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Every LSU fan already knows the story. The Tigers have loads of talent at the skill positions; they just need an effective field general to properly harness and utilize those weapons.
We take a look at some of LSU’s top playmakers here, ranking the top five offensive skill position players entering the 2015 season.
5. Brandon Harris
In all likelihood, Harris won’t finish as the fifth-best skill player for LSU this year. He’ll either be higher on the list or he won’t be on it at all. We’re hedging our bets by putting him here since he’s not yet the confirmed starter, though he is the leader over Anthony Jennings at this point.
He appeared poised to take over the starting job as a freshman last year after nearly leading a comeback against Mississippi State and then going 11 of 14 for 178 yards and three touchdowns the following week against New Mexico State. But then he crashed in his first career start against Auburn and attempted only one pass — which was picked off — the rest of the season.
Pressed for a prediction for 2015, we’d guess he’s the starter in Week 1 and puts to rest any thoughts of a timeshare shortly thereafter.
4. RB2
This could be sophomore Darrel Williams, or it could be true freshman Derrius Guice — or it could be both. But at least one reserve running back will have to step in and shoulder some of the load behind Leonard Fournette. During Les Miles’ tenure, LSU has never had a back average 20 carries per game.
3. Malachi Dupre
Similar to Harris, the ceiling is higher for Dupre than where we have him slotted. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is intent on moving Dupre around and exploiting mismatches with the talented sophomore. It could lead to a big season, but given the fact that he was fourth on the team in receptions among returning receivers, we’re hesitant to rank him ahead of the more-proven Travin Dural at this point.
2. Travin Dural
Dural’s numbers dwarfed every other receiver on the team last season — and he appeared to be headed for even bigger stats before cooling off late in the season. All seven of his touchdowns came in the first eight games of the year, and he had averaged just 2.2 receptions and 18.6 receiving yards per game during the final five contests. Nevertheless, he more than doubled every other Tiger in receptions, yards and targets in 2014 and is a dangerous down-field threat. If he can develop better all-around skills, he can still improve on last year’s 37 catches and 758 yards.
1. Leonard Fournette
It would appear that the upside for Fournette is capped only by the workload the Tigers are willing to give him and the help he gets from the development (or lack thereof) of a reliable passing game.
LSU is known for spreading the carries around, and there’s enough depth and talent at the position this year that Les Miles & Co. can continue to do so.
The template is there for a massive season for a running back in a Cam Cameron offense. In 2013, four Tigers running backs logged at least 68 carries, but Jeremy Hill was the clear leader at the position. That season, he ran 203 times for 1,401 yards and 16 touchdowns. Of course, in addition to his obvious and substantial talent, Hill also had the benefit of working in one of the most proficient and well-balanced offenses in LSU history.
Fournette doesn’t necessarily need his quarterback to produce a Zach Mettenberger-like 3,000-yard season, but if the Tigers passing game proves to be a credible threat that opposing defenses have to account for, a monster year could be in store.
Brent Holloway is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Georgia, LSU and Mississippi State.
