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For the majority of college football teams, Labor Day Weekend marked the official start to the regular season.
For LSU, not so much.
After weather disrupted LSU’s season-opening contest against McNeese State, a trip to Starkville to face Mississippi State will service as the Tigers’ new Game 1 opponent.
LSU finished 2014 with an 8-5 record, including a 4-4 mark against SEC foes. Among those losses was a 34-29 defeat at the hands of Mississippi State in Death Valley. In the game, Dak Prescott led the Bulldogs to double-digit lead into the fourth quarter before two touchdowns from then-freshman Brandon Harris helped make it a close game at the end.
Mississippi State got the best of the Tigers in their 2014 meeting. Here are five LSU players who should have a say in how this year’s showdown is decided.
1. QB Brandon Harris — LSU was one of a handful of marquee college football programs to host a quarterback competition leading up to the regular season. This time, the sophomore Harris was anointed the Tigers’ starter. Unlike Mississippi State’s quarterback, Harris hasn’t experienced any real game-type environment so far this season, so the trip to Starkville will serve as his season opener. Whether that will make Harris sharper or rustier remains to be seen. Last year, Harris threw for a pair of touchdowns late in the fourth quarter to bring LSU within 4 points after the Tigers had trailed by as much as 24.
2. RB Leonard Fournette — As a freshman, Leonard Fournette was a non-factor when LSU and Mississippi State met in 2014. Fournette rushed for 38 yards on seven carries in the contest. Last season, Fournette ended up with six starts and led the team in carries (187), rushing yards (1,034) and rushing touchdowns (10). Ultimately, the New Orleans native led the SEC in all-purpose yards with 137.4 per game. Fournette should help provide LSU will a balanced offensive attack in the running game and keep the Bulldogs front seven on its heels.
3. CB Tre’Davious White — LSU has not forgotten what Prescott did to its defense last year. Prescott accounted for 268 yards passing and another 105 yards on the ground. This time around, Prescott will be tested by a defense now headed up by coordinator Kevin Steele. White is the Tigers’ impact cornerback who will be charged with taking away Mississippi State’s top wide receiver. The 5-foot-11, 191-pound defensive back is a veteran and is considered one of the nation’s best at his position as a junior. In 2014, he intercepted four passes with 13 pass breakups and 88 tackles.
4. WR Travin Dural — The most experienced member of LSU’s wide receiving corps, Dural made his presence felt in last year’s meeting with Mississippi State. In that game, Dural caught a game-high six passes for a game-high 124 yards. Dural’s 49-yard reception from Anthony Jennings set up a Kenny Hilliard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The 6-foot-2, 194-pound junior wideout will receive attention from a pair of senior Bulldogs cornerbacks in Will Redmond and Taveze Calhoun on Saturday.
5. LB Kendell Beckwith — How LSU will generate pressure on Prescott remains a mystery, especially since there is no blueprint to refer to due to the cancellation of the McNeese State game. With a handful of newcomers at the defensive end spots, LSU may have to rely on Beckwith at middle linebacker to be the top sack artist. Beckwith was not an impact player when LSU hosted Mississippi State in 2014. He earned a starting role midway through the year before finishing the season with 77 tackles, 7.5 for loss, and 3.0 sacks. Against a Bulldogs offensive line that lost three starters, Beckwith may be the key to keeping Prescott out of a rhythm.
Sam Spiegelman is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, LSU and Texas A&M.
