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You’ve probably seen the news that Leonard Fournette is kind of important to LSU’s football fortunes.
And you might have gotten the memo about how Brandon Harris needs to step up his passing game for the Tigers to succeed.
But at every position group at LSU, there’s a sleeper player to watch, somebody who can impact the team’s fortunes in a big way but isn’t getting talked about now.
Here’s one for every position group:
Quarterback
While all the talk is about whether or not Brandon Harris can break through and give Fournette the support he needs in the passing game, how about backup Danny Etling?
He was discussed some at the start of the spring as somebody who could challenge Harris for the starting job, but that never materialized from the former Purdue starter. As the spring went on, it looked more and more like Harris’ job.
Still, Etling is an injury or Harris slump away from being the starting quarterback for a national championship contender. And LSU seems to have more confidence in him than it did in last year’s backup, Anthony Jennings (now at UL-Lafayette).
Running back
Sure, Fournette was dominant, but he was less dominant after fullback J.D. Moore (who was listed as John David Moore on last year’s roster) was lost for the season to a knee injury in the team’s sixth game against Florida.
In the first five games, Fournette rushed for 1,022 yards and had three straight 200-yard rushing games (two of the three against teams from Power 5 conferences). After Moore went down against the Gators, Fournette didn’t have another 200-yard rushing game until the Texas Bowl and had two games where he didn’t reach 100 yards.
Moore built a well-deserved reputation as a devastating blocker, and Fournette’s road to the Heisman will be paved by Moore’s blocks.
Wide receivers/tight ends
Finding the third receiving option behind Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural is a huge concern for the Tigers, and while there are plenty of candidates to take that role at wide receiver, how about tight end Colin Jeter?
The returning starter had 12 receptions for 132 yards last year, not terrible but not great numbers. How about this scenario: Instead of a third wide receiver developing, the 6-foot-7 Jeter becomes a more frequent target, allowing the Tigers to stay in personnel packages that are better equipped for the power run game.
You think Les Miles might like that option?
Offensive line
LSU’s in great shape with returning veterans at the “inside” position (guard and center), so all eyes are on left tackle Maea Teuhema, a former guard who now must protect Harris’ blind side.
But opposite Teuhema, the Tigers need an equally strong performance from new right tackle Toby Weathersby, who must get past some spring injury issues and give LSU a solid effort on the edge. If Weathersby and Teuhema pan out and Moore is healthy, Fournette could put up Heisman Trophy numbers.
Defensive line
All the focus has been whether Davon Godchaux might play nose tackle and whether he or Christian LaCouture will end up in the middle, or at end, in new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda’s 3-4 front.
But the guy to watch is Lewis Neal, who had a team-high eight sacks last year, production that could be taken for granted. The question is, can he still produce in a new scheme where his up-the-field mentality might not work quite the way it did in the 4-3? Can Neal’s game adjust to the new scheme?
Linebacker
Kendell Beckwith is the star, Corey Thompson is the converted defensive back who will play a role and Duke Riley is the senior set to start next to Beckwith.
The X-factor may be junior Donnie Alexander, who is challenging Riley for an inside linebacker spot next to Beckwith.
If Alexander is able to start, that can allow the fast and versatile Riley to also play outside, making one of the thinnest positions on the team considerably deeper.
Secondary
While Kevin Toliver is a highly regarded returning sophomore, Dwayne Thomas and Donte Jackson seem to be the cornerbacks most likely to see action against multi-receiver formations.
But watch out for cornerback Ed Paris. He had a pretty good spring and could challenge Toliver for that starting cornerback role. He’s big and strong and could handle bigger receivers with his size and strength.
