We’re officially less than one day away from the start of the 2024 LSU football spring practices. As we prepare for our first glimpse at coach Brian Kelly and his new-look roster, here are a few storylines to keep an eye on as we move through the next few weeks of practice.
Top storylines ahead of LSU football spring practices
Which running back takes control of the position room?
The 2024 LSU football offense has the potential to be wildly different from that of the 2023 team. While the Tigers relied heavily on the passing game and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jayden Daniels, they might not be quite as privileged heading into the next season.
While new starter Garrett Nussmeier has the potential to be a star at the college level, it always helps to have a steady running game to rely on if the passing game ever struggles. If this does end up being the case, coach Brian Kelly and the Tigers are going to need to see some big-time jumps forward from the current backs on roster.
The two initial candidates heading into spring are freshman Kaleb Jackson and senior Josh Williams, as they’re now the only two remaining active running backs on scholarship.
Interestingly enough, the pair have similar play styles – consistently looking for contact – but vary significantly in overall size. Williams is listed at 5-foot-9, 203 pounds, while Jackson is already listed at 6-foot, 225 pounds heading into his second year of college football.
In 2023, the pair combined for 86 carries for 449 yards and nine touchdowns, so expect them to get a significant boost in snaps as the team will also add freshman Caden Durham to the mix this summer.
Important to note regarding the position room – true freshman Trey Holly was recently arrested on three felony charges, including attempted second-degree murder, and has been suspended indefinitely from all team activities (spring practices included) while the legal process plays out.
Coming out of a high school as a four-star recruit, Holly saw action in three games as a freshman in 2023, which included 11 carries for 110 yards and one touchdown.
With just two active scholarship running backs heading into the 2024 LSU football spring practices, a jump from either Williams or Jackson over the coming weeks could do big things in terms of solidifying snaps heading into the fall.
Does defensive coordinator Blake Baker take the Tiger defense to the next level?
This is a big one. After exiting the 2023 college football season with one of the worst defenses in all of college football, Tiger fans all over the world are desperately hoping for some serious improvement heading into the new year.
Luckily, coach Brian Kelly is hoping to see improvement as well, which helps to explain why he completely revamped the defensive coaching staff, starting with new defensive coordinator Blake Baker.
Since the hiring of Baker, the Tigers have made four other hires on the defensive side of the ball, including defensive line coach Bo Davis, edge rushers coach Kevin Peoples, secondary coach Corey Raymond and safeties coach Jake Olsen.
While it’s relatively unrealistic to expect too drastic of a change heading into the new year, it certainly helps that the purple and gold were able to retain several impact veterans to help with the transition of defensive play-calling. Among the top returners are linebackers Harold Perkins Jr and Greg Penn III, defensive linemen Bradyn Swinson and Da’Shawn Womack and defensive backs Major Burns and Ashton Stamps.
While many are hoping to see a defensively dominant team in 2024, it’s much more likely that we see yet another offensively led roster. Still, if Blake Baker manages to improve the group into a top-50 caliber defense in year one, it should be an excellent sign of things to come for the future of the purple and gold on that side of the ball.
For now, though, we’ll have to see how much the defense can adjust through the spring, and fans will get their first glimpse at the new-look group in the spring game in early April.
Do the Tigers have a WR1?
One of the deadliest aspects of 2023 LSU football was the fact that they had a solidified WR1 and WR2 who were more than capable of making plays when the offense needed it.
Unfortunately, both of said pass catchers are now looking ahead to the 2024 NFL draft, as both Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr are being projected as likely first-rounders. As great as that is for the pair, it also means coach Brian Kelly and the 2024 LSU roster will now be tasked with replacing a ton of production.
As far as returning candidates, the main two to know heading into spring will be Chris Hilton Jr and Kyren Lacy. Both have shown flashes, and when relied on a bit heavier than usual in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl, they showed off some serious potential.
Still, as good as the duo could be, the question marks begin to arise when you think about how many other wide receivers the team adding through recruiting and the transfer portal.
The Tigers are bringing in five new additions, led by transfers CJ Daniels from Liberty and Zavion Thomas from Mississippi State. While both figure to make impacts on the 2024 roster, Daniels is the big name to know as far as a potential WR1 goes.
In 2023, Daniels dominated as the leading pass catcher for the Flames, catching 55 balls for 1,067 yards and 10 touchdowns, while averaging 19.4 yards per reception.
Whether it be Chris Hilton Jr, Kyren Lacy or one of the transfer portal additions, there’s no doubt the Tigers are hoping to see at least one emerge as a potential top wide receiver heading into the new season.
LSU football spring practices will get off to a hot start on March 5, 2024 and will conclude with the National L Club Spring game on April 13 which will be available to the general public.
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