The SEC is the hardest conference all year round. For instance, LSU Tigers had the 15th overall recruiting ranking last year but 5th in the SEC. Ed Orgeron is heading into his 3rd season as the Tigers head coach. Coming off a 9-4 season is usually a good thing but when you’re stuck behind Alabama and Auburn even after going 6-2 in conference play, things need to be done.
Prestige Ranking (if NCAA football existed) 5*
Last years record: 9-4 (6-2 SEC)
Projected returning starters
Offense: 5
WR Derrick Dillion, TE Foster Moreau, OG Garret Brumfield, OG Ed Ingram, OT Saadhiq Charles
Defense: 8
OLB Michael Divinity Jr, DE Rashard Lawerence, OLB K’Lavon Chaisson, MLB Tyler Taylor, MLB Devin White, CB Greedy Williams, FS Grant Delpit, SS John Battle
Special Teams : 3
K Connor Kulp, P Josh Growden, LS Blake Ferguson
Key Loses
QB Danny Etling, RB Derrius Guice, WR DJ Chark, TE J.D. Moore, DE Christian LaCouture OLB Arden Key, CB Donte Jackson
LSU lost a lot of key players after the 2017 season. Guice and Chark were both first round picks. Etling might have been only a grad transfer but anytime you lose a quarterback without a proven starter can be dangerous. Arden Key didn’t have the best year last year but during his time at LSU he was one of the best pass rushers in the country. CB Donte Jackson had 114 total tackles at corner in three years.
Key Newcomers
QB Joe Burrows (Grad Transfer OSU), WR John Giles (Texas Tech Transfer) DE Breiden Fehoko (Texas Tech Transfer), 5* WR Terrance Marshall
Joe Burrows has been named the starter which led to Lowell Narcisse and Justin McMillian to leave. Burrows come from Ohio State and has showed flashes of talent and looks to be one of the better quarterbacks in recent memory for LSU. Giles and Fehoko both come from Texas Tech after sitting out last year due to a NCAA rule. Giles will look to fill a void left by Chark and Fehoko to fill in for LaCouture. LSU just reloading as per usual. WR Terrance Marhsall is a 5 star recruit who should be able to make an impact as a true freshman.
Five Year Recruiting Ranking (Bill Connelly): 6
LSU just keeps brining in players no matter who is coaching and it shows how they can compete every year no matter who is playing at quarterback.
Alcohol Prediction for Fans by Season’s End: Absente
Absente which is under Absinthe Refired is perfect because they will be once again absinthe from the College Football Playoffs.
The Tyrell Smoochie-Wallace All Name Team: Lloyd CushenBerry III
Outlook for 2018
The season will focus more on the offense and how well Burrows can translate his talent from the Big Ten to the SEC. They will have to find a new runningback which won’t be easy because they have been spoiled recently with Fournette and Guice. They return a lot of talent and have depth on the offensive line and defensive line which is always crucial in the SEC. The secondary will remind many of the honey badger years with Delpit and Greedy Williams who could both be All-Americans at the end of the year. Going to be a very exciting year down in the bayou.
