Our daily fall camp preview series continues with the LSU Tigers, a team coming off its first non 10-win season since 2009 with a major quarterback competition heading into August:

Personnel

Leonard Fournette, Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural are all elite-level playmakers every SEC offense would love to have, but how much of an impact can this trio make without a leader at quarterback? Les Miles has sat on his hands throughout the offseason waiting on a player to emerge, but Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris, passers with similar skill sets, haven’t shown enough to warrant naming a starter. Miles has said repeatedly both quarterbacks have improved since the end of last season and he’s encouraged by their development, but he needs to see more. LSU’s offensive line should be one of the SEC’s better units despite the loss of La’el Collins which will help this group, notably the quarterback play, as a unit.

As often the case in Baton Rouge, LSU’s strengths defensively are at the back end and on the interior where the Tigers welcome back several All-SEC candidates. Jamal Adams highlights a star-studded secondary that was the SEC’s most stingy last season, giving up a league-low 10 touchdown passes. Along the defensive line, veterans Christian LaCouture and Davon Godchaux gives the Tigers stability at the point of attack, but projected productivity at the defensive end spots, considering the loss of Danielle Hunter and current suspension of Maquedius Bain, remains a question.

Primary position battles

Quarterback — Anthony Jennings vs. Brandon Harris: Can the Tigers win big without a productive signal caller? That seems to be the million-dollar question this offseason amid the Jennings-Harris battle that saw little to no separation during the spring. Miles said Monday on ESPN that he would’ve “loved to have been in the running for the Ohio State QB”, that of course in reference to Braxton Miller who has decided to stay with the Buckeyes. With the quarterback situation unresolved, Miles will look for leadership under center during August and choose a starter based on which player better directs this offense. Jennings was one of four players involved in an alleged burglary in June and remains suspended indefinitely. Miles said at SEC media days that he expects that group to return to the team at some point.

Cornerback — Kevin Toliver vs. numerous challengers for majority of second-team snaps: By most accounts, Ed Paris won the job opposite of Tre’Davious White during the spring over the athletic true freshman who expectedly lacked consistency in coverage. Assuming he’ll continue to develop in passing situations during fall practice, Toliver’s too talented to keep on the sideline. He’s more or less fighting for a spot in the Tigers’ rotation on the outside as an early enrollee, but Paris is within striking distance.

End goal

Note to LSU’s training staff: Keep Fournette hydrated in August because the Tigers are expecting him to carry much of the offensive production this season on a unit that, at times, is vertically-challenged through the air. LSU ranked dead last in passing offense last fall at 162.9 yards per game and only threw the football 21.2 yards per game. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron’s hoping to open things up a bit this season if he finds stability at quarterback.

Navigating through a difficult schedule is a challenge all teams in the SEC West face this season, but the Tigers will know where they stand early with games against Mississippi State and Auburn within the first three weeks. Solving the quarterback question is paramount to their success before traveling to Starkville on Sept. 12. Fall practice could eliminate that worry.