LSU Spring Football: The Practice Report From Wednesday
LSU football returned to the practice field this week after spring break with Brian Kelly's program ramping things up on Wednesday morning.
The media were provided a 20-minute viewing during the beginning of practice.
Here are a few takeaways from Wednesday morning:
The Quarterbacks
- Garrett Nussmeier continues looking sharp in up-tempo drills with AJ Swann working with the second-team through the entire media viewing.
- During Week 1 of spring ball, Rickie Collins handled second-team reps with Swann working in with the third-team, but it's clear Joe Sloan will work in Swann as the backup.
- Nussmeier, Swann, Collins and early-enrollee Colin Hurley was the order for position work and up-tempo drills.
The Running Backs
- The running back room remains a work in progress with only a pair of scholarship players on roster. Kaleb Jackson and Josh Williams were seen working alongside Frank Wilson during the short viewing, but again, not much to take from this position group with the lack of depth. Wilson and Co. will add another back during the spring transfer portal window.
The Wide Receivers
- Kyren Lacy and Chris Hilton remain the first two wide receivers to take significant snaps with Aaron Anderson and Kyle Parker rotating in as well.
- Kyle Parker continues to impress during spring ball and continues getting more and more reps alongside the 1's. He worked with Lacy and Hilton as the first-team receivers on Wednesday.
The Offensive Line
- Junior offensive tackle Emery Jones was absent on Wednesday with redshirt freshman Tyree Adams working in as the starting right tackle.
- Adams is the top option as the backup tackle, and after an impressive offseason, it's clear the trust o-line coach Brad Davis has in his youngster.
- The starters on Wednesday from left to right: Will Campbell, Garrett Dellinger, DJ Chester, Miles Frazier and Tyree Adams.
The Defensive Line
- Not much to take away from this position group once again. The Tigers are working with limited bodies, but a player this program remains high on his early-enrollee Gabriel Reliford. The youngster looks the part and has been seen getting coached up by Bo Davis significantly.
- LSU will work in the spring portal window to add two or three defensive linemen while they navigate the scholarship count (85).
The Linebackers
- Harold Perkins and Greg Penn continue holding down the slots with the first-team. It's clear Blake Baker is taking Perkins under his wing right off the bat. It's a small sample size, but Baker and Perkins were side-by-side throughout the entire viewing once again. Baker turned Damone Clark into a Butkus Award Finalist linebacker with high expectations for Perkins heading into the season.
- Whit Weeks and West Weeks have been taking second-team reps.
The Cornerbacks
- Ashton Stamps and Javien Toviano are the first-team cornerbacks with Jeremiah Hughes also getting significant snaps.
- Stamps and Toviano have been paired through both media viewings.
- Ohio State transfer Jyaire Brown also worked in on Wednesday. The Louisiana native returned to The Boot this offseason and was seen getting his fair share of reps.
- One name to keep tabs on will be JK Johnson. Johnson, who missed all of last season after suffering a lower-body injury, transferred in from Ohio State and is now back in the mix. After speaking with those around the program, there is a level of hype surrounding Johnson. He looked the part on Thursday and will be one to monitor.
- Zy Alexander continues rehabbing a torn ACL suffered last season. He's out on the field with the team but not participating.
The Safeties
- Jardin Gilbert will be a name to keep tabs on as a potential starter for the 2024 season. The Texas A&M transfer continues taking first-team reps and has been a player we've kept close eyes on. The physical traits are there and Blake Baker's defense has the chance to piece it all together with him.
- Sage Ryan is working in as the first-team nickel for the Tigers.
- Kylin Jackson is back and healthy again after redshirting in 2024 as a true freshman.
- Small sample size from the safeties on Wednesday.