LSU Football Depth Chart: Cornerback Concern?
The LSU secondary has been the talk of the town during Fall Camp with depth concerns taking over the headlines.
Brian Kelly and Co. brought in several newcomers this offseason with a handful of players via the Transfer Portal and three true freshmen from the high school ranks.
With Ohio State transfer JK Johnson out for an extended period of time and Texas A&M transfer Denver Harris “handling personal matters”, is depth a concern for this program?
A dive into the depth chart at cornerback:
Zy Alexander
The Southeastern Louisiana transfer made the move to take his talents to Baton Rouge during the offseason and has looked the part during Fall Camp. A lengthy, versatile corner, Alexander remains with the first team defense during preseason practice.
You can pencil Alexander in as a starter for the Sept. 3 season opener against Florida State after a strong offseason with the Tigers.
A player who has the experience and pedigree to play Power Five football, it’ll be intriguing to watch what Alexander does this season for the Tigers.
Duce Chestnut
The Syracuse transfer missed most of the offseason after nursing a shoulder injury he suffered last season, but once he returned to the practice field this summer and into Fall Camp, he proved why he was so coveted in the portal.
Chestnut quickly flew up the depth chart and ran with the first team defense alongside Alexander. It’s a strong one-two punch for the Tigers and Chestnut’s fiery personality on the field fires up his teammates day in and day out.
Look for Alexander and Chestnut to be the starters this season as the Tigers begin game preparation for Florida State following Saturday’s fall ball scrimmage in Death Valley.
Ashton Stamps - No. 3 on Depth Chart
Stamps has had a meteoric rise up the depth chart for LSU this offseason. The true freshman cornerback came to Baton Rouge as the lowest ranked prospect in the 2023 class, but after a big-time offseason in the weight room, Stamps has seen his game evolve at a rapid pace.
He’s competed against the top talent in Louisiana all of his life, and now suiting up for the Tigers, he’s leveled up in a big way.
Stamps continues taking reps with the one’s and the two’s while running as the No. 3 guy on the depth chart.
Look for Stamps to play a major role in what this LSU secondary does during the 2023 season. He’s received high praise from people within the program and has the chance to make an impact sooner rather than later.
Laterrance Welch - No. 4 on Depth Chart
Welch is one of the few returning pieces to LSU’s defense and has certainly taken a step in the right direction during the offseason.
A player who shined during the spring game, Welch continued his strong performance into the summer and Fall Camp.
Welch has held it down for the second team during preseason practice and will be a player the Tigers rely on to carry a major workload this upcoming season as a backup.
Denver Harris - No. 5 on Depth Chart
The Harris saga continued into Week 3 of Fall Camp after the prized transfer missed three consecutive practices. Along with missing three practices, Harris was also not featured in the team photo taken on Monday.
According to Brian Kelly, Harris is “handling personal matters” and “could be back with the team this weekend".
Harris has mainly taken snaps with the third team during camp. A player that continues improving day in and day out, the talent aspect of his is there if he can remain on the field with the Tigers.
With his absence, this is where depth becomes an issue. With eight scholarship cornerbacks on the roster in Alexander, Chestnut, Stamps, Welch, Harris, JK Johnson, Ryan Robinson Jr. and Jeremiah Hughes, depth concerns enter the fold here.
Jk Johnson - Lower Leg Fracture
Johnson will miss significant time this season after suffering a lower leg fracture during Fall Camp.
With the Ohio State transfer out for an extended period of time, it puts pressure on players like Stamps and Welch to make an immediate impact with the second team and we’ve seen the youngsters step up when needed.
LSU will roll with two transfers, a sophomore and three true freshmen at cornerback with Johnson out and Harris dealing with personal issues. Is depth a concern? It can be.
LSU has thrown Sage Ryan into the mix at cornerback during the backend of Fall Camp to provide an additional body.
The talent level is there, but developing the youngsters to provide depth this season will be key and it's started with the rise of Ashton Stamps.
