LSU has received significant contributions from players in all three phases during its 4-0 start.
The offense has been outstanding, the defense has been good enough and the special teams have been very good as the No. 4 Tigers enter the first of their 2 open dates.
Already there have been several conference and national accolades bestowed on individual Tigers for their standout performances, most notably quarterback Joe Burrow being named SEC Offensive Player of the Week 3 times.
Here is a rundown of the Top 10 LSU players through 4 games:
10. DL Breiden Fehoko
Key stat: 3 tackles for loss
Fehoko has been the most consistently disruptive force on a line that has been limited by a series of injuries in the early going. The defense has taken some hits, but it has been relatively stout against the run, allowing fewer than 100 yards per game.
9. PK Cade York
Key stat: 7-for-7 field goals
The freshman had one hiccup when he sliced a missed PAT against Northwestern State, but otherwise he has been everything head coach Ed Orgeron had hoped for. The longest kick of his 7 is from 48.
8. S Grant Delpit
Key stat: 16 tackles
In reality Delpit hasn’t lived up to his lofty standard entirely, uncharacteristically missing tackles and not making a bunch of big plays. But even a sub-par start keeps him among the best. He’ll figure it out. Dave Aranda’s front 7 can help by getting more pressure on the QB, something that will matter more later in the season.
7. RB Clyde-Edwards Helaire
Key stat: 433 all-purpose yards
The running game hasn’t been great and it has certainly been overshadowed by the passing game, but Edwards-Helaire has been the leading rusher. He has rushed for 5 touchdowns and been involved in the passing game and return game.
6. LB Jacob Phillips
Key stat: 35 tackles
He is the leading tackler on the team by a margin of 13 and also has a fumble recovery as one of the leaders of a defense still finding its identity.
5. CB Derek Stingley Jr.
Key stat: 7 pass breakups
You knew QBs would challenge the freshman, and he has been up to the task. Stingley grabbed the Tigers’ long-awaited 1st interception against Vanderbilt last Saturday and he has been a consistent ball hawk in an inconsistent secondary. He also has helped bring life to the punt return team.
4. WR Justin Jefferson
Key stats: 21 receptions, 5 TDs
He has the most catches among the trio of Tigers wide receivers whose statistics are practically identical and he has scored 5 touchdowns. He’s part of the reason LSU leads the SEC in long completions (Tigers have 12 catches for 30+ yards).
3. WR Terrace Marshall Jr.
Key stat: 6 touchdown catches
He has found the end zone the most among LSU receivers and is tied for 2nd nationally, but he won’t be there for a while after undergoing foot surgery to repair an injury suffered against Vanderbilt.
2. WR JaMarr Chase
Key stat: 19.9 yards per catch
Chase has matched Jefferson’s 5 touchdown receptions while leading the team in yards per catch and he missed one game while suspended. LSU’s receivers rank No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 in the SEC in yards per catch.
1. QB Joe Burrow
Key stat: Pick one
Burrow has completed 80.6 percent of his passes for 1,520 yards and 17 touchdowns to start what might become the most efficient and productive season ever by an LSU quarterback.
He threw for 471 yards in a coming out party victory over Texas.
He broke the school record for touchdown passes in a game when he threw 6 in the 66-38 victory against Vanderbilt. In that game his 398 passing yards made him the first Tiger to throw for 350 yards or more in 3 consecutive games and he extended his school-record streak of consecutive games with at least 20 completions to 7.
Les East is a New Orleans-based football writer who covers LSU for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow him on Twitter @Les_East.
