LSU Spring Practice Report: Garrett Nussmeier, Tigers Work on Day 2
The Brian Kelly Era continues in Baton Rouge with Year 3 kicking off on Tuesday as the Tigers began spring football.
On Thursday, the media got an opportunity to have a viewing of the practice to check out the sights and sounds of practice with LSU revealing a fresh-faced roster.
Garrett Nussmeier and the offense looked sharp during positional drills through the 20 minute viewing with first-year Tiger CJ Daniels looking to part in the wide receiver room.
When it comes to the other side of the ball, the new defensive staff looked like an all-star team with Corey Raymond and Bo Davis remaining vocal from start to finish.
The LSU Practice Report from Day 2:
The Quarterbacks
- Let the Garrett Nussmeier Era begin in Baton Rouge. The veteran has waited his turn and he looks poised to take advantage of his opportunity. On Thursday, he looked sharp and confident with coach Joe Sloan working alongside him during positional drills. The connection with Kyren Lacy has the chance to be special this season as the two build it up.
- The No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart is Rickie Collins after following Nussmeier during drills. It's clear technique and fundamentals has been the key for Collins this offseason and it'll continue through August.
- Vanderbilt transfer AJ Swann worked as the third signal-caller for the Tigers after Collins. He attains significant size and looks poised in the purple and gold. Will be one to keep an eye on as he battles with Collins for the QB2 role.
- The fourth quarterback is early-enrollee Colin Hurley. He arrived in Baton Rouge at 16 years old after reclassifying and heading to Louisiana a year early. It's safe to say he looks above his years with tremendous zip on the ball.
The Running Back Room
- LSU has work to do in the running back room this offseason with the position group looking thin. It's Josh Williams and Kaleb Jackson manning this unit with Trey Holly suspended from all team activities. Holly was not present on Thursday.
- Williams and Jackson are the two scholarship backs at the moment.
- The Tigers will get 2024 four-star signee Caden Durham in Baton Rouge this offseason.
- Not much to take in from this group right now with a two-man approach in Williams and Jackson holding it down. LSU will certainly add another back during the spring portal window.
The Wide Receivers
- Kyren Lacy, CJ Daniels, Zavion Thomas and Chris Hilton look to be the go-to guys right now with Shelton Sampson and a few sophomores battling for key reps.
- Lacy, Hilton and Aaron Anderson took most first-team receiver reps with Daniels and Co. holding down second-team snaps.
- Cortez Hankton has an embarrassment of riches to work with in his receiver room and spring ball will be interesting to monitor how he divides snap.
- Landon Ibieta is still working back to 100%, a source told LSU Country. He'll have his work cut out for him to earn snaps. Ibieta should be good to go later this offseason.
The Offensive Line
- Will Campbell was repping the No. 7 jersey during practice, as he did last offseason, and once again looks as polished as ever. He and Emery Jones are poised for a big-time season in Baton Rouge and were seen vocal through the 20-minute viewing.
- From there, Garrett Dellinger worked in at guard with others stepping in as well.
The Defensive Line
- Bo Davis was extremely vocal and made sure to get on his guys during practice. It's clear there is a lack of depth up front at the moment, but it didn't stop Davis from pushing his current guys to the limit.
- Expect LSU to add two, maybe even three defensive linemen during the spring transfer portal window. The program will have to keep the scholarship limit (85) in check, but depth is of the utmost importance.
- From a player perspective, Davis was working with JUCO transfer Shone Washington for an extended period of time along with early-enrollee De'Myrion Johnson.
- Kevin Peoples worked with the EDGE rushers. Jaxon Howard and Saivion Jones took a handful of reps and it'll be interesting to see the growth this unit takes over the next month. Howard has transitioned to a linebacker role but bounced around.
- DaShawn Womack, a former five-star recruit, looked like a unit out there.
The Linebackers
- Harold Perkins and Whit Weeks looked the part during practice on Thursday with Blake Baker having a hands-on approach with his guys.
- One player to keep an eye on will be second-year Tiger Jaxon Howard, who is now listed as a linebacker after coming to Baton Rouge as a defensive lineman/EDGE. Interested to see how he transitions.
- We'll keep an eye on this position group in-depth during the next media viewing.
The Cornerbacks
- Ashton Stamps and Javien Toviano handled a majority of reps with Jeremiah Hughes and Co. working in as well.
- Stamps and Toviano were the first-team guys with Sage Ryan working in at nickel.
- Zy Alexander was out there with the team but was limited as he recovers from a torn ACL.
- One name to keep tabs on will be JK Johnson. Johnson, who missed all of last season after suffering a lower-body injury, transferred in from Ohio State and is now back in the mix. After speaking with those around the program, there is a level of hype surrounding Johnson. He looked the part on Thursday and will be one to monitor.
- Another Ohio State transfer, Jyaire Brown, also worked in on Thursday. The Louisiana native returned to The Boot this offseason and was seen getting his fair share of reps.
- Other names: Jeremiah Hughes, PJ Woodland, etc.
The Safeties
- Jardin Gilbert sticks out like a sore thumb in the safety room with his size being the key component. He's a built, sturdy 6-foot-2 who had those in the media buzzing with his physical attributes.
- Kylin Jackson, a second-year Tiger who redshirted in 2023, is back and healthy with LSU.
- Sage Ryan worked with Blake Baker and other coaches during practice and served as the primary nickel during drills.
- Early-enrollee DaShawn McBryde will be one we monitor. The size and fundamentals he has caught an eye and could be a key contributor.
