https://lsu.rivals.com/news/6-position-battles-lsu-s-staff-will-need-to-figure-out-at-fall-camp
LSU will officially start fall practice on Thursday and the next month will give the staff needed time to sort out its positional rotations for the upcoming season.
Freshmen are looking to make an impact, veterans are trying to hold off the eager newcomers and some guys are battling back from injuries or subpar campaigns in 2018.
This is what fall camp is all about. Here are six position groups the staff will have to assess going into the start of the 2019 football season.
1. Right Tackle:
Austin Deculus returns after a lackluster sophomore campaign. He will be challenged this fall by returning veterans Adrian Magee and Badara Traore, but his biggest competition in the end may come from freshman Anthony Bradford. Sources rave about Bradford's game, often referring to him as a "plug and play" type of guy. If Deculus struggles and Traore and Magee fail to take steps to steal the job, look for Bradford to make a push for early playing time.
2. Running back depth chart:
It will surprise just about everyone if Clyde Edwards-Helaire is not the lead back to start the season, but it may be equally as surprising if LSU steers away from what looks like a running back by committee type of roster. Freshmen John Emery and Tyrion Davis appear primed for standout freshman campaigns. Pass protection will ultimately be the deciding factor as to how often they are used at the season's onset, but their games scream early playing time after dominant prep careers.
Both will be trying to steal initial snaps away from redshirt freshman Chris Curry, who figures to play a role as a change of pace and short yardage back entering camp.
It will be on the LSU offensive staff to figure out how to best utilize this group's talents and abilities, while managing the youth and inexperience factors. The early reports are that Emery and Davis showed up ready to play.
3. Nose Tackle:
Freshman Siaki Ika is pushing veteran Tyler Shelvin for playing time and it will be interesting to see how the reps are split during camp and into the season. It is likely that both will be relied on for significant snaps on a weekly basis, potentially giving LSU an impressive 1-2 punch at the position, but which one will cement himself as the starter?
Graduate Breiden Fehoko could also give some reps at nose guard, a position he spent most of his time last year prior to injuries slowing him down.
4. Linebacker rotation:
Will Michael Divinity spend a good portion of his reps at inside linebacker this fall? Part of the reason for the switch this spring was the depleted front seven roster defensive coordinator Dave Aranda had to work with. By all accounts the move seemed fairly natural for Divinity, who filled in as the team's best outside pass rusher following K'Lavon Chaisson's injury in week one of the 2018 season.
Juniors Patrick Queen and Jacob Phillips are eager for a chance to fill the shoes of Butkus Award winner Devin White. Phillips started next to White in 11 contests last fall, logging 87 total tackles, which was second on the team. If LSU plays much of the same 3-4 alignment last fall, then it would be safe to assume that Phillips would play next to Divinity, if that is where Aranda decides to play him. If not, that would likely mean Divinity will be outside, allowing Patrick Queen to fill White's role.
It will take a scientist to figure it out--luckily LSU has one on staff and his name is Dave Aranda.
5. Two-deep at CB:
Sophomore Kelvin Joseph's decision to enter the transfer portal just weeks before the start at fall camp will put LSU in a precarious position. The Tigers will be extremely young at cornerback this fall, with the lone returning contributor being Kristian Fulton. Granted, Fulton is far from a slouch and he will be accompanied by All-Everything freshman cornerback Derek Stingley,but there is little beyond those two in the form of experienced contributors out of the gate. In fact, there's nothing.
Freshman Cordale Flott is pushing for a spot in the two-deep, which would in-turn give LSU two true freshmen in its two-deep rotation. The team will likely look at giving versatile veteran Kary Vincent some reps at corner, especially during the season, but they would like to keep him as the team's primary nickel in coverage packages. It will be interesting to see if freshmen Jay Ward and Raydarious Jones can earn enough trust from the coaches during camp to warrant snaps early in the season.
Mannie Netherly looks to finally make his move on the team's depth chart after switching from wide receiver to cornerback earlier in his career. Netherly is likely to receive significant reps with the 1's and 2's at the start of camp. If he performs well, he will earn himself playing time out of the gate.
LSU has a lot to figure out with its young, unproven group of cornerbacks.
6. Kick and punt return duties:
The Tigers' offense could use a real boost from the special teams unit this fall and the staff is eager to find a guy capable of flipping the field in the return game. Freshman cornerback Derek Stingley received ample reps returning reps in the spring, along with receivers Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase. Slot receiver Jontre Kirklin also received reps at the position.
Jonathan Giles was the safe man with Stingley being the return threat on longer fields in the spring. But Giles has since departed the LSU program and sophomore cornerback Kelvin Joseph is in the transfer portal, which could play a role in the amount of reps they feel comfortable giving their true freshman.
There have been some discussions regarding Trey Palmer some opportunities as a kick returner, but there has been little evidence of them doing so thus far. It is also believed that freshman running back John Emery may get a few opportunities to showcase his talents at the position. Kick returner appears to be wide open going into fall camp.
