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LSU Spring Practice Report: Notes From Tuesday's Practice in Baton Rouge
The Tigers returned to the practice fields on Tuesday, quarterback battle emerging for backup duties.
LSU returned to the practice field on Tuesday morning with rotations beginning to emerge in Baton Rouge. Brian Kelly and Co. have seen growth over the first few weeks, but with the Tigers now over halfway done with camp, it's nearing crunch time.
The "concern" remains on the defensive side of the ball and will stay that way until the Bayou Bengals lace up their cleats in September to take on USC in Las Vegas.
Here are a few notes from Tuesday practice:
The Quarterbacks
- There remains a quarterback battle for QB2 duties between redshirt freshman Rickie Collins and Vanderbilt transfer AJ Swann. Swann, who has starting experience, though limited, has the poise and pocket awareness to handle backup duties. For Collins, he's beginning to emerge for Joe Sloan's quarterback room. The two will battle it out until the fall as they flipflop snaps during camp. Collins took QB2 snaps on Tuesday.
The Running Backs
- It's the same story as it has been all spring for the running backs: Josh Williams and Kaleb Jackson, the two scholarship backs on roster, continue splitting reps with Williams mainly running with the first team. LSU will add a running back via the NCAA Transfer Portal this spring surely.
The Wide Receivers
- The embarrassment of riches were on full display on Tuesday morning with Kyren Lacy, Chris Hilton Jr. and Aaron Anderson handling first team duties in the wide receiver room.
- CJ Daniels, Kyle Parker and Zavion Thomas ran with the second-team wide receivers during up-tempo drills.
- After practice, offensive coordinator Joe Sloan addressed the media and made it a point to note that Shelton Sampson Jr. has begun taking strides in the right direction. The former five-star receiver out of Catholic High (La.) is running with the third team.
The Offensive Line
- Nothing to report with the offensive line. It's going to be Will Campbell, Garrett Dellinger, DJ Chester, Miles Frazier and Emery Jones handling first team duties this fall with Brett Bordelon and Tyree Adams emerging as key backups in the trenches. The staff is very pleased with what Adams provides this program.
The Defensive Line
- The lone absentee on Tuesday came with early enrollee De'Myrion Johnson missing practice.
- Jacobian Guillory, Jalen Lee, Shone Washington and Kimo Makane'ole are the only scholarship defensive tackles on the roster right now with Johnson out of the mix.
- We saw Dashawn Womack, Jaxon Howard and Sai'vion Jones work on dropping back in coverage from the EDGE slot. It'll be intriguing to watch their usage this fall in defensive coordinator Blake Bakers scheme.
The Linebackers
- Harold Perkins and Greg Penn III remain the impressive duo at the second level of the defense with the Weeks Bros. (West and Whit) taking second team reps. There isn't much to report here.
The Secondary
- Ashton Stamps and Javien Toviano are the first team cornerbacks for this defense with Sage Ryan, Jardin Gilbert and Major Burns running as the three safeties. Burns is working in the STAR position for the Tigers.
- Jyaire Brown and PJ Woodland have continued looking the part as reliable reinforcements for LSU during camp. For JK Johnson, who missed the 2023 season with a lower leg injury, he continues working back to speed after suffering a minor injury during camp.
- Sources tell LSU Country that cornerback Zy Alexander, who tore his ACL last fall, is ahead of schedule and should be a full go this summer. Alexander handled starting cornerback duties last fall for the Tigers before his injury.
