Fall Camp Preview: Five Questions Surrounding LSU Football
LSU begins preseason practice on Thursday as the Tigers look to take that next step in 2023 led by quarterback Jayden Daniels.
After exceeding expectations last season, Brian Kelly and Co. have a target on their backs heading into this year, prepared to live up to the hype and then some.
But what are a few areas of concern? What will we be looking to learn during preseason practice?
Here are five questions surrounding the LSU Tigers:
Will Jayden Daniels Take That Next Step?
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels has the chance to leave a legacy in Baton Rouge as he enters his second season with the program. The Arizona State transfer made an immediate impact in year one, but what’s in store for year two?
The success came together late last season for LSU’s offense, prompting Daniels to make the decision to return to Death Valley. He invested in himself this offseason whether it be in the weight room, on the practice field or in the film room and that investment has the chance to pay dividends.
“LSU is special to me. The fan base and everything. Just the state of Louisiana has taken me as one of their own,” Daniels said at SEC Media Days. “I kind of feel like I'm from Louisiana now in a way. Even though I'm from California, I'm from the West Coast, they took me in as their own, treated me -- respected me.”
Daniels has the chance to take that next step this season, and if all goes accordingly, the California kid could cement his legacy in Baton Rouge.
“From my first game to the bowl game, I would just say being comfortable within the system. First game, first everything. First game with a new team, new coaches, so you didn't really know what to expect or where to go,” Daniels said.
“Fast-forward to the bowl game, you can see how much more comfortable everybody was with each other, how much comfortable the coaches were with the players and the players were with each other as a team and also with the coaches.”
What’s The Running Back Situation?
LSU returns four members of its backfield from the 2022 season in Josh Williams, Armoni Goodwin, Noah Cain and John Emery. Despite this, the Tigers went out and added Notre Dame transfer Logan Diggs.
But why bring in Diggs given the number of guys on roster? LSU’s running back room battled the injury bug all season in 2022, and a player of Diggs’ caliber is too talented to pass up on.
With Williams and Goodwin suffering injuries last year, and Emery constantly having question marks surrounding his name, this coaching staff went out and secured the top back in the portal.
Along with Diggs, LSU brought back former Tiger Tre’ Bradford. It’s been a wild ride for Bradford, who now returns to Baton Rouge for his third stint, but he’s received positive updates since returning.
Now, after having six scholarship backs on roster, why not add two more? LSU also reeled in four-star 2023 prospects Trey Holly and Kaleb Jackson. Holly reported to Baton Rouge as an early-enrollee in the spring while Jackson made his way to campus over the summer.
With eight scholarship running backs, it’s a crowded room, but this program will have no shortage of depth in 2023.
New Secondary. How Will LSU Piece It Together?
This is where things get tricky. It’s another season where virtually the entire secondary will be made up of newcomers looking to put it together.
LSU brought in transfer cornerbacks Zy Alexander, Duce Chestnut and JK Johnson, among others, but how will this unit form continuity? After a summer of workouts, the time is now to see where this group stands.
At safety, this squad is thin. The Tigers return Greg Brooks and Major Burns, but after the pair of veterans, what’s next? Look for freshman Javien Toviano to enter the mix in a big way as a player who can make an immediate freshman as a youngster. Not to mention Matthew Langlois looking to make a splash.
The secondary will be a position group many are circling for preseason practice to gauge where they are at. The next few weeks gives this program the chance to get on the same page, but for the defense, they must show life sooner rather than later.
Defensive Line Talent? What About The Second Level?
The defense will be where many are looking during preseason practice. How will the defensive line mesh? Other than Harold Perkins, who will hold down the second level?
There are many questions surrounding this defense that we hope to have answered sooner rather than later, but let’s start with the first two.
Up front, Maason Smith returns for the Tigers after suffering a torn ACL in 2022. Alongside Smith will be All-American candidate Mekhi Wingo. With the pair of menaces holding it down for the interior defensive line, the sky’s the limit, but what about the edge? Saivion Jones looks poised to take that next step in 2023 for this program. We’ll be monitoring his progression in a big way during camp.
At the second level, LSU knows what it's getting from Harold Perkins, but what about the others? How will Omar Speights look? Greg Penn III? It’s been a huge summer for Speights who came to Baton Rouge as an All-Conference selection in the PAC-12. Now, it’s time to show out in the SEC.
Which Newcomer Will Shine Brightest?
Logan Diggs? Omar Speights? Duce Chestnut? The Tigers reeled in several immediate impact newcomers, including several freshmen, who can step in and shine in Death Valley this season, but which one will make the biggest difference?
For Diggs, he has the chance to earn RB1 duties and handle business in a crowded running back room alongside Josh Williams, Noah Cain and Armoni Goodwin. After departing Notre Dame, he returns to his home state looking to take that next step in the SEC.
Speights has had a phenomenal offseason to this point and has received rave reviews from those within the program. A standout in the PAC-12, the All-Conference linebacker has the chance to take on a major workload alongside Harold Perkins at the second level.
For Chestnut, he proved his value while with Syracuse, but now facing SEC competition, it’ll be intriguing to see his development. The Tigers went out and added a variety of cornerbacks but Chestnut certainly has the chance to make an immediate impact in Baton Rouge.
