Lindy's Top 10
- Georgia
- Michigan
- Ohio State
- Alabama
- LSU
- Florida State
- Washington
- Penn State
- Texas
- USC
LSU Summary
We admit it. We were a little skeptical and poked a little fun last year at the hiring of Brian Kelly. Well, his sometimes-affected Southern accent and cringey viral dance videos turned out to be just offseason noise. In the Midwest or on the Bayou, he can coach 'em up with the best. His first Tigers team won 10 games and the SEC West...and his second Tigers team looks even better.
GOOD NEWS: QB Jayden Daniels turned into a do-it-all threat last season, and now he can throw to the next LSU wideout (Malik Nabers), while also targeting experienced wideout Kyren Lacy. Harold Perkins Jr. burns rubber coming off the edge, which is a large reason why he is our national preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
BAD NEWS: LSU could use some firepower at running back. Otherwise, did Kelly really have to say out loud in May, "I love beating Alabama?" Of course he does, but that was a spring headline that didn't need to show up on Nick Saban's iPhone.
OUR CALL: The showdown Nov. 4 at Alabama will tell the tale.
Tigers on Athlon's All-America Teams
- Second Team Offense: OT Will Campbell (6-6, 325, soph.)
- First Team Defense: LB Harold Perkins Jr. (6-1, 220, soph.)
LSU Units in Athlon's Top Ten Nationally
- Receivers - #3
- Offensive Line - #3
- Defensive Line - #6
- Linebackers - #2
- Defensive Backs - "DBU" not in Top Ten
Player Ratings
- Jayden Daniels, #8 quarterback
- Malik Nabers, #6 wide receiver
- Will Campbell, #5 tackle
- Maason Smith, #4 defensive tackle
- Harold Perkins, #1 inside linebacker
- Omar Speights, #11 inside linebacker
Top 12 Conference Games: 2. LSU at Alabama, Nov. 4
The winner of this one will win SEC West and be CFP-ready.
Top 12 Non-Conference Games: 2. LSU vs Florida State Sept. 3
PAT block with no time left? FSU did that last year.
Bowl Projection: LSU vs Notre Dame in Peach Bowl
Heisman Watch: #7 Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
He'll lead another LSU charge after surprising many with his run-pass skills following his transfer from Arizona State last year.
Impact Transfers: Non-Quarterbacks
#10 Omar Speights, LB, Oregon State to LSU - First-team All-Pac-12 LB fortifies LSU's front.
National Recruiting Rankings
6. LSU: Can Brian Kelly recruit in the SEC? That was the question often asked and met with skepticism when the Tigers hired the former Notre Dame head coach in 2021. Entering year two in Baton Rouge, it's fair to say that Kelly and his staff have currently met the lofty expectations of one of the most demanding fanbases in the country when it comes to the recruiting trail.
Similar to his time at Notre Dame, Kelly has emphasized the offensive side of the line of scrimmage in Baton Rouge. Offensive line coach Brad Davis and the Tigers continued to bolster one of their biggest strengths by adding five-star OT Zalance Heard, four-star OT DJ Chester, four-star OT Tyree Adams, and three-star IOL Paul Mubenga in the 2023
cycle. Similar to first-year starter Emory Jones last season, Chester should provide the Tigers with some valuable position versatility along the offensive line and could see the field sooner rather than later with his ability to move inside.
Top 5 Schools by Position
Receivers: LSU #5 (Jalen Brown, Shelton Sampson Jr., Kyle Parker
Tight End: LSU #3
(Ka'Morreun Pimpton, Mac Markway, Jackson McGohan
Offensive Line: LSU #4 (Zalance Heard, DJ Chester, Tyree Adams, Paul Mubenga)
SEC PICKS
| SEC WEST |
SEC EAST |
- Alabama
- LSU
- Ole Miss
- Arkansas
- Texas A&M
- Auburn
- Mississippi State
|
- Georgia
- Tennessee
- South Carolina
- Florida
- Kentucky
- Missouri
- Vanderbilt
|
LSU players on Athlon's All-SEC Teams:
- 1st team offense
QB Jayden Daniels
WR Malik Nabors
OL Will Campbell
- 1st team defense
DL Maason Smith,
LB Harold Perkins, Jr.
- 2nd team offense
TE Mason Taylor
- 2nd team defense
LB Omar Speights
If you missed it: Summary of Athlon's College Football Preview