Three LSU Football Players to Watch in Week 13 Against the Vanderbilt Commodores

Whit Weeks looks to bounce back in Week 13, contain Vanderbilt signal-caller Diego Pavia.

Courtesy of LSU Football.

Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers will need the stars to make an impact on Saturday night in Death Valley in order to snap the current three-game losing skid.

After back-to-back-to-back losses to Texas A&M, Alabama and Florida, all eyes will be on if the Bayou Bengals can get on track this weekend in Baton Rouge.

"Everybody is working and putting in the time and the head coach has to be part of that as well. Whether it’s a business or football coaching, you can’t sit there and say it’s the coordinators. The head coach is ultimately responsible for the success of his football team and we’re not successful these last three weeks. You got to get involved," Kelly said on Saturday in Gainesville.

"Obviously, I wasn’t good enough [in Week 12]. We’re going to go back to work and look at the things we need to get better at. We’re going to keep swinging. We’re going to have 22 guys out there that are going to fight for LSU and play hard these last two weeks at home.”

The stars must show out in Week 13 against Diego Pavia and the Vanderbilt Commodores in order to walk out of Tiger Stadium with a victory.

A look into a trio of Tigers to keep tabs on:

Three Tigers to Watch: Week 13 Edition

Kyren Lacy: Wide Receiver

LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy has proven to be one of Garrett Nussmeier's top weapons on offense this season, but inconsistency has plagued the Tigers' WR1 as of late.

In Week 12, Lacy was targeted several times, but ended the night with only three receptions for 49 yards in a loss at Florida.

Now, he'll look to flip the script and come out swinging on Saturday night against the Vanderbilt Commodores with an opportunity to bounce back.

Lacy is up to 49 receptions for 740 yards and seven touchdowns on the year, but in order for LSU to snap its three-game losing skid, he'll have to remain consistent in order for the offense to click.

Look for Lacy to have a bounce back game in Death Valley this weekend in order to propel LSU to a win over the Commodores.

Whit Weeks: Linebacker

LSU linebacker Whit Weeks is another player who has had a challenging stretch of games over the last few weeks.

Last weekend in Gainesville, Weeks ended the night as LSU's lowest-graded player with a 35.9 PFF grade. Despite leading the team in tackles this season, it's been an inconsistent stretch for Weeks.

Expect that sluggish run to end this weekend against Vanderbilt.

LSU's defense has had trouble slowing down mobile quarterbacks this season, and with Diego Pavia at the helm for the Commodores, he presents another unique challenge.

Can Weeks and Co. contain Pavia this weekend in Tiger Stadium?

All eyes will be on the sophomore linebacker who has continued holding down the second-level of the defense this season alongside Greg Penn III.

Bradyn Swinson: Defensive End

LSU defensive end Bradyn Swinson has been the Tigers' most impactful player on defense this season.

He's up to 47 total tackles on the year with eight sacks and a pair of forced fumbles to go with it.

Swinson was shot out of a cannon to start the season for LSU while being well on his way to becoming an SEC Defensive Player of the Year candidate, but his numbers have declined during LSU's losing streak.

The veteran edge rusher was sidelined for the first quarter of last Saturday's contest against Florida due to disciplinary reasons, but his impact was felt upon taking the field in the second frame.

Swinson has proven to be effective for the Tigers when needed and his presence must be felt on Saturday night in Death Valley in order for LSU to snap the losing skid.

Look for Lacy, Weeks and Swinson to be three players who elevate the Bayou Bengals this weekend.

ESPN Analyst Greg McElroy Weighs In:

"Surprise, surprise, I am taking Vanderbilt over LSU," McElroy said. "Vanderbilt's got a super mobile quarterback. LSU has yet to solve their problems as it relates to quarterback run game. I don't think they get right in this situation. Vanderbilt continues to climb as the No. 1 giant killer in the country."

More LSU News:

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Nick Saban Calls LSU Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier a "Sleeper" Ahead of 2024 Season

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