LSU’s season will kickoff next Sunday in New Orleans against Florida State as they will begin a new era in Baton Rouge under Brian Kelly. Kelly and his staff was able to use the transfer portal to be able to fill positions of need in the offseason. Pair the transfer portal along with the returning talent, there is optimism for players to prove themselves in the 2022 season. The starting quarterback is still yet to be determined as it is now a two-man race. Here are the the predictions for the 2022 LSU Tigers depth chart for this upcoming season.
LSU Depth Chart Prediction–Offense
Quarterback
1. Jayden Daniels, Jr.
2. Garrett Nussmeier, R- Fr.
3. Walker Howard, Fr.
The quarterback battle will be between two players: Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier. Kelly added Daniels from Arizona State from the transfer portal during the offseason. The San Bernardino, California native had a stellar freshman season, but has seen recent struggles in the past two seasons. In 2021, he threw for 2,381 yards and 10 TDs. He would also add 710 rushing yards and six scores.
Kelly brought in Daniels for a reason in the offseason and that was to be the starting quarterback for the Tigers in 2022. Nussmeier will be the clear No. 2 quarterback as Walker Howard will likely take a redshirt year this season. Daniels mobility in the pocket will be his strong suit, the question about him is his accuracy.
Running Back
1. John Emery, Sr.
2. Noah Cain, Jr.
3. Armoni Goodwin, So.
4. Josh Williams, Jr.
The running back room for the Tigers will have to fill the shoes of Tyrion Davis-Price, but it’s a backfield that added Noah Cain to the mix. John Emery will be suspended for the first two games of the year, so Cain will get the majority of carries against Florida State and Southern.
After Emery’s suspension is up, he will be the RB1 in the Tiger offense moving forward. The purple and gold will keep the trend in the past of running a running back by committee, but Emery will be the featured back. The senior running back missed out the entirety of the 2021 season, due to being ruled ineligible. The St. Rose, Louisiana native has all of the potential to have a breakout year in 2022.
Wide Receiver
1.WR-X: Kayshon Boutte, Jr.; Jaray Jenkins, Sr.
2. WR-Y: Jack Bech, So.; Chris Hilton, R-Fr.; Landon Ibieta, Fr.
3. WR- Z: Malik Nabers, So.; Brian Thomas, So.; Kyren Lacy, Jr.
The clear number one receiver for LSU heading into the 2022 season will be Kayshon Boutte. Boutte’s 2021 season was cut short due to an ankle injury that he suffered against Kentucky. Even with the injury, he led the Tigers in receiving yards (509) and touchdowns (9). The New Iberia, native has asserted himself as one of the best receivers in the country and will put up big numbers this season.
The absence of Boutte last season, led to an increased production of Jaray Jenkins and Jack Bech. Jenkins ranked second on the team in 2021 in receiving yards (502) and third in receptions (34). Bech had a stellar freshman campaign where he led the Tigers in receptions with 43 and ranked third in receiving yards with 489.
The wide receiver room will be stacked for the Tigers as we have seen the development of Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas in the offseason. Both will be heading into their sophomore season after showing some flashes in the 2021 season and during camp.
Tight End
1.Jack Mashburn, Jr.
2. Kole Taylor, Jr.
3. Nick Storz, Gr.
The tight end group will be one of the concerns for the purple and gold heading into the 2022 season. Jack Mashburn will be the leader in the clubhouse. He is a former walk-on that established himself in a key role with the Tiger offense in 2021. Mashburn is known for being more of a blocking tight end than a pass-catching tight end. Kole Taylor and Nick Storz will be inserted into the tight end that will be run by committee.
Offensive Line
1.Left Tackle: Will Campbell, Fr.; Marcus Dumervil, So.
2. Left Guard: Tre’Mond Shorts, RS-Sr.; Kardell Thomas, Jr.; Emery Jones, Fr.
3. Center: Charles Turner, Jr.; Fitzgerald West, Fr.
4. Right Guard: Miles Frazier, R-So.; Marlon Martinez, Jr.; Xavier Hill, So.
5. Right Tackle: Cameron Wire, Sr.; Garrett Dellinger, So.; Anthony Bradford, Jr.
LSU will have to replace five starters on the offensive line as they head into the new season, but they were able to add key pieces from the transfer portal and in the 2022 recruiting class to fill those holes. The Tigers do have experience in the offensive line unit with Charles Turner and Cameron Wire. The purple and gold in the trenches will be one of the questions marks as the unit struggled during the 2021 season.
