Jay Johnson recalled the interaction quite well Monday afternoon. At LSU’s weekly press conference, the LSU baseball head coach was asked what he knew about star pitcher/catcher Paul Skenes before he transferred to Baton Rouge from Air Force. He answered by saying the idea that he’s happy with Skenes in a Tigers uniform is the understatement of the century.

Skenes, who has been exactly as advertised this season with the Tigers, is part of the reason why LSU baseball is off to a red-hot start to the season. Skenes leads the national strikeout total with 71, a full dozen ahead of 2nd place, Tennessee’s Chase Burns. Skenes is also 2nd in the country with a .71 ERA. He’s one of just 4 pitchers across the country with an ERA below 1.00.

LSU is in the middle of a gauntlet to start SEC play. The Tigers won their early SEC series against Texas A&M and recently No. 6 Arkansas, but the going is not getting any easier. LSU hosts No. 11 Tennessee starting Thursday.

The Tigers are currently No. 1 in the country per DI baseball and boast a 21-3 record.