LSU’s passing game is a work in progress. With a quarterback battle that still hasn’t been entirely sorted out, the Bayou Bengals will need to rely on the running game to control the ball. That’s what powered them to their comeback win against Wisconsin, as Anthony Jennings attempted just four passes in the second half, although they all resulted in first downs and one went for a touchdown.

The Tigers’ offensive identity is going to come from the power running game this year, but defenses in the SEC are too good for any team to get by without a passing attack. That’s where LSU’s young receiving corps comes into play. Of the eight receivers listed on the depth chart, all but one are freshmen or sophomores. Only three receivers, Travin Dural, John Diarse and Trey Quinn, caught passes against Wisconsin.

With Sam Houston State likely doing whatever they can to slow down the running game and make the Tigers air it out, those receivers are going to have to win their matchups to make life easier for Jennings and Brandon Harris. Dural is a big-play receiver, evidenced by his 80-yard touchdown catch last week, when he got behind the secondary on a broken play. Diarse is a beast when he gets the ball in his hands, and Les Miles said earlier in the week that Quinn has been lining up all over the field in practice.

The receiver everyone wants to see is Malachi Dupre. The true freshman missed the opener after spraining an ankle in practice, but should see action against Sam Houston. Dupre was the top receiver recruit in the nation last yea, and arrives in Baton Rouge with big shoes to fill. LSU lost Odell Beckham, Jr. and Jarvis Landry from last year’s team. Dupre and fellow true freshman Quinn are expected to step into that void, and the Tigers will need them in order to contend.