LSU Spring Game Preview: Three Offensive Players to Watch
Brian Kelly and the Tigers are roughly 24 hours away from their annual spring game showdown in Death Valley. A program that returns starting quarterback Jayden Daniels and several offensive weapons, this is a group that will have all eyes on them.
LSU’s offense struggled at times last season. With predictable sets and difficulty pushing the ball downfield to their vertical threats, there is significant room for improvement.
Here are three offensive players to watch ahead of Saturday’s spring game:
Jayden Daniels - Quarterback
It’s a given LSU fans will want to see which areas Daniels has improved on so far this offseason. A player who grew each week for the Tigers, his growth was evident, but after a few months to lock in on his craft we could see significant strides.
There were times where Daniels struggled to go through his progressions. There were times where he didn’t “trust his arm." As the season went on we saw his game advance in a few ways.
In Saturday’s spring game, it’ll be interesting to monitor Daniels’ progression. A signal-caller who has all the intangibles of being a success story in 2023, he’s attacked the offseason and could be due for a breakout year. How will he perform on Saturday when his number is called?
Malik Nabers - Wide Receiver
LSU’s WR1 is one of the top returning wideouts in all of college football. He put on a show during his sophomore campaign in 2022 and looks ready to take that next step in the fall. Nabers asserted himself as the Tigers’ top option last season, and after a challenging Week 1 loss to Florida State, he put the struggles behind him and put together a stellar season.
Nabers and Daniels now prepare for Year 2 in the same system alongside one another. Their chemistry has grown and it could be a big season for the two of them, but Saturday’s spring game could give a slight indication of what to expect.
It’ll be a small sample size, but a piece to monitor will be the continuity between the two offensive weapons and how their game has advanced over the last few months.
Trey Holly - Running Back
The early-enrollee has received significant volume during spring ball. With both Josh Williams and Armoni Goodwin out with knee injuries, and John Emery focusing on academics, the only two scholarship running backs on roster are Holly and second-year Tiger Noah Cain.
We’ve seen Holly put on display what had him as such a coveted prospect. After a senior season that saw him break the Louisiana all-time rushing yards record, Holly looks to carry his success to the next level.
It’ll be a work in progress for the youngster, but watching him compete in Tiger Stadium will be something to monitor. LSU battled the injury bug at running back last season which makes the growth of Holly that much more important if his number is called sooner rather than later.
