LSU Football: Maason Smith Headlines Talented Defensive Line Group
LSU defensive lineman Maason Smith headlines a deep position group as the Tigers continue going through the motions of fall camp.
Smith continues to shine during preseason practice, but the talent of the defensive line has been on full display through the first nine days of camp.
Brian Kelly and Co. went out this offseason and added a handful of players via the NCAA Transfer Portal and high school ranks. It was important for this program to add depth to a position group that lacked bodies and Kelly did just that.
Now, the defensive line has become a unit that flaunts an embarrassment of riches heading into the 2023 season.
Maason Smith Among Preseason Stars
It’s no secret LSU defensive lineman Maason Smith is due for a breakout season in the purple and gold. After going down with a torn ACL in last year’s season opener, the former five-star recruit has the chance to be special this season.
Smith was fully cleared this summer and hasn’t skipped a beat during camp. Aside from going down with an injury scare on Saturday, he’s been as impressive as it gets.
“If you see him, he’s bigger. Not like a fat thing, he’s just huge now. He’s in that 315-320 range and he’s put on real lean muscle,” LSU defensive lineman Jacobian Guillory said on Monday. “We knew it would work out for him because he doesn’t take stuff lightly, he wants to be 100 percent, so when he came back bigger and stronger, we were excited. Maason is a great teammate and a great person. He just wants to work and be the best player he can be.”
There have been a handful of eye-opening players shining during preseason practice and Smith has been at the top of the list on a routine basis, looking the part through nine practices.
Depth of the Position Group
Heading into the 2023 season, the Tigers have significant depth up front. Brian Kelly hit the Transfer Portal with force and it’s paid off during fall camp with Ovie Oghoufo standing out as a first-year player for this program.
With the returning talent LSU brought back paired with the newcomers making a difference, the depth of this group has been a key piece to its success this offseason.
“It lets everybody play at 100 percent all the way through. Mekhi taking 88 snaps, that will never happen again. It lets everybody be 100 percent and it lowers the risk of injuries,” Guillory said. “To have everybody rotating all game, they’re going to bring us through the roof. That’s something we can really lean on because there are guys getting better every day. Like Paris [Shand], he’s gotten better from spring to now, we didn’t have Jordan [Jefferson] in the spring, but he’s been really good now. Just having those guys we can count on, it’s going to be a good year for the defensive line.”
Youngsters Making an Impact
If there is one freshman who turns heads during fall camp, it’s defensive lineman Dashawn Womack. He’s as talented as they come, but his physical tools are what will have one in complete awe.
The 6-foot-5, 260-pound freshman towers over his peers, looking like a savvy veteran despite being in Baton Rouge for just a few months.
This program will find a way to get Womack on the field in 2023 whether it’s at JACK linebacker or up front on the line. He’s an important piece to Matt House’s defense and can make an immediate impact in year one with the team.
“Womack is not from here, so you think he’s talking cocky, but he’s from Baltimore, so that’s just him. He looks like a unit,” Guillory said. “When I got here, I was like ‘who is this guy we got from Baltimore?’, but that’s another guy that’s getting better everyday. He’s just trying to do whatever he has to do to get on the field.”
