Sights and Sounds: Behind The Scenes of LSU Spring Football

The Tigers will wrap up spring ball on Saturday, but who has shined brightest during the offseason so far?

Brian Kelly and the LSU football program will wrap up spring camp on Saturday for the annual Spring Game in Tiger Stadium at 1 p.m. CT.

For Tiger fans, it'll provide an opportunity to check out different rotations, the growth of younger players and more, but for the coaching staff, this group will utilize this time to get a better look at position battles.

A few position battles that will carry into the summer include the backup quarterback role between Rickie Collins and AJ Swann, starting cornerback duties and more.

It's been a busy couple of weeks for Kelly and Co. as they navigate an offseason with tremendous change.

A look into the sights, sounds and observations from behind the scenes of LSU Spring Football:

The Offense

The Quarterback Tidbits

- Garrett Nussmeier's continuity with Josh Williams has been key this offseason as the offense looks to utilize the run game in a variety of ways. We've seen several different run options with the pair of veterans clicking during spring ball. On Tuesday's final spring practice (Thursday was a walkthrough), we saw offensive coordinator Joe Sloan and running backs coach Frank Wilson working side-by-side with this offense dialed in with the run game. Nussmeier looks crisp in position drills and is taking a "lead by example" approach this offseason.

- Rickie Collins and AJ Swann have been battling it out this offseason for the QB2 role. This isn't a situation where the staff is just giving Collins, a second-year Tiger, snaps. He's truly developing as a signal-caller. Collins has the advantage as it stands given he already has a year in the system, but as Swann gets a better feel for the scheme, his chances of earning the QB2 role will grow. They continue splitting reps during camp with Saturday's Spring Game providing a big-time chance for both. They will take significant reps in Tiger Stadium.

The Running Backs

- Though Josh Williams will handle first team reps on Saturday during the Spring Game, sources indicate to LSU Country that it's clear this coaching staff understands Kaleb Jackson can/will be the lead back for this program. The second-year Tiger is developing at a rapid rate and has been a bright spot during camp.

- Jackson has looked more comfortable during camp and it's clear both comfortability and familiarity with the scheme will put him in a good position this season. Not to mention a full year in a college regime.

- Brian Kelly is confident second-year Tiger Trey Holly will be back with the program this offseason while he handles off-the-field issues. LSU will also add four-star, Top 100 prospect Caden Durham to the room; giving LSU four scholarship backs this fall.

The Wide Receivers

- Kyren Lacy, Chris Hilton and Aaron Anderson handled the bulk of first-team snaps during camp, but it's difficult to take too much from these reps given the depth in the wide receiver room. The Tigers will utilize five or six receivers on Saturday's this fall.

- Wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton will use his embarrassment of riches routinely. Expect Zavion Thomas, CJ Daniels and Kyle Parker to remain a key piece to the rotation. Daniels, a coveted Liberty transfer, continues getting a better feel for the scheme and appears ready to take that next step this offseason under LSU's game plan.

- Daniels and Mississippi State transfer Zavion Thomas are key components to this offense and it showed with their significant reps towards the backend of camp. Look for the first-year Tigers to be game changers this season in Baton Rouge. Thomas has also handled first-team reps as the kick returner.

- Many have asked about Shelton Sampson Jr. and he's received better reviews from both players and the staff over the final weeks of camp. Physicality at the line of scrimmage and working on the little things will be important for him this summer, but it's clear he's trending in the right direction.

The Offensive Line

- First team offensive line: LT Will Campbell, LG Garrett Dellinger, C DJ Chester, RG Miles Frazier, RT Emery Jones

- Second team offensive line: LT Tyree Adams (R-Fr.), LG Paul Mubenga (R-Fr.), C Coen Echols (Fr.), RG Christian Stamps (R-Fr.), RT Bo Bordelon (R-Soph.)

- Tyree Adams and Bo Bordelon have been impressive during camp and truly shined this spring ball. Both have an opportunity to learn from an experienced LSU offensive line. This group returns significant talent and has youngsters ready to emerge as key pieces moving forward.

- Speaking of youngsters ready to emerge, second-year Tiger DJ Chester has been inserted as the starting center for LSU, the only starter not returning from last season. Chester handles himself like a pro, Brian Kelly said during camp, and it's been on full display. LSU fans will get a better feel for his style on Saturday.

