LSU Fall Camp Scrimmage: Three Position Groups to Monitor
Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers cap off a productive Fall Camp on Saturday with their scrimmage in Tiger Stadium.
For this program, the last few weeks have given the Tigers a chance to evaluate depth while remaining relatively healthy as they gear up for their Sept. 3 season opener against Florida State.
Now, the final hurdle will be jumped with LSU suiting up to play in Death Valley.
Here are three position groups to monitor and questions surrounding them:
Cornerbacks
Southeastern Louisiana transfer Zy Alexander and Syracuse transfer Duce Chestnut have been the starting cornerbacks for this defense during camp. The duo has taken a majority of first team reps and looked the part through preseason practice.
Aside from Alexander and Chestnut, who else will step up and make an impact? All eyes turn to true freshman Ashton Stamps. The Louisiana native has been the talk of the town through camp and it’s expected he takes on a major role this fall.
Along with Stamps, how will sophomore corner Laterrance Welch look in a game-like situation? He looked fantastic during the Tigers spring game in April, but it’ll be important to see the strides he’s taken this offseason.
The depth chart has four cornerbacks who are more than capable of taking impactful snaps in Tiger Stadium this season, but there’s been fluctuation with this group.
We’ve seen redshirt sophomore Sage Ryan also line up as a corner. He’ll be a name to monitor on Saturday.
Will Denver Harris return to the field on Saturday after missing the entire final week of preseason practice due to personal matters?
If so, his snap count will be an important piece to monitor after running with the second and mostly third team during camp.
Defensive Line
Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Maason Smith has been banged up all offseason as he works his body back up after suffering a torn ACL last season.
He’s dealt with minor injury after minor injury, but a sprained ankle has had him shaken up this week. It’ll be interesting to monitor his snap count if Kelly and Co. throw him out there.
The front four is just about set with Smith, Mekhi Wingo, Sai’vion Jones and Ovie Oghoufo but Oregon transfer Bradyn Swinson emerged as a starting caliber player over the final few days of camp. We’ll be monitoring the different rotations that shine with the defensive line.
Running Backs
It’s no secret LSU has an embarrassment of riches at running back. With eight scholarship backs on the roster, the dividing of snaps by Frank Wilson has been a key piece to fall camp with this position group.
Josh Williams, Armoni Goodwin and Logan Diggs were sidelined during the final week of camp as they nurse minor injuries, giving Noah Cain and John Emery a majority of the reps, but Tre Bradford, Trey Holly and Kaleb Jackson got their fair share of cracks as well.
On Saturday, monitoring the running back situation will be key with the Tigers battling the injury bug and Noah Cain likely taking significant snaps.
