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Had it not been for key injuries in the vaunted LSU running game, who knows what could have been for the Tigers in 2015? As it was, LSU won nine games and it could have been a 10-win season had the season opener with McNeese State had not been cancelled by weather.
So when you consider the Tigers return practically all of their skill-position players and up to eight of 11 starters on defense, they are among the top underdogs to back in 2016. LSU has been set as a 15-1 underdog to win the 2016 national championship. Only five teams have shorter odds.
The biggest hurdle in the SEC, of course, will be Alabama, tabbed as 6-1 favorites to repeat.
LSU QB Brandon Harris has a year of experience as a starter under his belt and RB Leonard Fournette begins the season among the favorites to win the 2016 Heisman Trophy. Backup RBs Darrius Guice and Darrel Williams also return. The two combined for 732 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on 111 carries. Either one could start for most FBS schools. That’s how solid the Tigers are at that position.
The Tigers’ top two WRs return as well. Malachi Dupree and Travin Dural combined for 1,231 yards and nine touchdowns on 71 pass receptions. Though the Tigers’ third-leading receiver John Diarse (13 catches, 137 yards) has decided to transfer, the talent level is deep at receiver.
The biggest question marks on offense will be along the offensive line, and in particular at tackle. Both spots must be filled on an otherwise experienced line, even though it remains young at spots. If those two key slots can be filled, the Tigers should be even more powerful on the ground.
The Tigers defense should be a salty bunch. A veteran group must find replacements at safety and linebacker, but it appears as though eight starters are returning. It was huge news that Tigers LB Kendell Beckwith and CB Tre’Davious White decided to return for their senior seasons. With those stars – and leaders – back, LSU will be among the top defenses in the country in 2016.
New defensive coordinator Dave Aranda will have a say-so in what the Tigers look like in 2016, but the former Wisconsin DC has a plethora of talent to work with. He changed the Badgers from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 look, so it will be interesting to see how he transforms this talented group.
The Tigers are underdogs only because they faltered late in 2015, and that’s certainly understandable. But if the LSU can remain healthy throughout, the 2016 season could be a very special one in Baton Rouge.
There are a number of reasons to jump back on the bandwagon and not too many teams will return the number of starters the Tigers will have coming back.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
