Offensive Line
Heading into 2025, LSU will be replacing 4 starters from 2024’s offensive line. Will Campbell, Emery Jones Jr, Garrett Dellinger, and Miles Frazier have all departed for the NFL. Over the offseason, LSU added two likely starters in Josh Thompson and Braelin Moore from the transfer portal.
QB Garrett Nussmeier was sacked only 16 times last season, one of the best numbers in the country. LSU returns starting RB Caden Durham, former top 200 recruit Kaleb Jackson, and Harlem Berry, the #1 RB in the 2025 recruiting class. This talented RB group will be hoping for an offensive line that can create movement in the run game to complement Nussmeier.
Garrett Nussmeier will be the key to playoff success for LSU, as Brian Kelly’s program has become heavily quarterback-centric. So, will the 2025 offensive line be able to keep Nussmeier upright?
Pass Rush
LSU added multiple players in the transfer portal to address holes on the defensive line and edge rusher. After losing its top two sack leaders, LSU will be counting on these transfers to fill the void created by a lack of recruiting on the defensive line.
The unquestioned leader of LSU’s front four will be Florida State transfer Patrick Payton. Payton totaled 16 sacks and 32 TFLs over the last 3 seasons. After Payton, LSU will be searching for impact players.
Florida transfer Jack Pyburn totaled 1 sack and 5 TFLs in 29 career games. Nebraska transfer Jimari Butler totaled 7.5 sacks and 18 TFLs through 36 career games and is hoping to emerge as Patrick Payton’s wingman. However, if an injury were to occur among these top three players, LSU’s depth would be virtually non-existent. Sophomore Gabriel Reliford has 0.5 sacks over 13 appearances. Redshirt sophomore Dylan Carpenter has 0 career sacks, and redshirt freshman CJ Jackson has only appeared in 1 game.
Redshirt junior Harold Perkins Jr totaled 5.5 sacks as a sophomore, but he totaled 0 sacks through 4 games as a junior before tearing his ACL. Perkins’ responsibilities as an off-ball linebacker have reduced his overall pass-rush opportunities, and his ACL tear creates additional questions for 2025.
Secondary
LSU’s defense ranked 75th in passing yards allowed per game in 2024. Additionally, the Tigers intercepted just 6 passes in 13 games. Two of those interceptions were grabbed by linebackers. What has happened to the once-proud defensive backs of LSU?
The secondary now replaces four starters from the 2024 campaign. Virginia Tech transfer Mansoor Delane was a 3-year starter, totaling 4 INTs in 2024. Ashton Stamps, LSU’s lone returning starter in the secondary, has 0 INTs through 24 career games. Javien Toviano and Dashawn Spears, LSU’s projected starting safety duo, combine for 0 INTs through 39 combined career games.
LSU adds 5-star cornerback DJ Pickett to the roster as well. Pickett was the #2 ranked CB in the class of 2025, and he adds great length to the secondary, standing at 6’4. LSU will undoubtedly need a boost from Pickett to bolster the back-end of the defense, as the secondary will be desperate for production.
Brian Kelly
Just how patient will LSU and its fanbase be with Brian Kelly in 2025? Kelly has yet another projected 1st round pick at QB with Garrett Nussmeier, a presumed elite trio of wide receivers, 3 straight Top 10 recruiting classes, and continuity at both offensive and defensive coordinator. Joe Sloan returns for his second straight season as LSU’s offensive coordinator, and Blake Baker returns for his second straight season as LSU’s defensive coordinator.
LSU brings in On3’s #2 transfer portal class and 247 Sports’ #1 transfer portal class. Transfers are great, but many LSU fans and spectators across the country are wondering why LSU needs to bring in 18 transfers. Brian Kelly is going into his 4th season at LSU, yet the program is still relying on transfers. Development of high school recruits continues to be a question mark for Brian Kelly’s LSU career.
Under Kelly, LSU has lost three straight opening games. These losses include Week 1 in 2022 to Florida State, Week 1 in 2023 to Florida State, and Week 1 in 2024 to USC. Do the rumblings start early in Baton Rouge if LSU loses to Clemson in Week 1 to start 2025?
