Three Bold Predictions for LSU Football Ahead of Preseason Camp

The LSU Tigers report for Fall Camp this week, gearing up for 2024 season under Brian Kelly.

Jan 1, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) drops back to pass against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first quarter during the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers are 48 hours away from beginning preseason camp in Baton Rouge with the program ready to take strides in the right direction in 2024.

Redshirt-junior Garrett Nussmeier looks to carry the torch at quarterback this season after sitting back and learning from Jayden Daniels over the last two seasons.

With the "keys to the car" in 2024, the expectations remain high for the first-year starter.

The Tigers' 2024 schedule is "a gauntlet" once again. How will the Tigers respond? Can the defense take that next step? How will Nussmeier perform?

Three Bold Predictions

No. 1: Garrett Nussmeier Eclipses 4,000 Passing Yards, 35 Touchdowns in 2024

LSU redshirt-junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier officially has the "keys to the car" heading into the 2024 season after waiting patiently for his turn to lead the program.

Now, all eyes will be on the veteran signal-caller to carry the momentum from 2023 where LSU boasted the nation's No. 1 offense.

“I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to step into some pretty tough situations,” Nussmeier said. “I think they’ve only made me better as a player. Now getting the experience and the preparation, as well as the starter, I think it will only help even more. That experience at Alabama, the SEC Championship against Georgia, the end of the game against Auburn. I’ve been thrown into some tough situations but it’s only made me better and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. And even the times when I failed, just learning from them, and hopefully just continuing as always to just try and push better.”

We've seen a small sample size during his time in Baton Rouge, but immediate attention goes back to his ReliaQuest Bowl matchup against the Wisconsin Badgers where he passed for nearly 400 yards and three touchdowns while leading a game-winning drive.

That's what Nussmeier is capable of.

Over 13 games in 2024, Nussmeier has the intangibles and offensive weapons to toss for 315 yards per game and nearly three touchdowns a night. Not to mention an experienced offensive line that should give him time in the pocket for his downfield weapons to get open.

A wide receiver room headlined by Kyren Lacy, CJ Daniels and Chris Hilton, Nussmeier has an arsenal to work with that should comfortably get him over 3,500 yards on the year, but the goal should be to toss for over 4,000 yards on the season in total.

No. 2: The Defense Takes That Step

It's easy to sit back and say: "Well, can it get any worse?" when referring to LSU's defense after an abysmal 2023 season under defensive coordinator Matt House.

A program that finished in the bottom half of America on the defensive side of the ball, it halted the Tigers from any postseason opportunities.

Now, Blake Baker is handling duties as the defensive coordinator with the Bayou Bengals beginning to hit their stride ahead of fall camp.

There are serviceable pieces to work with. The main concerns remain in the secondary and up front at defensive line, but there are players to keep tabs on.

The Secondary:

The LSU secondary has been incredibly disappointing over the last few seasons, but after making a few tweaks in the defensive backfield, the Tigers are eying growth here.

A player that has the chance to be impactful will be Texas A&M transfer Jardin Gilbert after making his way back to Louisiana.

The Bayou State native will lace up his cleats for the hometown program in 2024 with an opportunity to take on starting safety duties for LSU.

Kelly's program will have an upgrade at safety this season with Gilbert and Sage Ryan looking to take on first-team snaps.

After Major Burns and Andre Sam struggled in 2023, it's imperative Gilbert and Ryan provide the Tigers with a much needed spark in the secondary.

Burns will handle reps at the STAR position in 2024 under Blake Baker's new scheme.

With a first team defensive backfield [during spring camp] consisting of PJ Woodland and Ashton Stamps in the cornerbacks slots alongside Major Burns (STAR) and Sage Ryan/Jardin Gilbert at safety, there's room for growth in 2024.

This is an area that certainly has an opportunity to keep its head above water in 2024.

The Defensive Line:

The lack of depth up front stole headlines during LSU's Spring Camp with only a handful of scholarship players on the roster.

Now, after retooling the position group, defensive line coach Bo Davis has a few weapons to work with leading up to the 2024 season.

Headlined by five-star freshman Dominick McKinley, the defensive line room will be one to monitor during preseason camp.

Jacobian Guillory can be penciled in as a starter, but who takes reps alongside him will be a piece to keep tabs on. Will it be McKinley? Or will transfer additions Jay'Viar Suggs (Grand Valley State) and Gio Paez (Wisconsin) step up?

McKinley... The freshman phenom hovered around the 275-285 pound range during his senior year of high school with Acadiana (La.), but has bulked up significantly this offseason. McKinley is now listed at 6-foot-6, 316 pounds heading into his first season with the Bayou Bengals. He's worked alongside Davis after arriving as a summer enrollee and has the chance to take significant snaps in 2024. Will the program take time to let him develop or throw him into the fire early as a true freshman?

Suggs... The 6-foot-3, 282-pounder tallied 21 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 5 pass breakups and 1 forced fumble in 2022 with GVSU. The following season in 2023, Suggs remained consistent after logging 21 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 5 sacks with 4 pass breakups and a forced fumble. Suggs has been a consistent contributor at the Division II level, but he's clearly ready to take it up a notch at a Power Four school. How will Davis and Co. utilize the impactful transfer?

Paez... Paez is from Los Angeles, California and redshirted his first season with the Badgers. In year two, he played in just one game, but it counted as the COVID season in 2020. Over the last three seasons, he’s played 32 games and logged 36 tackles. A small contributor with Wisconsin, it'll be intriguing to see his growth now that he's in Baton Rouge. Can he hit his stride and become a starter alongside Guillory?

No. 3: Zavion Thomas Earns All-SEC Honors

Mississippi State transfer Zavion Thomas will be the go-to guy as a return specialist in 2024 for the Bayou Bengals.

It's no secret LSU has struggled on special teams during Kelly's tenure in Baton Rouge, but with Thomas in the mix, it should take weight off of his shoulders.

Sure, All-SEC honors should be in the cards for Thomas granted he was a Preseason All-SEC selection, but we've seen how this scenario unfolds already. Alabama transfer Aaron Anderson was expected to fill a similar role for the Tigers in 2023.

That didn't go as planned last season.

Now, it's believed that Thomas can exceed expectations and thrive as both a return man and wide receiver for the Tigers in 2024 on his way to earning All-Conference honors.

Other LSU News:

Flip Watch: LSU Surging for South Carolina Linebacker Commit

Recruiting: The Latest on the No. 1 Safety in America, Jonah Williams

Recruits React: LSU Hosts Top Talent for Annual Bayou Splash Event

Join the Community:

Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Tigers On SI: @LSUTigersSI for all coverage surrounding the LSU program.