LSU Tigers Fall Camp Week 2 Preview: Storylines, Position Battles and Depth Chart

Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers will kick off Week 2 of Fall Camp on Monday, program set to go in full pads.

LSU will shift focus to Week 2 of Fall Camp on Monday with the program set to go into pads for the next few weeks.

There has been significant attention on the LSU defense with position battles brewing, but there are also names to keep tabs on with the special teams group.

With Week 2 beginning in less than 24 hours, here are a few storylines to watch, position battles to keep tabs on and the depth chart after Week 1.

The Depth Chart After Week 1:

Quarterback

Starter: Garrett Nussmeier (R-Jr.)

Backup: Rickie Collins (R-Fr.)

Running Backs

Starter: Josh Williams (Gr.)

Backup: Kaleb Jackson (Soph.)

Look for LSU to work with a committee of backs in 2024. Williams and Jackson will serve as a one-two punch during the season with Caden Durham and returnee John Emery looking to battle it out for key snaps as well. Fall Camp will tell the story here.

Wide Receivers

Starters: Kyren Lacy (Sr.), Chris Hilton Jr. (R-Jr.) and CJ Daniels (Grad.)

Backups/Rotation: Aaron Anderson (Jr.) Zavion Thomas (Jr.), Kyle Parker (R-Fr.)

Kyren Lacy has taken over as LSU's WR1 this offseason with Chris Hilton also asserting himself as a starter during camp. The pair of electrifying wideouts appear to have cemented starting duties along with Liberty transfer CJ Daniels asserting himself as the third guy.

Zavion Thomas, Aaron Anderson and Kyle Parker will battle it out with Shelton Sampson, Jelani Watkins and Kylan Billiot for backup reps.

Regardless of who runs with the first-team, LSU will utilize a five or six man rotation this season with significant weapons outside. Fall Camp in August camp will give a look into the embarrassment of riches wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton has in his arsenal.

Tight Ends

Starter: Mason Taylor (Jr.)

Backups: Mac Markway (Soph.) and Trey'Dez Green (Soph.)

Taylor will be involved more this season with Joe Sloan taking over as the playcaller for the Tigers. He's spoken highly of his prized tight end, calling him one of the program's best players, and will utilize his skill set in a variety of ways.

As for Markway and Pimpton, the pair of sophomores have taken strides in the right direction and look to take on a bigger role this season, but five-star freshman Trey'Dez Green will fly up this depth chart sooner rather than later.

On Day 1, he lived up to the five-star hype. It'll be Green and Markway competing for backup duties. It'll be an uphill climb for second-year Tiger Ka'Morreun Pimpton to see the field in an expanded role this season.

Offensive Line

Starters: Will Campbell (Jr.), Garrett Dellinger (Sr.), DJ Chester (R-Fr.), Miles Frazier (Sr.), Emery Jones (Jr.)

Backups: Tyree Adams (R-Fr.), Paul Mubenga (R-Fr.), Coen Echols (Fr.), Bo Bordelon (R-Soph.), Weston Davis (Fr.)

LSU returns four starters from a season ago up front with DJ Chester being the lone new face in the mix. Campbell and Jones will look to become the top tackle duo in college football while Chester looks to prove he can hang with the top guns. Through the offseason, it's been rave reviews for Chester while he "handles himself like a pro both on and off of the field."

Defense:

Defensive Tackle

Starters: Jacobian Guillory (R-Sr.) and Gio Paez (Gr.)

Backups: Dominick McKinley (Fr.), Kimo Makane'ole (R-Jr.) and Shone Washington (R-Soph.)

Other: Jay'Viar Suggs

On Day 1, it was Guillory and Paez running with the first-team. Washington and Makane'ole with the second-team. They're easing McKinley in and it will be interesting to see his role in 2024.

Defensive End

Starters: Sai'vion Jones (Sr.) and Bradyn Swinson (Sr.)

Backups: Paris Shand (Sr.), Da’Shawn Womack (Soph.)

