WATCH: Former LSU football star took the time to discuss pressure on Brian Kelly

Few big cats are better known in Baton Rouge than Mike the Tiger. With that being said, one Tiger that might overtake Mike is former LSU football star, Tyrann Mathieu. The former LSU defensive back plays for the New Orleans Saints and is preparing for his 11th season in the NFL. Still, this didn’t stop him from discussing coach Brian Kelly and his team as they look ahead to the 2023 college football season.

Coach Brian Kelly has some big-time expectations heading into the 2023 season

LSU football won their first College Football Playoff National Championship in 2019, led by quarterback Joe Burrow. Heading into that season, expectations were through the roof, and quarterback play was a big part of it.

As we look ahead to the 2023 college football season, LSU once again looks primed to have one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Does that mean the Tigers will live up to the 2019 team’s performance? No, no, it does not.

However, it could be a good sign, especially considering what the rest of the roster looks like.

Along with Jayden Daniels leading the offense, the defense could be among the best in college football. Harold Perkins Jr, Maason Smith and Greg Brooks Jr each look like some of the best players in the conference. Then, going back to the offense, both the Tigers’ offensive line and wide receiver groups should be elite in their own right.

Projecting college football’s AP preseason top 25 poll, via @BCrawford247

Which team got left off? Which team is too high or too low?https://t.co/LoW0LtbN0C pic.twitter.com/R6yArQKjud

— 247Sports (@247Sports) July 31, 2023

Coach Brian Kelly led an incredible run in Baton Rouge in 2022, taking the Tigers to the conference championship for the first time since 2019. With a first season like that, the pressure is on for him to help the program take another step forward.

Former LSU football star Tyrann Mathieu opened up about the pressure Kelly is facing

With top-tier performance comes top-tier expectations. Historically, LSU football is no stranger to this, and former LSU football star Tyrann Mathieu is included.

Despite playing just two seasons with the Tigers, Mathieu is widely viewed as one of the best LSU football players of this century. Over his career, the star defensive back recorded 133 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, 11 forced fumbles and four interceptions.

So, when a player of that caliber talks about expectations and the future of his former college, it’s generally a good idea to listen. During his preparation for the upcoming NFL season, the current New Orleans Saint took the time to discuss the upcoming season for coach Brian Kelly.

“Pressure on Brian Kelly. You know what I mean; between the women’s basketball and with what Jay Johnson has done,” Mathieu began. “But I think Brian has a good chance; he has a good football team, he’s got a good program and he’s got a quarterback. So, a lot of times, that’s all you need.”

“Pressure on Brian Kelly.”@LSUfootball great @Mathieu_Era talks about the Tigers being on deck after national championships by @LSUwbkb and @LSUbaseball. #LSU pic.twitter.com/mmoxbp6hfA

— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) July 26, 2023

LSU athletics as a whole are competing at an elite level. In many ways, it feels like there’s a national title contender within the department everywhere you look. If coach Brian Kelly can continue this tradition and take a step forward with the football program, it would speak volumes.

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