LSU’s 2014 season didn’t turn out like many hoped. The Tigers’ youth and inexperience, as well as quarterback deficiencies, were too much for the team to overcome as they were up and down en route to an 8-5 record.

Fortunately for Les Miles and his staff, the Tigers weren’t hit anywhere near as hard by early departures this year as they were the previous two. LSU brings back 15 of its starters on offense and defense, much-needed continuity for a team rocked by 18 early departures across 2012 and 2013.

With a more experienced team, who are the best Tigers returning to Baton Rouge for the 2015 season?

  • S Jamal Adams — A rising sophomore, Adams seemingly has limitless potential. He didn’t get a starter’s load of snaps at safety, but Adams made his presence felt all year, finishing fifth on the team in tackles for loss and third in passes deflected despite not being on the field much in the early weeks. With Ronald Martin gone, Adams should get a chance to start and blossom into a star in 2015.
  • OL Vadal Alexander — Alexander was among one of the best guards in the conference in 2014, and he’ll get the chance to flex even more in 2015. The left side of LSU’s line was as good as any with Alexander and La’el Collins, but with Collins gone and Jerald Hawkins shifting to left tackle, Alexander could be shifting to right tackle. If that’s the case, the Tigers will have great balance on the line and will be able to run equally well to both sides.
  • LB Kendell Beckwith — LSU’s run defense was in shambles until Beckwith took over at starter full-time after the debacle at Auburn. Beckwith is big, fast, physical and equipped with the fantastic instincts needed to be a star middle linebacker. Beckwith will be the leader of the defense in 2015, and if he continues to improve could be the next candidate to leap to the pros a year early.
  • RB Leonard Fournette — It didn’t take long for Fournette to back up his lofty reputation coming into LSU in 2014. While he fell short of high expectations, he was still very successful and set LSU’s freshman rushing record. As a sophomore, he’ll be the undisputed lead dog and will have a real chance to lead the SEC in rushing.
  • S Jalen Mills — Mills was seemingly a sure bet to jump to the NFL. Instead, he returns for his senior year to anchor LSU’s back line in what could be the most talented secondary in the country. Mills is as fundamentally sound of a defensive back as you’ll find, and he should be DBU’s leader.