The Defense

The Defensive Line

- Jacobian Guillory has been a key component on the inside for Bo Davis and his defensive line group. He's been the leader for this thin unit and can be pencilled in as a starter this fall. The interior depth is limited but Guillory has been a bright spot. We've also seen offensive lineman turned defensive lineman, Kimo Makaneole, work with the first team during camp.

- Jalen Lee and Makaneole are working for the other first team interior slot alongside Guillory, but this program will be adding two or three more interior defensive linemen during the spring portal window. On Saturday, look for both to get reps as they push for big-time snaps this yer.

- Bradyn Swinson and Sai'vion Jones remain the first team EDGE rushers with former five-star Dashawn Womack taking strides in the right direction. He's earning key snaps as well and his development has been a talking point during camp.

- It's obvious. Womack will be hard to keep off of the field this season with the coveted prospect ready to take that next step in 2024. LSU lost Jaxon Howard to the NCAA Transfer Portal this week, becoming the first Tiger to depart during the spring window, but there's a sense of comfortability with LSU's defensive ends and EDGE rushers.

- A name to monitor will be early-enrollee Gabriel Reliford. The youngster is a player this program is high on, as one source indicated, and has the chance to be competitive this year if he continues building up his body.

The Linebackers

- Harold Perkins is a player who continues improving as he transitions to the inside linebacker role for LSU. We've seen what defensive coordinator Blake Baker can do with linebackers, given his track record with Butkus Award Finalist Damone Clark, and Perkins will have the chance to piece it all together during Year 3 with the program. Perkins has been vocal and tenacious during camp with an opportunity to shine this season. He's benefitted from a productive camp.

- The same can be said for veteran Greg Penn III. He's taken control of this locker room and has received rave reviews from his peers.

- You have to mention the Weeks Bros. when discussing the LSU linebacker corps. Both Whit and West have been impressive with the second-team, but expect Whit to see significant playing time when LSU goes to a 4-3 scheme as well as important goal line spots.

The Cornerbacks

- Early enrollee PJ Woodland's meteoric rise has been the talk of the town after taking first team reps on the opposite side of Ashton Stamps towards the end of camp. It's his length and instincts that have allowed him to fly up the depth chart to earn starting duties, but once again, this will be a battle into Fall Camp as starting cornerback Zy Alexander works back into the mix. According to a source, Alexander is ahead of schedule and should be good to go early this summer. Look for Woodland, Alexander, Stamps and Javien Toviano to compete for starting duties.

- Toviano has taken reps with the second team to close out camp. The glaring fact here is that this staff is still finding Toviano's bread and butter. A safety turned cornerback, this staff is still finding the best way to utilize Toviano's gifted skill set. Look for him to be all over the place during camp.

- The pair of Ohio State transfers, Jyaire Brown and JK Johnson, have been working in routinely, but Johnson's reps have been impressive. He dealt with a minor injury during camp and has been back in the mix. LSU fans will get the chance to see him on Saturday as he works his way back up the depth chart.

- Second-year Tiger Jeremiah Hughes is still a work in progress for this group. It's clear the talent is there, and the former wide receiver turned cornerback in high school is still getting technique down. He'll be one to keep tabs on during Saturday's scrimmage.

The Safeties

- Let's start off with the first observation from Spring Camp: Sage Ryan is here to make a statement during the 2024 season and his skill set has been on full display during camp. He had a three interception day two weeks ago during a Saturday practice and has been a ball hawk through camp.

- Jardin Gilbert is a physical specimen. The Texas A&M transfer will be a player we may look back on this fall and be appreciative the staff went out and secured his services. He's talented and has an opportunity to be impactful this season. It was a beneficial camp for Gilbert.

- Let's talk Major Burns. The veteran safety is now plaiying in the STAR role. A hybrid safety/linebacker mix, this is where the staff feels he'll get his bread and butter. It's been a positive camp for him, but the fall will be a true indicator of his success.

- True freshman Dashawn McBryde is a guy LSU is high on and he certainly shined during his first spring camp in Baton Rouge. The long, twitchy safety was very, very impressive and will be hard to keep off of the field this season in Death Valley.

Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Country: @LSUCountry_FN for all coverage surrounding the LSU program.