LSU will execute a new scheme under defensive coordinator Blake Baker with both Swinson and Jones benefitting from a two defensive end look. Along with the pair of upperclassmen, expect sophomore Dashawn Womack to be used significantly this season. The former five-star recruit has taken strides in the right direction with those within the program impressed with what he provides. Another name to keep tabs on will be true freshman Gabriel Reliford.

Other: Gabriel Reliford (Fr.)

Linebackers

Starters: Greg Penn III (Sr.), Harold Perkins (Jr.)

Backups: Whit Weeks (Soph.), West Weeks (Sr.)

STAR Role

Starter: Major Burns (Sr.)

Backup: Kylin Jackson (R-Fr.) or Ju'Juan Johnson (Fr.)

Burns will now play a hybrid safety/linebacker role in defensive coordinator Blake Bakers scheme and shined during Spring Camp. Those within the program feel this will be his sweet spot and it's brought intrigue into the fall. Despite Burns looking the part, all eyes will be on redshirt freshman Kylin Jackson. He has all the makings of pushing Burns and competing for key reps in 2024.

Cornerbacks

Starters: Ashton Stamps (Soph.), Sage Ryan (Jr.)

Backups: PJ Woodland (Fr.) and JK Johnson (Jr.)

Others: Zy Alexander, Javien Toviano, Michael Turner and Jyaire Brown

Safeties

Starters: Jardin Gilbert (R-Jr.) and Jordan Allen (R-Soph.)

Backups: Dashawn Spears (Fr.) and Kylin Jackson (R-Fr.)

Special Teams

Kicker: Damian Ramos (R-Jr.)

Punter: Peyton Todd (R-Jr.) or Blake Ochsendorf (Grad.)

Long Snapper: Slade Roy (Sr.)

Return Specialists: Zavion Thomas (Jr.) and Aaron Anderson (R-Jr.)

The Storylines:

Shuffling in the Secondary

When looking at LSU's defense after Week 1, the first and second teams go as follows:

First-Team: Sai'vion Jones (DE), Gio Paez (DT), Jacobian Guillory (DT), Da'Shawn Womack (DE), Harold Perkins (LB), Greg Penn III (LB) Ashton Stamps (CB), Sage Ryan (CB), Major Burns (STAR), Jardin Gilbert (S) and Jordan Allen (S).

Second-Team: Paris Shand (DE), Kimo Makane'ole (DT), Shone Washington (DT), Whit Weeks (LB), West Weeks (LB), PJ Woodland (CB), JK Johnson (CB), Ju'Juan Johnson (STAR), Kylin Jackson (S) and DaShawn Spears (S).

Expect movement in the secondary as the program transitions to pad work. There will be position battles at both cornerback and safety with Javien Toviano and Zy Alexander back in drill work.

Ashton Stamps can be pencilled in as a starter, but from there, there will be a handful of players competing for the second cornerback spot including Toviano, Alexander, PJ Woodland, Sage Ryan and JK Johnson.

Shake Up at Defensive Line

Bradyn Swinson and Jalen Lee will return on Monday for the Tigers after missing Week 1 with excused absences.

We've seen Da'Shawn Womack as a starting edge rusher on the opposite side of Sa'vion Jones. With Swinson back, how quickly will he slide back in with the first-team?

In the trenches, it's been Gio Paez and Jacobian Guillory running as the first-team defensive tackles, but will Dominick McKinley and Co. step up come Week 2? Bo Davis worked in several different rotations with Week 2 set to see separation.

Consistency from Nussmeier

Nussmeier has been coined a "gunslinger" since he stepped on campus four years ago, but now it's about finding consistency and seeing that narrative slow down.

During the first week, it wasn't the best showing from the Tigers' QB1 after throwing a few interceptions, but now it'll be about how he responds.

Nussmeier was looking to thread the needle with a few questionable decisions, but clearly the arm talent is there. He'll have a huge season in Baton Rouge as he continues working with his impressive receiving corps.

Look for LSU's QB1 to slow down and find consistency in Week 2 of Fall Camp.

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