The last two years haven’t been kind to the LSU faithful.
2019 brought the highest of highs only for the following seasons to bring the lowest of lows. We’ve seen a pandemic swallow up a season, Ed Orgeron get fired, and some of LSU’s best players transfer or opt out.
With all the negativity surrounding the program during the previous two campaigns, I thought it was time for some optimism. The season is now just a couple of weeks away. It’s a new day in Baton Rouge.
With a new season comes opportunity. LSU has a chance to exorcise some of these demons and get back to the brand of football that we’re accustomed to.
We’ll look at five reasons Tigers fans can have some optimism as the season fast approaches.
Young offensive line talent
AP Photo/Gerald Herbert
For a few years now, LSU’s offensive line has been a point of concern. In 2020 and 2021, the group struggled to protect the quarterback and had issues getting a push in the run game. Some of this has been due to depth issues and at times it’s just been a matter of poor execution.
Offensive line coach [autotag]Brad Davis[/autotag] took over just a couple of months before the season started last year, hardly enough time to rebuild the group. Davis has now had a full offseason and a infusion of talent.
[autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] coming in and earning that left tackle job as a freshman is exciting. It’s been a while since LSU has had an elite lineman, and Campbell could be on that track. The Tigers also added [autotag]Miles Frazier[/autotag] and [autotag]Tre’Mond Shorts[/autotag] through the transfer portal, and both look like they could be productive this fall.
When it comes to returning guys like [autotag]Anthony Bradford[/autotag] and [autotag]Garrett Dellinger[/autotag], they’ve now had a full offseason with Davis. Roster-wise, LSU has its best line since 2019, which should give Tiger fans real hope on offense.
2021’s wide receiver class
AP Photo/Matthew Hinton
Everyone knows about [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag]. He’s poised to be the star of LSU’s offense and one of the best receivers in the country. However, it’s not just Boutte that will be making plays for LSU.
LSU’s 2021 signing class included a big group of talented receivers, and those guys now have a full season under their belt. [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] might be a star sooner than later. I wrote about Nabers this spring, saying it makes the most sense that he emerges behind Boutte.