Spring football primer: LSU Tigers
Spring Game: April 16, 3 p.m. CDT
The story in Baton Rouge this spring revolves around who is still in town.
At first glance, one might think that is a reference to head coach Les Miles, who appeared to be on his way out before finding a way to save his job with a win over Texas A&M, plus an unusual shift in public opinion, in the season finale.
And that is, indeed, part of the story.
But the bigger part, and the reason for renewed optimism on the Bayou, is an off-season where LSU has bucked its recent trend of mass early departures to the NFL. Only one junior, offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins, opted to leave school early for the NFL draft and five players many deemed ready for the pros — cornerback Tre’Davious White, linebacker Kendell Beckwith, defensive end Lewis Neal, defensive tackle Christian LaCouture, center Ethan Pocic and wide receiver Travin Dural — all opted to return for their senior seasons.
That means LSU should have something in the 2016 season it has sorely lacked in recent years — strong senior leadership.
That’s not to say LSU, coming off a disappointing 9-3 finish that included three straight losses by a combined 52 points, lacks questions as it enters the spring season.
Three Biggest Questions
1. Is Brandon Harris the answer at quarterback and, if not, do the Tigers have an alternative?
Miles took the brunt of criticism when the Tigers stumbled down the stretch, but if there was a player sharing the blame, it was Harris. With all-world running back Leonard Fournette putting up numbers worthy of a Heisman Trophy candidacy, Harris was widely panned for not providing the passing spark — 2,165 passing yards and just 13 touchdowns while completing just 53.8 percent of his attempts — as the LSU offense stumbled.
Harris did have a good finale, passing for 261 yards in a 56-27 blowout of Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl, but before that, he seemed to regress as the season hit the stretch run.
Now a junior, is this a year where Harris grows up and gives LSU the passing game it needs to keep defenses from stacking the line on Fournette? With the speedy Dural back to headline a talented group of receivers that also includes junior star Malachi Dupre and emerging sophomore Tyron Johnson, having targets to throw to should not be an issue.
But what if Harris isn’t up to the task? LSU has struggled to land a high-end recruit since Harris, who was one of the nation’s top recruits his senior year in high school. Former starter Anthony Jennings has fallen as far from favor as a one-time starter can and seems to be a non-factor. Purdue transfer Danny Etling will compete, but if he couldn’t hold the job at Purdue (he started five games in 2014 before losing the job), could he compete for the job in the SEC?
Finally, LSU has high hopes for redshirt freshman Justin McMillan, a three-star prospect in the 2015 class.
With an embattled incumbent, two veterans who have lost starting jobs and a redshirt freshman lacking an elite pedigree, the question remains: Does LSU have a championship-caliber quarterback on campus?
2. Who’s left at linebacker?
The return of most of its junior prospects was good news in general for LSU, but the biggest sigh of relief came from the return of middle linebacker Kendell Beckwith.
That’s because the Tigers are depleted at the position with both team tackles leader Deion Jones and Lamar Louis finishing their careers. LSU enters the spring thin at the position, leaving first-year defensive coordinator David Aranda looking for answers.
Jones’ spot will likely be filled by junior Duke Riley, who has been a valuable reserve and special teams player. The only other player to have seem significant snaps at linebacker is Donnie Alexander.
Behind them, there isn’t much. LSU has whiffed on the recruiting trail at the position in recent years — even in 2016, a year when LSU had a desperate need, the Tigers only landed two at the position. Aranda’s defensive philosophy adapt to LSU’s lack of linebacker depth or might we see converted players like former defensive backs Corey Thompson and Devin Voorhies land roles? Another possibility is a 3-4 look where speed-rushing ends like Arden Key play outside linebacker?
3. How will LSU adjust to its new coaches?
While LSU is settled with Miles at the top, elsewhere on the staff the Tigers have had some turnover.
