The media got to watch an entire LSU football practice including the scrimmage periods. The media got to film the first 12 periods as you can see all the film that I did gather up in the YouTube link below. However, the scrimmage portion of the practice could not be filmed so instead, here is all the information that you need to know about what went on during the practice as the Tigers get ready for Florida State.
Now, with three scholarship quarterbacks in the quarterback room, it was Jayden Daniels that was taking majority of the first team reps with Garrett Nussmeier also taking some first team reps. Nussmeier was very good before the 11 on 11 session making some nice throws and forming great chemistry with guys like Brian Thomas Jr., Kyren Lacy, and Malik Nabers. Coach Kelly stated that he thought both Nussmeier and Daniels did a lot of good things today as both distributed the football and were smart with their decision making.
At running back, it was more Noah Cain and Armoni Goodwin getting the first team reps today while John Emery was getting reps behind them. However, all the running backs rotated today and even Nick Demas got some carries.
At wide receiver, both Jack Bech and Chris Hilton are now practicing with the team. However, both Hilton and Bech did not participate in the 11 on 11 scrimmage. The wide receivers did show out in the one on one drills against the defensive backs with Brian Thomas Jr. having an over the shoulder touchdown catch on a beautiful throw from Garrett Nussmeier. It was such an incredible throw that freshman defensive back Laterrance Welch, who got beat on the play, jokingly said that he thought that Drew Brees threw that pass. Malik Nabers continues to showcase his crazy athletic ability making some acrobatic grabs including one in the back of the end zone. Jaray Jenkins is showing his veteran craftiness by making some great moves in the open field after the catch and capping off the scrimmage with a 17 yard touchdown catch from Garrett Nussmeier.
Even the tight ends had a lot of success today as Mason Taylor’s smooth route running ability really sticks out. Kole Taylor had some very impressive catches today including a one hander in the back of the end zone in one on one drills. Then, Jack Mashburn got involved in the action and impressed the coaches with what he could do as a route runner.
On the offensive line, Garrett Dellinger was the number one center again, but today, he did have problems with his snaps often snapping to the quarterback low or high and away. Coach Kelly did state that Dellinger is going to be just fine as he is continuing to make the adjustment from guard to center. Another factor can also be trying to block a guy like Maason Smith in practice constantly. Although the starting five offensive line combination was the same once again with Tre’Mond Shorts at left guard, Will Campbell at left tackle, Miles Frazier at right guard, and Anthony Bradford at right tackle, Coach Kelly did state that the starting five is far from being settled as Marcus Dumervil, Charles Turner, Emery Jones, and Cam Wire are all still in the mix to get some first team looks. There will be more mixing and matching expected for this group as the coaching staff is experimenting with Anthony Bradford moving inside and Cam Wire getting some first team looks at right tackle on Saturday.
The defensive line had their moments during the scrimmage period as Saivion Jones, BJ Ojulari, and Jacobian Guillory all put pressure on the quarterbacks. Both Jones and Guillory were even getting some first team reps right behind the likes of Ali Gaye, Jaquelin Roy, and Maason Smith. Speaking of Maason Smith, he showed why he was so highly regarded coming out of Terrebonne High School stuffing the run on multiple occasions and even getting a tackle for a loss.
At linebacker, Greg Penn, Mike Jones Jr., and West Weeks continue to get first team looks, but Harold Perkins continues to impress making an incredible sideline to sideline hit on one of the running backs today. Weeks also laid the wood on Jaray Jenkins today during the 11 on 11 scrimmage.
In the secondary, Mekhi Garner made some nice plays in the one on one period and made sure that everybody knew about it. In the scrimmage, Garner, Colby Richardson, Jarrick Bernard-Converse, and Sevyn Banks were getting first team reps along with Greg Brooks at nickel. Right now, Coach Kelly is very surprised about the depth right now at cornerback as he said that he has six guys that can play for him right now if you also include freshman Jaelyn Davis Robinson. Coach Kelly is also impressed with the growth of Colby Richardson and how he has been able to transform himself physically over the summer gaining 20 pounds in order for him to get where he is right now, which is getting first team reps at cornerback. Without a doubt, the McNeese State transfer has been the biggest surprise of fall camp. At safety, Jay Ward and Major Burns continue to get first team reps at safety with Derrick Davis and Joe Foucha rotating in behind them.
On special teams, Sage Ryan and Sevyn Banks have been seeing the most action in the punt return game. Jay Bramblett had a couple of booming 50 yard punts. The biggest concern right now is at kicker. In the scrimmage, Damian Ramos missed a 37 yard field goal and made a 23 yard field goal. The battle for the starting kicker is still not settled, but Coach Kelly did state that he feels much better about the depth at kicker right now.
Scrimmage Notes:
In speaking of the scrimmage, here are some unofficial stats that I gathered through the scrimmage.
For the two quarterbacks, Garrett Nussmeier completed eight of 10 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown throw to Jaray Jenkins. Jayden Daniels was seven for nine throwing for 93 yards and also had a 15 yard run.
Jayden Daniels led a perfect touchdown drive against the number one defense completing four of five passes for 57 yards on the first drive. Noah Cain put the cherry on top with a physical touchdown run to finish the best drive of the day.
Then, it was the twos versus the twos after the one offense defeated the one defense in the first drive.
Garrett Nussmeier looked really good as well completing four of five passes for 48 yards. However, a missed field goal ended that drive.
The ones came back on the field in another competition between the one offense against the one defense. Both Daniels and Nussmeier were splitting reps throughout the drive as a result was a successful field goal attempt by Ramos.
The fourth drive of the scrimmage was the defense’s best effort forcing a three and out with Daniels under center.
However, it was the offense that got the last laugh with Garrett Nussmeier completing all three of his passes including the touchdown pass to Jaray Jenkins, which proved to be the highlight of the entire scrimmage. The last play of the practice was a two point conversion attempt, which proved to be unsuccessful.
You know what the quarterbacks did, but the leading rusher turned out to be Nick Demas, who had two carries for 25 yards. Noah Cain had three carries for eight yards and a touchdown. John Emery had one carry for eight yards, and Armoni Goodwin had two carries for six yards.
The leading receiver was senior wide receiver Jaray Jenkins, who had a dominant performance leading all wideouts with four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. Malik Nabers had one catch for 21 yards. Kyren Lacy had one catch for 14 yards. Mason Taylor had two catches for 21 yards. Armoni Goodwin had one catch for 19 yards. John Emery had two catches for 15 yards, and finally, Josh Williams had one catch for eight yards.
Today was certainly an eventful day, and it was great to see some heated competition whether it was 1 on 1s, 7 on 7s, or 11 on 11s on a hot summer day in Louisiana.
The next practice report will be on Saturday as the media will have access to the first 30 minutes of practice.
Click the link below to check out today’s LSU practice highlights! If you haven’t done so already, make sure to subscribe and hit the bell to get notified on when we post every video!
Click below to check out what Coach Brian Kelly had to say about today’s practice! If you haven’t done so already, make sure to subscribe and hit the bell to get notified on when we post every video!
