Positions where LSU will have serious competition in August

Is there competition at quarterback at LSU?

Sure, the coaches will give Purdue transfer Danny Etling first-team snaps during August camp, but there’s no evidence to suggest he’s a serious threat to Brandon Harris’ starting job. At least not now.

So not really.

But there are positions where there are some undecided issues for the Tigers come August. Here are several positions where we may not know who LSU’s starter will be until game week:

Right guard

The competitors: Josh Boutte and Garrett Brumfield.

Outlook: Is this Boutte’s year? The former four-star recruit started last season with a bad performance at left guard in a season-opening win over Mississippi State and lost the starting job to true freshman Maea Teuhema. With Teuhema moved to tackle, Boutte again emerged from spring as a starter, but can he hold off Brumfield, who had a pretty good spring himself?

Likely winner: Boutte had a good enough August last year to start the season as the starter, and the feeling here is he’ll do the same. The question is, will he hold on to the job once the season starts?

Third receiver

The competitors: Jazz Ferguson, D.J. Chark, Tyron Johnson.

Outlook: LSU hasn’t had a reliable third receiver for a couple of years and last year’s candidates, John Diarse and Trey Quinn, both opted to transfer after the season. That leaves the Tigers hunting for somebody who will, essentially, be a part-time starter, as the Tigers are as likely to line up with three wides as they are not. With 9 receptions for 150 yards last season, Johnson is the only one who has production under his belt. And don’t forget a talented freshman class with a trio of four-star recruits entering the fray.

Likely winner: Ferguson had a good spring and emerged as the starter, and Chark had a long touchdown run in the Texas Bowl that might signal his coming out. But we like Johnson — one of the top-rated receiving prospects nationally as a high school senior — to eventually figure it out and be the guy.

Nose tackle

The competitors: Davon Godchaux, Christian LaCouture, Rashard Lawrence, Travonte Valentine.

Outlook: This may not be so much a competition as a figuring out who fits best at what position. With LSU going from a 4-3 to a 3-4 base front, finding a player to fit in a position that did not exist in the old scheme will be tricky. Godchaux and LaCouture will likely start somewhere, it’s just a matter of what position. But Valentine — a junior college prospect who is trying to gain eligibility to join the team in August — and Lawrence, a five-star recruit, are both wild cards.

Likely winner: Some combination of Godchaux and LaCouture is most likely. Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda will likely want two returning starters on the field often and may base which position they play on the situation. LaCouture provides more of the traditional nose tackle size while Godchaux supplies speed.

Nickel back

The candidates: Donte Jackson, Dwayne Thomas, Saivion Smith, Kristian Fulton.

Outlook: To be clear, this is probably an outside cornerback role as Aranda will likely move starting cornerback Tre’Davious White to the nickel role when LSU brings in a five-defensive back package. That means LSU is looking for a third outside cornerback. Thomas did well in the spring, but Jackson was the starter before he had to sit out part of the spring to handle an academic issue. Smith and Fulton are a couple of highly regarded freshmen who should compete.

Likely winner: Jackson should be able to reclaim this role and Thomas, who will also be a backup at safety, is who we expect to be the guy in a dime situation.

Linebacker

The candidates: Duke Riley, Corey Thompson, Donnie Alexander, Devin Voorhies.

Outlook: Two of the four linebacker spots are secure with Kendell Beckwith returning at inside linebacker and Arden Key playing the new hybrid linebacker/defensive end role. The other two spots seem up for grabs. Riley left spring with one of the inside spots next to Beckwith and Thompson, a converted safety, was starting at outside linebacker. But Alexander could push Riley at the inside spot and if so, the athletic Riley could be a factor for Thompson’s outside spot.

Likely winners: Riley, who has track star speed, will likely play somewhere. If he’s too light for the inside role, he’ll be a factor at outside linebacker. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Alexander and Thompson start, but Riley relieving both.

Cornerback

The candidates: Kevin Toliver, Ed Paris, Saivion Smith, Kristian Fulton

Outlook: Toliver looked like a slam dunk at the position after a pretty good freshman season, but Paris came on with a good spring, and now Toliver has to fight for his spot opposite White. Watch out for Fulton, a five-star prep prospect, and Smith to compete.

Likely winner: Toliver showed some promise last year, so we like the thought of him learning the defense well enough to play with the consistency he needs to hold the job. But expect it to be a battle until the end.

Kicker

The candidates: Colby Delahoussaye and Connor Culp

Outlook: Things changed drastically at the position when returning starter Trent Domingue opted to leave after LSU did not renew his scholarship and asked him to wait on one to come open. That leaves Delahoussaye, who suffered burns on his legs after a late July car accident that killed two people. With Delahoussaye recovering, that’s a huge opportunity for Culp, a highly regarded true freshman.

Likely winner: With Delahoussaye recovering, look for Culp to get the first shot in the season opener.

Gary Laney