At defensive coordinator, Aranda will be LSU’s third man at the position in three years. John Chavis departed for Texas A&M after the 2014 season and Kevin Steele’s stay was brief, as he stuck around one year before bolting to Auburn. With three coordinators in three years, will the Tigers have cohesion in their scheme? Will Aranda be the 3-4 coach he was at Wisconsin, the 3-3 coach he was was at other stops or will he keep a base 4-3?
The same holds true with the wide receivers. With offensive coordinator Cam Cameron trying to get the most out of the quarterback position it can’t help that the juniors have had three position coaches in as many years. Adam Henry departed LSU for the San Francisco 49ers after the 2014 season, then Tony Ball lasted just one year. Dameyune Craig, most recently of Auburn, is the newest receivers coach.
Add in a new running backs coach (Jabbar Juluke, replacing new Texas-San Antonio head coach Frank Wilson) and the fact that LSU still hasn’t given Cameron a new contract and LSU has had a lot of turnover this offseason, even if Miles is stable, at least for now.
Newcomers to Watch
- LB Michael Divinity: With LSU’s lack of depth at linebacker, getting the four-star 2016 recruit in for the spring is important for Aranda’s desire to build depth at the position. Divinity is one of the most coveted players in a banner LSU recruiting class and with the need at the position, he’s also the most likely to make an immediate contribution.
- QB Danny Etling: He’s not technically new — Etling practiced with the Tigers, but could not play last season after transferring from Purdue — but this will be the first chance for Etling to compete with Harris for playing time. Even if he doesn’t eventually win the starting job, it would probably help Harris’ development if Etling is good enough to make him compete to keep the job.
- CB Savion Smith: The highest-rated of the five freshmen recruits that enrolled for the spring semester, Smith has a much tougher hill to climb for playing time with White and super sophomore Kevin Toliver II (who’s out for the spring with a shoulder injury) both returning. But it will be interesting to see how well he stacks up at a position where the Tigers are always loaded with talent.
Offensive starters to replace
- LT Jerald Hawkins
- RT Vadal Alexander
- WRs John Diarse and Trey Quinn
Tigers fans have reason to be excited about the return of Dural at wide receiver and the LSU’s seemingly endless supply of big deep threats like Dupre and Johnson. But it’s notable that LSU lost two players who started in the slot as both Diarse and Quinn opted to transfer. Look for speedster D.J. Chark, who had a 79-yard touchdown run in the Texas Bowl, to possibly help fill that void.
Defensive starters to replace
- LB Deion Jones
- DB Jalen Mills
Jones was the team’s leading tackler and his departure, along with the departure of sometimes starter Lamar Louis, leaves the position a little depleted. Mills was a solid contributor at what is, thankfully for the Tigers, a deep position. Riley gives the Tigers an easy option at linebacker. Behind Mills, LSU can go to the experienced Dwayne Thomas or possibly the speedy Donte Jackson.
Top returners by category
- Top returning passer: Brandon Harris (2,165 yards, 13 TDs)
- Top returning rusher: Leonard Fournette (1,953 yards, 22 TDs)
- Top returning receiver: Malachi Dupre (43 receptions, 698 yards, 6 TDs)
- Top returning tackler: Kendell Beckwith (84 tackles)
- Top returning pass rusher: Lewis Neal (8 sacks, 8 hurries)
- Top returning pass defender: Jamal Adams (4 ints, 6 PBUs)
Position of Concern: Offensive tackle
At the only position where LSU lost a junior to the NFL draft, the Tigers find themselves with a great need. Both left tackle Hawkins, the lone departing junior, and senior right tackle Alexander are projected to be possible second-round picks.
That could result in a shuffling of LSU’s current personnel as opposed to finding new players. Pocic is a candidate to slide from center to tackle, creating a potential opportunity for player inside. That’s a possibility that won’t happen in the spring as Pocic will miss it with an injury. However, if backup center Andy Dodd has a good spring, that might make moving Pocic outside more of an option.
LSU could also look to young tackles K.J. Malone or Toby Weathersby to step up into starting roles.