LSU Football: Projecting the Tigers' Offensive Depth Chart
The LSU football team has entered game week preparation for the Florida State Seminoles with their season opener just days away.
The Tigers will hit the road to Orlando with high expectations in a Top 10 matchup against a fierce Seminoles squad, but Brian Kelly’s program has the chance to get off to an impressive start in his second season at the helm.
Offensively, this team has all the tools to be a force in 2023. Led by second-year Tiger Jayden Daniels, LSU will have a calm, poised signal-caller leading the charge as he looks to take that next step this season.
The Offensive Depth Chart:
Quarterback
QB: Jayden Daniels, Garrett Nussmeier
There will be no surprises when it comes to the LSU’s QB1 against Florida State on Sunday. The second-year Tiger has the chance to put it all together this season and shine for a program poised to make a College Football Playoff run. For Nussmeier, the redshirt sophomore will be one of the best backup quarterbacks in America. He’s taken strides in the right direction during camp and will be ready when his number is called.
Running Back
RB: Josh Williams, Logan Diggs/Noah Cain
LSU flaunts an embarrassment of riches at the running back position led by fifth-year senior Josh Williams. Williams handled starting duties in 2022 after Armoni Goodwin went down with injury and never looked back. It’s imperative the super senior remains healthy this season after battling a knee injury all offseason with limited reps carrying into Fall Camp.
Along with Williams, Notre Dame transfer Logan Diggs has the chance to shine in his first season in Baton Rouge. He came to LSU with the chance to take on a major role and the Tigers are prepared to give him that if he remains healthy.
For Cain, he’s taken first team reps all August with Williams and Diggs nursing minor injuries and thrived when given opportunity. The Tigers have the chance to role with a three-back system this season with so many weapons.
Tight End
TE: Mason Taylor, Mac Markway/Ka’Morreun Pimpton
Mason Taylor returns to Baton Rouge with the chance to put together an All-SEC caliber season for the Tigers. There will be no surprises here. Taylor is the guy in this tight end room for LSU and can be a major force in year two.
After Taylor, the Tigers have a wide variety of options headlined by freshmen Mac Markway and Ka’Morreun Pimpton. Both flaunt different skill sets with Markway being a talented blocker and Pimpton serving as a lethal receiving threat. Look for the Tigers to utilize the youngsters this season at some point.
Another weapon will be JUCO transfer Connor Gilbreath. He’s a blocking tight end who will transition to offensive tackle next season, but for now, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock could look to use his services as a blocker during his first season in Death Valley.
Wide Receiver
WR: Malik Nabers, Chris Hilton
WR: Brian Thomas, Shelton Sampson Jr.
WR: Kyren Lacy, Aaron Anderson
There hasn’t been any shakeup this offseason with the first-team wide receiver room led by Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas and Kyren Lacy. The trio of wideouts have the chance to be special this season with Jayden Daniels at the helm as each look to take that next step.
First-year Tigers Shelton Sampson (freshman) and Aaron Anderson (Alabama transfer) will serve key roles this season with the second-team alongside Chris Hilton. All three have shined during Fall Camp in some capacity with Hilton really hitting his stride as a vertical threat.
Offensive Line
LT: Will Campbell, Bo Bordelon
LG: Garrett Dellinger, Kimo Makaneole
C: Charles Turner, Marlon Martinez
RG: Miles Frazier, Mason Lunsford
RT: Emery Jones, Zalance Heard
There have been position battles brewing up front with true freshman Zalance Heard emerging at the end of Fall Camp. For now, the starting unit remains the same, but there could be some change sooner rather than later.
During the Fall Camp scrimmage, Heard took first-team reps at right tackle. If Heard continues shining and earns a starting role, it would shift Emery Jones to right guard with a starting rotation of: Campbell, Dellinger, Turner, Jones and Heard.
