The LSU Tigers lose some of the nation’s greatest players, but they still have some firepower heading into 2024.
College football is just a few weeks away, and we’re previewing each SEC team for the 2024 season. We already examined the Kentucky Wildcats, and today we travel to Baton Rouge to analyze the LSU Tigers.
LSU faces the daunting challenge of replacing the Heisman Trophy winner. Can Brian Kelly’s Tigers overcome such a huge loss?
Examining the LSU Tigers’ offense
LSU was almost unstoppable on offensively in 2023. Having the Heisman Trophy winner and eventual #2 overall pick in QB Jayden Daniels, as well as a pair of first-round wide receivers in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas, tends to do that. So, how will LSU go about replacing that?
Garrett Nussmeier, Daniels’ backup for the last two years, gets the ball rolling. Nussmeier is a superb passer, and many see him as a breakout contender in ’24. He’ll still have talented receivers to pass to, including Kyren Lacy and Liberty transfer CJ Daniels, as well as tight end Mason Taylor.
Now that they are no longer splitting carries with Daniels, running backs Josh Williams and Kaleb Jackson have taken on larger roles. They’ll also have an exceptional offensive line blocking for them, with Will Campbell and Emery Jones forming the nation’s finest tackle tandem.
Examining the LSU Tigers’ defense
Last season, the Tigers performed horribly on defense. As a result, DC Matt House was sacked and replaced by Missouri’s Blake Baker. Baker did an excellent job at MU, but restoring his new team’s high-level defense may be difficult.
The LSU DL room has lost a lot, particularly inside, with Mekhi Wingo and Maason Smith gone. DE Sai’vion Jones is a good player, but Jacobian Guillory and Bradyn Swinson should step up. However, LB should be considered a strength. Yes, Harold Perkins is now again playing inside, rather than racing off the edge. However, with Baker’s blitz-happy system, Perkins should return to pass-rushing form while playing in a position that suits his body type. Greg Penn joins him after a solid ’23.
The secondary still has a lot of unanswered problems, despite the fact that Nickel Major Burns is a solid foundation to build on, and two other starters are back. However, this area did not receive the necessary major renovation in the summer. With more experience, they may be able to improve.
Thoughts on the LSU Tigers entering 2024
LSU is a difficult squad to figure out in 2024. The ceiling for offensive remains quite high assuming the new starters match their talent level, but it’s tough not to envision a step back from what they were in 2023. Defensively, the Tigers made a significant improvement at play-caller, but with so many concerns in the lineup, how much of an influence can the DC move have?
The good news for LSU is that their schedule is very favorable. The Tigers miss Georgia and Texas while hosting Ole Miss, Alabama, and Oklahoma. The toughest road trips are at Texas A&M and Florida, both of which are winnable games.
If the offense clicks and the defense improves significantly, the schedule positions LSU to potentially make the playoffs, but there are too many unknowns right now to safely place them there.
