Did the LSU Tigers live up to their standards in the 2024 season? Was Brian Kelly doing enough for the team? Will Garrett Nussmeier improve and finally touch his ceiling in 2025? These are some of the burning questions the LSU Tigers are plagued with. The Tigers, after winning the national championship in 2019, seem to be going into a slump season after season. The 2024 season turned out to be no good, as even before their season started, Lincoln Riley handed them a defeat. Where exactly were the problems?
LSU was ranked 80th in yards conceded per play. They conceded 5.7 yards per play, which was a bit of an upgrade since last season when they conceded 6 yards per play. Still, when you compare this to other powerhouse teams, LSU fell short massively. Their rushing defense was ranked 43rd nationally, with 139.4 yards conceded per game. This, again, improved over the last season (160.5 rushing yards per game) but didn’t quite reach the LSU standards. The only thing they looked to perform well in was sacks, as they were 14th with 2.8 sacks per game. All in all, they needed some improvements, and it seems they have got it.
In a recent press conference, Brian Kelly highlighted the work his defensive tackles have done in the weight room. And provided an update on the type of season supporters can expect from them. He was specifically talking about the need for added pounds at the defensive tackle position, which the players are doing effortlessly.
“Sydir Mitchell was brought here to bring size to our defense, and he certainly brings that size. Shone Washington is playing at a higher level. His size is clear in terms of what he brings. Obviously, Dominick McKinley has the great size that you’re looking for inside as well, and then it’s just a matter of getting reps for some of the younger players.”
Sydir Mitchell came from the Texas Longhorns on a transfer recently. The player didn’t start in any games in his 2 years at Texas. Still, there is a lot expected from Mitchell at Baton Rouge. This is because he was a highly touted 4-star prospect of the 2023 season and was ranked 26th in his class as a DL. But the major part of his USP is his stature, as he stands at 6 foot 6 and weighs around 355 lbs. This is something Kelly was looking for in his DL.
Then there are other defensive tackles, who have also bulked up. Shone Washington has bulked up to 300 lbs, while earlier, he was listed to be around 295 lbs last season.
That isn’t it. There is more good news in the bag for the Tigers. DT Jacobian Guillory is back for his sixth year with LSU. Unfortunately, his 2024 season was halted after he was injured in the home game against Nicholls. Kelly noted the importance of having a veteran presence in the defense.
“Jacobian Guillory is going to be back for us, which gives us another very physically strong player that will fit this scheme very well. Because of his quickness, he’s going to be a guy that’s going to be in the backfield a lot,” Kelly said.
Another player who appeared in 13 games in his freshman season is Ahmad Breaux. “We feel really, really good about where we’re at at the defensive tackle position,” Kelly said. All in all, it seems Kelly is making a tank of a D-line, which surely gives a thing to prepare for to the other 15 SEC teams.
Injury woes for Harold Perkins Jr. a blessing in disguise?
If the news of the D-line’s strengthening couldn’t be any better, there’s other news to top that. The ace LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. is returning from injury and is preparing with a bit of a tweak. This is something Blake Blaker, LSU’s defensive coordinator, updated in a recent press conference. Talking about how the player will be crucial for LSU. He said of Perkins that he was “extremely locked in.” But he also gave an update on his training regime and said why the injury was a blessing in disguise.
“Perk is extremely locked in. I said this when it happened, and I didn’t mean it in a negative light, but in some ways, being hurt might have been the best thing that ever happened to him. Kind of just sit back and let the game unfold from a mental standpoint in front of him. He’s putting in with Jack Marucci downstairs with the (virtual reality).”
The statement by Baker speaks volumes about Perkins’s determination and persistence. Perkins is coming back after a long-term injury he suffered back in September 2024 against UCLA. The injury forced the player to be on the sidelines for the entire season, and his defensive prowess was surely missed by Kelly. In his true freshman season, Perkins had garnered 39 solo tackles and 72 total tackles and become one of the top players in defense. He would be eyeing All-American honors this season as he makes a comeback.
The post Brian Kelly Puts 15 SEC Teams on Notice in Latest Report as LSU’s Injury Woes Turn Into a Blessing in Disguise appeared first on EssentiallySports.
