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A century ago this year, what would become the loudest and toughest place to play a college football game rose from a plateau of the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. Tiger Stadium is a monolithic icon of gameday venues that, when at full capacity, is loud enough to shake the earth and wake the dead heroes of LSU football glory of years past. Affectionately known as Death Valley, it is home to the LSU Tigers.
Under coach Brian Kelly, the Tigers are 20-7 with two top 20 final rankings in his two seasons in Baton Rouge, La. Can LSU achieve a third consecutive 10-win season and earn a berth in the 12-team College Football Playoff?
The LSU Offense
Garrett Nussmeier takes over the quarterback duties after patiently waiting his turn behind 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. Nussmeier saw action in six games last season, including his performance as the starter against Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Against the Badgers, Nussmeier completed 68 percent of his passes for 395 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 INT, and he comes into the 2024 season on the heels of that momentum.
The running back room will consist of veteran leadership and potential. Josh Williams is coming into his fifth season of play in Death Valley. Williams rushed for 284 yards and 5 touchdowns and averaged more than 5 yards per carry.
Kaleb Jackson is a tank rolling downfield. Jackson doesn’t run around you he runs over you with a fierce tenacity. Jackson averaged 5.32 yards per carry and scored 4 touchdowns.
The LSU backfield will run behind the most experienced unit on the team this season, the offensive line. This position group returns four starters and will be led by All-Southeastern Conference tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones, two of the best in college football. Campbell is a 2024 Walter Camp Preseason All-American.
Nussmeier will throw to a bevy of talented receivers:
Kyren Lacy: 30 catches for 558 yards and 7 touchdowns
CJ Daniels: 55 catches, 1,067 yards, 10 TDs last season with Liberty
Zavion Thomas: 40 catches, 503 yards, 1 TD with Mississippi State
Chris Hilton Jr.: 13 catches, 225 yards, 2 TDs
Aaron Anderson: 12 catches, 59 yards, 0 TDs
TE Mason Taylor: 36 catches, 348 yards, 1 TD
LSU’s Defense
On the defensive side of the ball, the 2023 LSU Tigers were the worst to exit the tunnel in 25 years.
Kelly cleaned house and fired essentially his entire defensive staff. He hired Blake Baker, formerly of the Missouri Tigers, as his new defensive coordinator. In addition, Kelly hired Bo Davis away from the Texas Longhorns to coach the defensive line. And, Kelly brought back former LSU star Corey Raymond to coach the secondary.
The Tigers return six starters from a season ago. Some positions will enjoy returning experience, others not so much:
DE Savion Jones: 33 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and 7 quarterback hurries
LB Greg Penn III: 89 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks and 2 INTs
LB Harold Perkins Jr.: 75 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles
STAR Major Burns: 93 tackles, 3 pass breakups, 3 tackles for loss and 1 INT returned for a touchdown
DB Sage Ryan: 42 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 5 PBUs
DB Zy Alexander: 44 tackles, 2 INTs and 7 PBUs
The other projected starters in the secondary include a true freshman four-star athlete and a talented transfer. PJ Woodland was rated as a four-star CB by Rivals and was named the Mississippi 7A Defensive Player of the Year.
Jardin Gilbert will play free safety for the Tigers. The White Castle, La., native played three seasons at Texas A&M. In 24 games with the Aggies, Gilbert had 80 tackles, 2 INTs and 6 PBUs in his collegiate career.
Other contributors to watch are safety Javien Toviano, who recorded 33 tackles last season, and LB Whit Weeks, who racked up 49 tackles to go with 3.5 tackles for loss in 2023, as a freshman. Also, DL Gabriel Reliford turned heads in the spring game and will battle for playing time early.
The Schedule
With no divisional play, the Tigers avoid Georgia, Missouri and Texas. LSU opens the season on Sept. 1 on the road in Las Vegas against the Trojans of USC. One that will set the tone for the rest of the season. A win against USC would be the first season-opening victory for the Tigers since a 55-3 beatdown of Georgia Southern in 2019.
LSU has the talent and the right coaches on staff to be special in 2024. The Tigers can post their third consecutive 10-win season in the Kelly era and earn a berth in the 12-team CFP. At a minimum, the Tigers finish 10-2. However, they could post an 11-1 record if they can split home games against either Ole Miss or against an Alabama team not coached by Nick Saban.
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