LSU Depth Chart: Week 1 vs. Florida State

The Tigers return several key weapons, add newcomers via the Transfer Portal.

Brian Kelly and Co. are just four days away from the season opener against Florida State with rotations emerging within the program.

LSU will take the field in Orlando on Sunday at 6:30pm in a primetime contest in Week 1 against the Seminoles. 

It'll be a Top 10 matchup in Camping World Stadium with the Tigers checking in at No. 5 in the AP Top 25 Poll and the Seminoles coming in at No. 8 to start the season.

A look into LSU's projected depth chart:

The Offensive Depth Chart:

Quarterback

QB: Jayden Daniels, Garrett Nussmeier

There will be no surprises when it comes to the LSU’s QB1 against Florida State on Sunday. This is Jayden Daniels' team. The second-year Tiger has the chance to put it all together this season and shine for a program poised to make a College Football Playoff run. For Nussmeier, the redshirt sophomore will be one of the best backup quarterbacks in America. He’s taken strides in the right direction during camp and will be ready when his number is called.

Running Back

RB: Josh Williams, Logan Diggs/Noah Cain

LSU flaunts an embarrassment of riches at the running back position led by fifth-year senior Josh Williams. Williams handled starting duties in 2022 after Armoni Goodwin went down with injury and never looked back. It’s imperative the super senior remains healthy this season after battling a knee injury all offseason with limited reps carrying into Fall Camp.

Along with Williams, Notre Dame transfer Logan Diggs has the chance to shine in his first season in Baton Rouge. He came to LSU with the chance to take on a major role and the Tigers are prepared to give him that if he remains healthy.

For Cain, he’s taken first team reps all August with Williams and Diggs nursing minor injuries and thrived when given opportunity. The Tigers have the chance to role with a three-back system this season with so many weapons.

Look for freshman running back Kaleb Jackson to emerge as a player who receives snaps on Sunday with both Armoni Goodwin and John Emery out. The youngster has taken on an expanded role during Fall Camp with the chance to shine early for the Tigers. 

Tight End

TE: Mason Taylor, Mac Markway/Ka’Morreun Pimpton

Mason Taylor returns to Baton Rouge with the chance to put together an All-SEC caliber season for the Tigers. There will be no surprises here. Taylor is the guy in this tight end room for LSU and can be a major force in year two.

After Taylor, the Tigers have a wide variety of options headlined by freshmen Mac Markway and Ka’Morreun Pimpton. Both flaunt different skill sets with Markway being a talented blocker and Pimpton serving as a lethal receiving threat. Look for the Tigers to utilize the youngsters this season at some point.

Another weapon will be JUCO transfer Connor Gilbreath. He’s a blocking tight end who will transition to offensive tackle next season, but for now, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock could look to use his services as a blocker during his first season in Death Valley.

Wide Receiver

WR: Malik Nabers, Chris Hilton

WR: Brian Thomas, Shelton Sampson Jr.

WR: Kyren Lacy, Aaron Anderson

There hasn’t been any shakeup this offseason with the first-team wide receiver room led by Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas and Kyren Lacy. The trio of wideouts have the chance to be special this season with Jayden Daniels at the helm as each look to take that next step.

First-year Tigers Shelton Sampson (freshman) and Aaron Anderson (Alabama transfer) will serve key roles this season with the second-team alongside Chris Hilton. All three have shined during Fall Camp in some capacity with Hilton really hitting his stride as a vertical threat.

Offensive Line

LT: Will Campbell, Bo Bordelon

LG: Garrett Dellinger, Kimo Makaneole

C: Charles Turner, Marlon Martinez, DJ Chester

RG: Miles Frazier, Mason Lunsford

RT: Emery Jones, Zalance Heard

There have been position battles brewing up front with true freshman Zalance Heard emerging at the end of Fall Camp. For now, the starting unit remains the same, but there could be some change sooner rather than later.

During the Fall Camp scrimmage, Heard took first-team reps at right tackle. If Heard continues shining and earns a starting role, it would shift Emery Jones to right guard with a starting rotation of: Campbell, Dellinger, Turner, Jones and Heard.

The Defensive Depth Chart

Defensive Line

DT: Maason Smith, Jacobian Guillory

DT: Mekhi Wingo, Jordan Jefferson

DE: Sai’vion Jones, Paris Shand

EDGE: Ovie Oghoufo, Bradyn Swinson

There are no surprises when it comes to LSU’s interior defensive line with Maason Smith and Mekhi Wingo. The dynamic duo will be special this season and has the chance to wreak havoc this year, even if it means waiting a week with Smith unavailable on Sunday against Florida State. 

Jacobian Guillory will slide into a starting role alongside Wingo on Sunday. 

Aside from Smith and Wingo, it’s been Sai’vion Jones who’s penciled himself in as a starter up front at defensive end. Along with Jones, it's been an impressive rise for Paris Shand, an Arizona transfer who will backup Jones, giving this unit depth.

At the JACK linebacker role will be Texas transfer Ovie Oghoufo. He’s shined during camp but must remain on his toes as Bradyn Swinson continues taking that next step. The Tigers will look to utilize both skill sets this season with Oghoufo the likely starter against Florida State.

LSU Football: Projecting LSU's Offensive Depth Chart

Linebacker

LB: Harold Perkins, West Weeks

LB: Omar Speights, Greg Penn III

Harold Perkins emerged as one of the top defensive talents in America as just a true freshman in 2022. Now, after taking on a full-time role at linebacker during camp, it’ll be a big season for the sophomore. 

Alongside Perkins will be Oregon State transfer Omar Speights. The All-Conference talent has shined during camp with the two forming a talented dynamic next to one another. 

From there, Greg Penn III, one of the team’s top tacklers in 2022, will be the next man up with West Weeks and Whit Weeks following.

Defensive Backs

CB: Zy Alexander, Ashton Stamps

CB: Duce Chestnut, Laterrance Welch

Nickel: Sage Ryan, Ryan Robinson 

Safety: Major Burns, Jordan Allen

Safety: Greg Brooks, Andre Sam

Zy Alexander has emerged as a lethal threat in the cornerback room and will serve as LSU’s No. 1 corner this season. After a huge offseason during both spring and fall camp, he’s earned the trust of his teammates and will take on a major role.

After Alexander will be Syracuse transfer Duce Chestnut. There were times where he flashed during Fall Camp and this program will need him to continue his rise into camp with Ashton Stamps following as the No. 3 cornerback.

*Nickel and safety will be where things will get interesting. During the Fall Camp scrimmage, we saw Sage Ryan slide over as the first-team boundary corner opposite of Zy Alexander. With this, Greg Brooks went to nickel as the starter, moving Andre Sam and Major Burns as the first-team safeties.*

This could be the direction LSU goes in to start the season against Florida State if Ryan remains healthy. Brian Kelly has harped on consistency and Ryan has shined during camp in that way.