Ed Orgeron reveals Week 1 status of Arden Key, Derrius Guice, names starting kicker and OL

LSU head coach Ed Orgeron announced on Monday some interesting developments in regards to his Tigers’ Week 1 game against BYU.

And those developments include some of LSU’s top players.

For one, Arden Key will not play. LSU is planning to move forward, at least for this game, without its top pass rusher, which is big news considering Key notched 12 sacks last season as a sophomore.

Key has had lingering shoulder trouble after an off-season surgery.

“Arden Key will not play in this game,” Orgeron revealed. “Ray Thornton, K’Lavon Chaisson or Andre Anthony will be the starter. That could be an up-to-game-time decision. I want to see how they practice all week.”

Besides Key’s absence on defense, LSU could also be without one of its top offensive players.

Orgeron said running back Derrius Guice is not 100 percent guaranteed to play against BYU, but he added Guice will be “eased into the practice schedule this week.” Guice has been out with a minor injury for the last week, but was expected to practice Monday.

In other news, “Coach O” revealed the starting kicker and offensive line for Week 1.

“We’re proud to see that we had a field goal competition and Jack Gonsoulin won it,” the LSU coach said. “He kicked 85 percent of his kicks in camp, and I’m very proud to say that Jack has fought very hard to win that position.”

According to Orgeron, while Connor Culp may not be the team’s No. 1 placekicker, he will be the first option on kickoffs.

#LSU starting O-line:
LT Malone
LG Brumfield
C Clapp
RG Ingram or Charles
RT Weathersby

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 28, 2017

Cody McClure

Cody McClure is an SEC Football Writer for Saturday Down South. He lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he also co-hosts a midday sports radio show for FOX Sports. Cody previously worked for Athlon Sports.