Texas A&M Week 13 Opponent Preview: LSU Offensive Players to Watch

The Tigers return eight offensive starters, including a quarterback that pulled off upsets against Alabama and Ole Miss.

No one knew what to expect from Brian Kelly in Year 1 at LSU. All eyes are on the bayou entering Year 2.

Kelly, who spent over a decade calling the shots at Notre Dame en route to becoming the program's all-time winningest coach, knew rebuilding the Tigers to championship glory would come with some hiccups. There was a new quarterback in town — one cast away by fans in the Pac-12. A pair of freshmen was asked to start at tackle and the run game was set to start over after nearly 90 percent of its production went to the pros.

In retrospect, those hiccups were more like burps. Jayden Daniels became an overnight sensation, earning Kelly's trust and the locker room's respect. Will Campbell and Emory Jones learned on the fly at tackle and found their rhythm by midseason. And while the offensive production was up to the 2019 standard, it was enough to lead LSU to a 10-win season.

Daniels is back under center. So is his top receiver and leading rusher. The two tackles are a year older and more seasoned to hold their weight in pass protection sets against standout edge rushers. As a unit, LSU returns eight starters, not to mention offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock is slated to return for another go-around with the Voodo magic.

Last preseason, LSU was projected to finish fifth in the SEC West standings. Now, pundits and college football fans continue to bicker on if this version of the Tigers can surpass Alabama for the top spot in the division for a second consecutive year.

Maybe so, but Texas A&M will do its best to ruin the Tigers' chances of returning to the College Football Playoff while potentially punching its own ticket to Atlanta for the first time since joining the SEC.

Follow along with AllAggies.com as we preview every aspect of A&M's matchup with the Tigers throughout the week. Before diving in, here's a quick overview of the essential things to know before kickoff at Tiger Stadium on Nov. 25.

Now, let's take a look at name of several offensive names for the Tigers

QB Jayden Daniels

Passing: 2,913 yards, 17 TDs, 3 INTs, 68.6 completion percentage, 144.5 passer rating

Rushing: 885 yards, 11 TDs

Daniels came alive as the Tigers' signal-caller in 2022, leading LSU in both passing and rushing yardage categories. While Garrett Nussmeier still resides on campus, Kelly has already named the former Arizona State transfer the Week 1 starter against Florida State.

Last season against A&M, Daniels only completed 60 percent of his throws and failed to find the end zone. He also was stripped-sacked by safety Demani Richardson, who eventually turned upfield for a 27-yard touchdown to break a 17-tie.

RB Josh Williams

Rushing: 97 attempts, 532 yards, 6 TDs

Williams is the Tigers' leading returning running back in terms of yardage, but Noah Cain also accounted for 10 scores on the ground a season ago. A native of Houston, Williams averaged 5.5 yards per carry and finished with a pair of 100-yard performances on the ground. He did not play against the Aggies last November due to injury.

WR Malik Nabers

Receiving: 72 receptions, 1,017 yards, 3 TDs

A preseason All-SEC first-team receiver, Nabers returns to serve as Daniels' top target. Last season, he totaled three 100-plus receiving-yard games, including a career-high 163-yard outing against Purdue in the Citrus Bowl. He was held to six catches for 69 yards in the Tigers' loss at Kyle Field and only managed to pick up one first down on an 18-yard snag in the second quarter.

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