LSU Football: Who's Standing Out During Fall Camp?
Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers are inching closer to their 2023 season opener against Florida State, and as preparation continues, this program is seeing several players shine during camp.
From newcomers to returning talent, the Tigers have seen a handful of guys make an impact through preseason practice.
Here are a three players standing out as Week 3 of camp begins:
Ashton Stamps - Cornerback
The freshman from Metairie (La.) continues climbing up the depth chart for LSU after the second week of camp. He’s sitting behind Zy Alexander and Duce Chestnut with the chance to make an impact for this program sooner rather than later.
The cornerback room is a fresh-faced group and Stamps has taken advantage of the equal opportunities that have been distributed.
With Alexander, Chestnut, Stamps, Denver Harris, and Laterrance Welch, among others, taking reps at corner, we’ve seen the freshman look the part through eight days of practice.
With Ohio State transfer JK Johnson going down with a lower leg fracture earlier during camp, it’s opened up chances for Stamps to step in and he hasn’t shied away from the competition. As preseason practice continues, the freshman has seen his stock rise at a rapid rate.
Maason Smith - Defensive Line
The redshirt sophomore went down with a torn ACL in the season opener against Florida State in 2022, but after nearly a year of rehabilitation, Smith hasn’t skipped a beat.
Through seven practices, the interior defensive lineman looked completely healthy, but day eight saw the menace of a player go down with a minor leg injury.
Smith was down for a few minutes but got up and walked off under his own power. It doesn’t appear to be something of a concern moving forward. With that being said, Smith has looked phenomenal through fall practice.
A player who’s high on mock drafts for 2024, Smith is ready for a big-time season for the Tigers this season. The twitchiness and strength has been on full display as he continues getting his legs back underneath him. He hasn’t hesitated and is a leader in the locker room for Brian Kelly’s program.
Chris Hilton Jr. - Wide Receiver
Hilton has battled the injury bug during his time in Baton Rouge, but now fully healthy, he’s taking advantage of his opportunities. Despite running with the 2’s during practice, he’s a player who will make an impact this fall.
Hilton is a vertical threat. He’s a speedster when cruising down the sideline and LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has connected with the redshirt sophomore on several occasions, including a few deep balls during 11-on-11 work.
As preseason practice goes on, Hilton will continue looking to get more run with the 1’s, but one thing is certain, if he can stay healthy this year, he’ll make an impact for this program.
Hilton has been as impressive as it gets in the wide receiver room and his offseason work is paying off during camp.
