed down. Now, it’s about seeing him in an in-game situation in Tiger Stadium.
Another bright spot this offseason has been true freshman Dashawn McBryde. The youngster will be hard to keep off of the field this season with those within the program raving about what he provides the purple and gold.
Special Teams
Kicker: Damian Ramos (R-Jr.)
Punter: Peyton Todd (R-Jr.)
Long Snapper: Slade Roy (Sr.)
Return Specialists: Zavion Thomas (Jr.) and Kyle Parker (R-Fr.)
Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Country: @LSUCountry_FN for all coverage surrounding the LSU program.
