Phil Steele's Top Ten

1. Oklahoma
2. Alabama
3. Ohio State
4. Clemson
5. Georgia
6. Texas A&M
7. Notre Dame
8. Iowa State
9. Washington
10. Cincinnati

LSU is ranked #17.
The Tigers are #8 in my Power Poll [which is based on talent without taking into account schedule) and figure to get a Stock Market type of bounce after going from 15-0 to 5-5 last year. LSU has 9 starters back on both offense and defeense and is my #2 Most Improved Team.

Steele pegs LSU as the #3 SEC team behind Alabama and Texas A&M.
The Tigers may have had the greatest team in college football history in 2019. But with just 5 returning starters last year, all my indicators pointed down and LSU fell to 3-5 before winning the last 2 (including an upset over Florida) to avoid a losing season. This year the Tigers have 18 returning starters with 2 veteran QB's and they get a key game was Texas A&M at home in Week 12. LSU is one of those rare teams that make both my Most Improved list and My Surprise Team list.

LSU Players on Phil Steele's Preseason All-SEC Team
First team offense – K Cade York, WR Kayson Boutte, G Ed Ingram
First team defense – CB Derek Stingley Jr.
First special teams - PR Derek Stingley, LS Quentin Skinner
Second team offense - C Liam Shanaham
Second team defense - CB Eli Ricks
Second special teams - KR Trey Palmer
Third team defense - DE Ali Gaye

Comments on LSU Units
Quarterbacks (before Brennan's injury)
This is a deep and talented group that is much more experienced than 2020.
Running Backs
Will be deep with the top two backs joined by true frosh Armoni Goodwin (PS#8) and Corey Kiner (PS#11). This unit is much more experienced and should live up to its potential.
Receivers
TE Kole Taylor has NFL potential and Boutte will be one of the nation's best, but they must uncover a #2 and #3 WR but do have 8 very highly touted's (VHTs) to battle for those spots.
Offensive Line (before Rosenthal's transfer)
The entire two deep returns and with 12 VHTs in the unit, this group will be vastly improved.
Defensive Line
All four starters return and some will lost their spots with 15 VHTs in the unit. This is a deep and talented group that may be the best of the Orgeron era.
Linebackers
They return their #1, #4 and #5 tacklers and add in Clemson transfer Mike Jones and JC transfer Novonteque Strong, who was impressive in the spring. Despite the loss of their top guy, this is a much more experienced unit.
Defensive Backs
They added UGA transfer Major Burns. If Stingley returns to form, they could have the best set of CB's in the country along with Eli Ricks. With 10 VHTs, this will be the most improved secondary in the country!
Special Teams
They lose P Zach Von Rosenberg and need P Peyton Todd to live up to his PS#3 billing in order to move up.

LSU's Units Ranking in the SEC

• #6 QBs
• #7 RBs
• #3 Receivers
• #3 O-Line
• #5 D-Line
• #5 LBs
• #2 DBs
• #3 Special teams

LSU Freshmen Rankings
#13 QB Garrett Nussmeier
#8 RB Armoni Goodwin
#11 RB Corey Kiner
#12 WR Chris Hilton
#13 WR Deion Smith
#14 WR Brian Thomas
#54 WR Malik Nabors
#61 WR Jack Bech
#16 OL Garrett Dellinger
#6 DL Maason Smith
#19 DL Landon Jackson
#29 DL Bryce Langston
#35 DL Saivion Jones
#39 DL Zavier Carter
#26 LB Greg Penn
#5 DB Sage Ryan
#9 DB Derrick Davis Jr.
#67 DB Damarius McGhee

#24 JUCO transfer LB Navonteque Strong