The LSU football team returns to the practice field to begin fall camp and to start their SEC West title defense. The media was able to capture only the first 15 minutes of practice, but was able to stay throughout and watch the entire practice period.
Yesterday, before fall camp practice started, LSU head coach Brian Kelly announced that defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey would step away from the program as he deals with health problems.
“Defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey will step away from the LSU Football program as he deals with a personal health matter. In Coach Lindsey’s absence, John Jancek will serve as defensive line coach, and Bob Diaco will coach outside linebackers and special teams. Our prayers are with Coach Lindsey and his family, and we ask that their privacy be respected. We look forward to his return to the program.”
LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly on Jimmy Lindsey’s status
Coach Jancek and Coach Diaco will tag team in helping to coach those positions, but the good news is that the defensive front is looking strong at the start of camp. Maason Smith made his full time return to the practice field after slowly coming back on the field at the end of spring. Mekhi Wingo and Jacobian Guillory were also taking a lot of the first team reps on the inside. On the outside, Ovie Oghoufo is looking like he is ready to go already physically for the first game of the season as he dons on a new #2 jersey after wearing #17 in the spring. On the opposite side of Oghoufo, Saivion Jones was getting first team reps on the edge. Jaxon Howard, Jordan Jefferson, and Paris Shand also got a lot of reps in with the twos.
All three scholarship quarterbacks from the spring in Jayden Daniels, Garrett Nussmeier, and Rickie Collins got a lot of throws in today in one on one situations with wide receivers and defensive backs as well as 7v7 action at the tail end of practice.
This is the first time that we get the see the full wide receiving core as Aaron Anderson made his debut with the Tigers after sitting out the spring. The speedster from New Orleans, Louisiana certainly made a good first impression with Brian Kelly and the rest of the coaching staff.
Five star freshman Shelton Sampson Jr. also was working with the team for the first time ever. The Catholic High School product didn’t take long to settle in as he grabbed a couple of passes when targeted. The team started in the indoor facility before making their way towards the outdoor facility for the last hour of practice. Kyren Lacy continues to show out and had a productive day showing off his strong hands in 1 on 1s. His counterpart and fellow receiver Brian Thomas Jr. had a deep reception in one on ones too. Kyle Parker is continuing to fly under the radar as he made some impressive receptions today as well. Malik Nabers, Lacy, and Thomas were the three starting receivers with Anderson rotating in at the slot.
The freshman that stood out most today has to be Ka’Morreun Pimpton. If you read the prior article about potential freshmen that could be in for big seasons, Pimpton was a guy that was a leading candidate and he definitely backed it up today with a couple of highlight reel grabs. Pimpton was used out wide more as a receiver, but both Jackson McGohan and Mac Markway got reps as more traditional tight ends. After sitting out the spring, Mason Taylor makes his return to the practice field and still looks strong. Overall, Coach Kelly likes with what he sees at the tight end position.
The running back room is much deeper than it was in the spring after only Noah Cain and Trey Holly were the two scholarship running backs during that time period, but the reinforcements certainly arrived in fall camp. Armoni Goodwin and Josh Williams returned after missing the spring. Freshman Kaleb Jackson made his fall camp debut and does not look like an ordinary freshman. Logan Diggs looked good after making his fall camp debut. Kelly expects big things to come from the former Archbishop Rummel running back since he has already been around him a lot when he was at Notre Dame.
Coach Kelly gave an update on John Emery and fortunately for the Tigers, it is good news as the position group will add another mouth to feed in the backfield starting tomorrow.
Up front on the offensive line, the starting front looked as it should be entering the first fall practice with Will Campbell at left tackle, Garrett Dellinger at left guard, Charles Turner at center, Miles Frazier at right guard, and Emery Jones at right tackle. Even though this starting five looks much clearer compared to last year at this point, there will still be a lot of competition at the position group, especially at center where Marlon Martinez continues to be a factor in the rotation.
Defensively, Harold Perkins, Omar Speights, and Greg Penn III were in the front and took charge at the linebacker positions with the Weeks brothers being right behind them.
The secondary had a rough day in the one on one session that took place in the indoor facility, but Coach Kelly doesn’t take too much stock into it even though there were some good plays made by Zy Alexander and Duce Chestnut.
“There is no pass rush and really, it is a good takeoff question for us when we observe these drills the deficit they have so that they don’t get frustrated because there is no pass rush. There is no clock. They are playing man to man on a field that is 53 1/3 by 120. They have the whole field and the receiver can do whatever he wants out there so it is so important that they understand the drill is about their technique. It is not about a winner or loser in that drill. It’s so important that technique is at the front of their mindset going into the drill. We are really looking at that more than anything else.”
LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly
When it comes to having the first fall practice, there were some roadblocks as expected, especially with the younger guys coming in, but having them in the first fall practice is a good time to have them.
“They are some young guys that are trying to figure it out. Stay up, don’t pull a teammate down to the ground, don’t run out, keep your helmet on, pay attention to detail. All of those things, but that will come. That is part of our job in teaching and making sure the guys are doing it the right way.”
LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly
What Brian Kelly is most excited for this season as compared to last year, this is a much more experienced team overall and having that experience will help this team even more for their SEC schedule.
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