LSU OC Mike Denbrock Praises Progression of Jayden Daniels, Early Enrollees
LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock understands the weapons he has heading into year two in Baton Rouge.
The Tigers return several key pieces that allowed them to see success in 2022, but bringing in a variety of newcomers provides them with even more options offensively.
Denbrock detailed what he’s seen from his early-enrollees and the next steps for Jayden Daniels:
Early Enrollees Mac Markway and Jackson McGohan
LSU added three tight ends via their 2023 recruiting class in Mac Markway, Jackson McGohan and Ka’Morreun Pimpton. With Pimpton set to enroll over the summer, the Tigers have seen Markway and McGohan thrive during the spring as early enrollees.
“I’m incredibly pleased with those guys,” Denbrock said of his new tight ends. “The old saying is true, especially with early enrollees, they’re drinking through a firehose and having a hard time keeping up mentally. That’s natural but as far as ability and what I think they’re going to be able to lend to our overall effort as an overall offense, they’re both going to play some factor in what we do in the fall. It’s exciting to see those guys evolve.”
Of course, the Bayou Bengals return star tight end Mason Taylor, but to have various weapons moving forward is key in this offense with all of them attaining different traits.
What Are Those Traits?
Denbrock harped on what both Markway and McGohan bring to this program after their first few spring practices.
“I think Mac is further along physically in that he can give us a physical presence that we lacked at times in the run game,” Denbrock said. “He can give us some good things there, it’s not that he can’t run and catch the ball but I think that’s his strength where he’ll be able to leap in front of the crowd.
“[McGohan] is a guy who needs a year in the weight room, a position where he can block defensive ends in our league but he is way up on the scale as far as running and catching the ball and making plays in space. I think there’s a good yin and yang as far as those two guys to support Mason Taylor to give us a pretty dynamic group.”
Jayden Daniels’ Progression
Daniels returns for a second season in Baton Rouge as the starting signal-caller. After a year where he continued progressing and showing a better arm, year two in Death Valley has the makings to be special.
Both Denbrock and Head Coach Brian Kelly have been pleased with the improvement Daniels has made during the offseason, trusting his deep ball more.
“I think Jayden’s ability to push the ball down the field consistently is something we’ve worked very hard on in the spring. He’s worked very hard on that during the winter, even when he’s been away from here,” Denbrock said. “We wanna be a threat in the vertical passing game and that takes some aggressiveness at the quarterback position and we want him to step into that role and not be afraid to let it fly.
“We’ve encouraged him to do that, he’s done an unbelievable job here early and in the spring. We’re about halfway through and really like the progress we’ve made there and we’ve got some dynamic guys who can go get it on the outside. That’s going to be a big key for us.”
Newcomers Making a Difference
The Tigers reeled in a number of top prospects to their 2023 recruiting class with most of them enrolling early to participate in spring ball. Of those players arriving on campus early, running back Trey Holly and wide receivers Jalen Brown and Kyle Parker have been impressive.
With both Kelly and Denbrock praising the youngsters on the field, off the field they’ve also been standouts.
“Just their level of competitiveness. We’ve got competitive guys in this program and there’s a desire for them to achieve the goal of graduating champions,” Denbrock said. “They go out to work everyday with that attitude about them and they’re serious about it, making good decisions, putting themselves in good positions on and off the field for us to achieve that. It’s fun to be around a group that not only understands what it takes to be very good at what they do but is willing to do it."
Kyle Parker and Jalen Brown Not Strangers
Parker and Brown provide different pieces to this wide receiver room moving forward. Brown’s speed is something special, making him a tremendous vertical threat for the future, but Parker has traits of his own that have been on display.
Parker’s physicality when the ball is in the air is what has him day one ready. It’s been evident in practice, and with a full offseason in Baton Rouge, we could see him get some snaps in year one.
“Those two guys aren’t out of place,” Denbrock said. “It’s been great. Those guys have both made explosive plays down the field. They’ve made contested catches. They’re swimming a little bit with the amount of install we’ve put in and forced on them but those guys are two guys that have a good chance to work themselves into some really big playing time in the fall.”
