LSU Spring Practice Report #4

This weekend’s spring practice marked the most that we got to see from the LSU Tigers so far as this was the second time that the media has gotten the chance to see the team practice in full pads. It was also the first time that the media got to see the special teams practice and the offense run hurry up.

As mentioned in the earlier paragraph, there was a better sense of where everybody was sitting depth wise as the first and second team offense worked through hurry-up drills. The first team offense consisted of  Jayden Daniels at quarterback, Noah Cain, at running back, Malik Nabers,  Brian Thomas Jr. , and  Kyren Lacy at wide receiver, Mac Markway at tight end,  Will Campbell at left tackle, Garrett Dellinger at left guard, Marlon Martinez at center, Kimo Makane’ole at right guard, and Emery Jones at right tackle.

The second team offense featured Garrett Nussmeier at quarterback, Trey Holly at running back, Landon Ibieta, Chris Hilton and Kyle Parker at wide receiver, and Jackson McGohan at tight end.

LSU RB Trey Holly catches a pass during practice. (Photo taken by Jace LeJeune)

The offensive line continues to be extremely thin as there are still only six scholarship offensive linemen available with Bo Bordelon being the sixth. Despite having more reinforcements arriving in the fall, it will be interesting to see how much physical toll the starting five will take on during the spring.

The biggest news today came out of the defensive line as it was reported that their position coach Jamar Cain would leave LSU to become a pass rush specialist for the Denver Broncos. For a lot of the players including defensive lineman Jacobian Guillory, it was a tough pill to swallow when hearing the news.

“Yes, he did. He told us today. He didn’t want to tell us. He was choking up telling us, but just for him to achieve a goal that he has always wanted, why can’t you be happy for that. I’m happy for him to take that next step and get in the league just getting guys that nobody really knows about and molding them and just teaching everyday. Bless his heart. I am just getting ready for us to get our new defensive line coach so we can keep it rolling.”

LSU Defensive Lineman Jacobian Guillory on Jamar Cain leaving for the NFL

Brian Kelly will now have to focus on finding a new defensive line coach after Cain broke the official news to his players.

At linebacker, there are three linebackers that are separating themselves from the pack in fighting for the two starting spots, and they are Harold Perkins, Omar Speights, and Greg Penn.

LSU OLB and Special Teams Coach John Jancek critiques Sage Ryan. (Photo taken by Jace LeJeune)

In the secondary, Zy Alexander and Laterrance Welch were getting some reps with the ones at cornerback while other players like freshmen Denver Harris and Jeremiah Hughes were getting more reps in too. Javien Toviano is certainly looking like a player that will contribute a lot as a freshman this fall and is starting to develop more and more as a box safety to compliment Major Burns and Greg Brooks.

There were some players out as cornerback JK Johnson and wide receiver Jalen Brown were not seen at practice.

It was also the most looks that we got to see from the Tigers special teams for the first time under new direction as former special teams coach Brian Polian is now serving an off the field coaching role. The structure of special teams was a unique one as a different assistant coach was working on a separate aspect of special teams. New Special Teams coach John Jancek was coaching the field goal block team while offensive line coach Brad Davis was coaching the offensive line on extra point protection and offensive coordinator was with the tight ends also on field goal protection.

Finally, I got to see the kickers go through the special teams period with redshirt sophomore Damian Ramos getting the first team reps and Nathan Dibert getting the second team reps.

LSU players break down in the huddle. (Photo taken by Jace LeJeune)

I will be back with another practice report including more highlights and analysis on Saturday, April 1st. Until then, make sure to get all your LSU news right here at Gridiron Football USA.

Watch today’s practice highlights here!