BATON ROUGE— The offensive line is one of the few units in LSU football that has no question marks going into the 2024 season.
Last season, LSU was a finalist for college football’s Joe Moore Award, which recognizes the nation’s best offensive line.
Four of the Tigers’ starting linemen will return in 2023, led by stars left tackle Will Campbell and right tackle Emery Jones Jr. Guards Miles Frazier and Garrett Dellinger have both returned to reinforce the interior.
Redshirt freshman D.J. Chester appears to be the heir apparent to Charles Turner at center, as he has impressed the coaching staff this spring.
While the starting positions appear to be all but set, LSU still has some strong depth in the room, beginning with freshman Tyree Adams, who worked extensively with the first team in the spring and performed admirably. Coen Echols, a fellow freshman, worked at center during the spring.
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LSU football’s offensive line choices
Projected starters include Will Campbell Jr., Garrett Dellinger Sr., D.J. Chester Fr., Miles Frazier Sr., and Emery Jones Jr.
Reserves: Tyree Adams, Fr.; Paul Mubenga, Fr.; Coen Echols, Fr.; Christian Stamps, Fr.; Bo Bordelon, Sophomore; Ethan Calloway, Jr.; Weston Davis, Fr.; Ory Williams, Fr.; Thomas Crawford, Sr.; Kobe Roberts, Sr.; Khayree Lee, Fr.; Braden Augustus, Fr.
During LSU’s preseason practice, there will be few position fights on the offensive line. Campbell is a projected top five NFL draft pick in April. Jones is also anticipated to be drafted early, while Dellinger and Frazier provide consistency inside.
Echols could challenge Chester at center, but Chester has the year on Echols, so he should enjoy an early advantage. Adams could fill in at either tackle position if required, making him a valuable addition to LSU’s bench.
Positive aspects
The Tigers’ offensive line is perhaps the greatest in collegiate football. As long as the team stays healthy, LSU might have one of the best offenses in the country again.
Few teams in the country have as many games and experience as LSU does. Joe Sloan and Cortez Hankton, the new co-offensive coordinators, will search for methods to maximize the use of Campbell, Jones, and others up front.
New starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier will undoubtedly benefit from playing behind LSU’s offensive line, and the big men up front will play an important part in the development of the younger players around them.
One query or worry.
Look, there aren’t many issues about the offensive line.
Will being the best unit on the field every Saturday put them under too much pressure? With so much change in LSU’s offense, Campbell, Jones, and company will need to deliver every week, particularly in the bigger, tougher contests, if the Tigers are to have a chance of winning.
Will the offensive line reach top-level consistency?
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How LSU’s schedule gives the Tigers a strong chance to make College Football Playoff……
How a favorable schedule for LSU makes the Tigers a serious contender for the College Football Playoffs
In order to get back to the College Football Playoff, LSU hired Brian Kelly. LSU will want to accomplish a little more than merely qualify for the tournament now that it is up to 12 teams. But that’s only the initial step.
Following 2023, LSU suffered significant losses. There aren’t many teams in the postseason debate that lost a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, two first-round receivers, two top rushers, and two draft selections on the interior defensive line. Reloading, not rebuilding, is the expectation, though, since this is LSU.
With QB Garrett Nussmeier well-protected by a formidable offensive line, the Tigers are optimistic about their attack. Although there is still a problem with depth at some areas, defense may also advance.
The favorable tidings? The Tigers’ schedule at LSU is favorable to success. This year, LSU might have home-court advantage in every game, offering the Tigers a chance to finish 10-2 or higher.
Only two teams have the same number of victories as LSU. Ole Miss and Alabama are the teams in question, but Tiger Stadium will host both contests, with LSU emerging as the slight favorite.
One may contend that Texas A&M and Oklahoma provide the greatest threat to LSU after that. Even though LSU appears to be the superior team, the fact that A&M is playing on the road could be enough to give them a slight favorite. Nevertheless, with a first-year head coach leading the Aggies, you never know what to expect.
In Death Valley, LSU defeats Oklahoma to end the regular season. Given their demanding schedule, the Sooners could already be out of the running. What’s important to remember is that none of those games are merely winnable.
Avoiding the season-opening disappointment that has dogged the Tigers since 2019 may be crucial for LSU. LSU is 0-4 in its previous four openers, despite being the favorite in each of those games. Ed Orgeron oversaw two of those, but Kelly has had trouble in the same area.
Although stopping Lincoln Riley’s offense could be difficult and LSU’s defense won’t have all of its issues resolved by week one, LSU is currently a touchdown favorite.
Although I don’t think LSU will win 12 games, it’s difficult to see LSU far from a postseason berth if the Tigers can win 4-1 against USC, Ole Miss, Alabama, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma.
Even a 3-2 record versus those opponents offers LSU hope. However, a score of 4-1 is preferable since it leaves opportunity for mistake in other areas.
The layout of this schedule should please Tiger supporters. It is on the easier side of SEC schedules. You can’t ask for much more than playing your hardest games at home, so missing Georgia and Texas is a positive.
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