In a matter of days, LSU will be playing football on national television in the year of 2023. First up on the Tigers’ schedule is Florida State, and while the two teams squared off last season, both rosters are drastically different heading into 2023. Notably, some of the Seminoles’ best offensive players joined the roster this offseason. Because of that, we wanted to look into three names (Trey Benson, Keon Coleman and Jaheim Bell) that LSU football fans should be aware of heading into Sunday’s game.
Redshirt junior RB Trey Benson
One of the biggest trends you’ll notice about the Florida State roster is how many former transfers there are. In fact, on this list, redshirt junior running back Trey Benson is the only player who was on the team last season.
Even so, Benson began his career at Oregon before joining coach Mike Norvell in Tallahassee. Ultimately, his decision to transfer last season is looking to be a good one, as he broke out in a significant way in 2022.
Despite recording just six carries for 15 yards versus the Tigers in week one last year, he put up some of the best-rushing stats in the country through the entire season. In total, he carried the ball 154 times for 990 yards and 10 touchdowns. Additionally. he had 13 receptions for 144 yards.
While he wasn’t much of a factor versus LSU one season ago, don’t expect that trend to continue on Sunday. Trey Benson did just about everything for the Seminoles in 2022 and could be in store for an even bigger impact this season.
His presence is even more notable with the absence of former five-star defensive tackle Maason Smith. Veteran defensive linemen Mekhi Wingo and Jacobian Guillory must bring their A-game if they want to slow down the elusive Seminole running back.
Junior WR Keon Coleman
Former Michigan State wide receiver Keon Coleman is a player who isn’t being talked about enough heading into 2023.
The stud junior stands at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, and has shocking athleticism. Add in the fact that he’s getting much better quarterback play this season at Florida State, and that’s a recipe for major success.
Last season in East Lansing, he recorded 58 receptions for 798 yards and seven touchdowns.
Ultimately, it didn’t matter too much where the ball was thrown for him. As long as it was in his general direction, he was more than likely going to come down with it.
A big reason for this was his background in sports. In addition to being a star wide receiver at Michigan State, he also played basketball for the Big Ten power.
Now, with Heisman candidate quarterback Jordan Travis throwing him the ball, he could be a problem.
This is especially notable considering how many question marks surround the Tiger defensive backs. The LSU football cornerbacks could get exposed in a significant way this weekend if they aren’t ready for the matchup.
However, if they can slow down the Seminole wide receivers, it could bode excellently for the rest of the season. In all honesty, the Florida State wide receivers versus the LSU defensive backs should be an excellent matchup to watch all Sunday night.
Redshirt junior TE Jaheim Bell
One of the most underutilized tight ends in the country last season was that of former South Carolina Gamecock, Jaheim Bell.
The 6-foot-3, 239-pound tight end, while slightly undersized, has some serious burners and has the potential to break open any game he plays in. However, despite his talent, he recorded just 25 catches for 231 yards and two touchdowns in 2022.
It’ll be interesting to see how LSU football elects to defend him. On one hand, they could put a defensive back, such as Sage Ryan or Duce Chestnut, on him, but I expect those players to be in charge of the Seminoles’ elite wide receivers.
Regardless of who ultimately is in charge of the redshirt junior tight end, they’ll have their hands full. I expect quarterback Jordan Travis to spread the ball around all day, and Jaheim Bell could be one of his top targets on the night.
Keep an eye on how the LSU football defense guards these three players. The Florida State offense will be a big-time challenge. However, the Tigers have more than enough talent to hold their own this weekend.
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