LSU will officially start fall practice on Thursday and the next month will give the staff needed time to sort out its positional rotations for the upcoming season.
Freshmen are looking to make an impact, veterans are trying to hold off the eager newcomers and some guys are battling back from injuries or subpar campaigns in 2018.
This is what fall camp is all about. Here are six position groups the staff will have to assess going into the start of the 2019 football season.
1. Right Tackle:
Austin Deculus returns after a lackluster sophomore campaign. He will be challenged this fall by returning veterans Adrian Magee and Badara Traore, but his biggest competition in the end may come from freshman Anthony Bradford. Sources rave about Bradford's game, often referring to him as a "plug and play" type of guy. If Deculus struggles and Traore and Magee fail to take steps to steal the job, look for Bradford to make a push for early playing time.
2. Running back depth chart:
It will surprise just about everyone if Clyde Edwards-Helaire is not the lead back to start the season, but it may be equally as surprising if LSU steers away from what looks like a running back by committee type of roster. Freshmen John Emery and Tyrion Davis appear primed for standout freshman campaigns. Pass protection will ultimately be the deciding factor as to how often they are used at the season's onset, but their games scream early playing time after dominant prep careers.
Both will be trying to steal initial snaps away from redshirt freshman Chris Curry, who figures to play a role as a change of pace and short yardage back entering camp.
It will be on the LSU offensive staff to figure out how to best utilize this group's talents and abilities, while managing the youth and inexperience factors. The early reports are that Emery and Davis showed up ready to play.
3. Nose Tackle:
Freshman Siaki Ika is pushing veteran Tyler Shelvin for playing time and it will be interesting to see how the reps are split during camp and into the season. It is likely that both will be relied on for significant snaps on a weekly basis, potentially giving LSU an impressive 1-2 punch at the position, but which one will cement himself as the starter?
Graduate Breiden Fehoko could also give some reps at nose guard, a position he spent most of his time last year prior to injuries slowing him down.
4. Linebacker rotation:
Will Michael Divinity spend a good portion of his reps at inside linebacker this fall? Part of the reason for the switch this spring was the depleted front seven roster defensive coordinator Dave Aranda had to work with. By all accounts the move seemed fairly natural for Divinity, who filled in as the team's best outside pass rusher following K'Lavon Chaisson's injury in week one of the 2018 season.
Juniors Patrick Queen and Jacob Phillips are eager for a chance to fill the shoes of Butkus Award winner Devin White. Phillips started next to White in 11 contests last fall, logging 87 total tackles, which was second on the team. If LSU plays much of the same 3-4 alignment last fall, then it would be safe to assume that Phillips would play next to Divinity, if that is where Aranda decides to play him. If not, that would likely mean Divinity will be outside, allowing Patrick Queen to fill White's role.
It will take a scientist to figure it out--luckily LSU has one on staff and his name is Dave Aranda.
5. Two-deep at CB:
Sophomore Kelvin Joseph's decision to enter the transfer portal just weeks before the start at fall camp will put LSU in a precarious position. The Tigers will be extremely young at cornerback this fall, with the lone returning contributor being Kristian Fulton. Granted, Fulton is far from a slouch and he will be accompanied by All-Everything freshman cornerback Derek Stingley,but there is little beyond those two in the form of experienced contributors out of the gate. In fact, there's nothing.
Freshman Cordale Flott is pushing for a spot in the two-deep, which would in-turn give LSU two true freshmen in its two-deep rotation. The team will likely look at giving versatile veteran Kary Vincent some reps at corner, especially during the season, but they would like to keep him as the team's primary nickel in coverage packages. It will be interesting to see if freshmen Jay Ward and Raydarious Jones can earn enough trust from the coaches during camp to warrant snaps early in the season.
Mannie Netherly looks to finally make his move on the team's depth chart after switching from wide receiver to cornerback earlier in his career. Netherly is likely to receive significant reps with the 1's and 2's at the start of camp. If he performs well, he will earn himself playing time out of the gate.
LSU has a lot to figure out with its young, unproven group of cornerbacks.
6. Kick and punt return duties:
The Tigers' offense could use a real boost from the special teams unit this fall and the staff is eager to find a guy capable of flipping the field in the return game. Freshman cornerback Derek Stingley received ample reps returning reps in the spring, along with receivers Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase. Slot receiver Jontre Kirklin also received reps at the position.
Jonathan Giles was the safe man with Stingley being the return threat on longer fields in the spring. But Giles has since departed the LSU program and sophomore cornerback Kelvin Joseph is in the transfer portal, which could play a role in the amount of reps they feel comfortable giving their true freshman.
There have been some discussions regarding Trey Palmer some opportunities as a kick returner, but there has been little evidence of them doing so thus far. It is also believed that freshman running back John Emery may get a few opportunities to showcase his talents at the position. Kick returner appears to be wide open going into fall camp.