Will Campbell will be a name to look out for as he has made an immediate impact and will plug into the left tackle position, which is looked at being the all-important offensive line spot.
LSU Depth Chart Prediction–Defense
Defensive Line
1.Defensive End: Ali Gaye, R-Sr.; Sai’vion Jones, So; Quency Wiggins, Fr.
2. Defensive Tackle: Jaquelin Roy, Jr.: Jacobian Guillory, So.; Bryce Langston, R-Fr.
3. Defensive Tackle: Maason Smith, So.; Mekhi Wingo, So.; Tygee Hill, Fr.
4. JACK: B.J. Ojulari, Jr.; Zavier Carter, So.; Desmond Little, Jr.
The Tiger defensive line will be one of the strong suits of LSU’s roster heading into the 2022 season. The purple and gold return veterans: Ali Gaye, B.J. Ojulari and Jaquelin Roy into the mix. Add that in along with freshman standout, Maason Smith, the defensive line unit will be one of the best in the conference.
Ojulari led all defensive lineman in 2021 with 55 tackles. Roy’s only start last season came in the bowl game against Kansas State. He would cap off the year with 30 tackles and 6.0 tackles for loss. Smith showed his physical presence in his freshman campaign and will look to continue that momentum this season.
Linebacker
1.Linebacker: Mike Jones, Jr.; West Weeks, So.; Harold Perkins, Fr.; Jared Small, R-Sr.
2. Linebacker: Micah Baskerville, R-Sr.; Gregg Penn, So.; Kolbe Fields, Fr.; DeMario Tolan, Fr.
LSU will have to replace the leader of the Tiger defense in 2021, Damone Clark. There is reason for optimism in the linebacker core with veterans Mike Jones and Micah Baskerville leading the way. The Tigers were able to add a key transfer in West Weeks from Virginia that will provide depth to this unit. It is a linebacker unit that will be filled with depth and talent. Baskerville has been a key contributor at the linebacker position and poses a veteran presence on the purple and gold defense.
Harold Perkins will be a name to look out for as the season goes on. He was the No. 4 rated player in the entire Class of 2022. Perkins already has made an name for himself during fall camp. Mike Jones will settle in for the Tigers at the middle linebacker position. He recorded 34 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack in 2021.
Defensive Back
1.Cornerback: Mekhi Garner, Jr.,; Damarius McGhee, So.; Jordan Allen, Fr.; Jaelyn Davis-Robinson, Fr.
2. Cornerback: Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Sr.; Sevyn Banks, Gr.; Quad Wilson So.; Raydarius Jones, Jr.; Laterrance Welch, Fr.
3. Strong Safety: Joe Foucha, R-Sr.; Derrick Davis, So.; Todd Harris, Gr.
4. Free Safety: Jay Ward, Sr.; Major Burns, So.; Matthew Langolis, So.
5. Nickel Back: Greg Brooks, Sr.; Sage Ryan, R-Fr.
The Tigers lost some key weapons in the defensive back group and will have to fill those shoes immediately. Losing Derek Stingley to the NFL Draft and Eli Ricks and Dwight McGlothern to the transfer portal will be no easy fix. LSU hit the transfer portal in the offseason to reconstruct their secondary.
The purple and gold added Mekhi Garner, Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Joe Foucha, Greg Brooks and Sevyn Banks into the mix. It is expected that these five additions will have a major role in the LSU secondary in 2022. The Tigers do return senior safety, Jay Ward, after he had a breakout year in 2021 where he racked up 71 tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
There will be depth concerns if one of the Tigers key starters goes down with a injury and then the situation in the secondary will become dicey. LSU was able to fill the starting core with talent by hitting the transfer portal in the offseason, but the inexperience in the next group listed in the depth chart will pose questions to this unit of the Tiger defense.