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LSU football 2025 depth chart: Way-too-early projections
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- LSU football 2025 depth chart: Way-too-early projections
After LSU football handled Baylor in the Texas Bowl back in early January, Brian Kelly told reporters that his team approached the preparation for the game like it was starting the 2025 season.
The win, he felt, gave the Tigers and his football program a good launching pad for the offseason, spring practice and workouts that'll lead up to preseason practice come August.
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Truth is, 2025 was off to a good start prior to the Texas Bowl victory as Kelly and his staff nailed the transfer portal window by bringing in 16 newcomer s out of there. Couple that with a top-10 recruiting clas s and LSU , at least on paper, sits in a great spot heading into next season.
Here are our early projections for what LSU football 2025 depth chart could look like prior to opening the season Aug. 30 at Clemson.
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Projecting LSU football's 2025 depth chart
LSU offense
Quarterback: Garrett Nussmeier , Sr.
Running back: Caden Durham , Soph.
Wide receivers:Chris Hilton Jr., Sr.; Nic Anderson , Jr.; Aaron Anderson , Jr.
Tight end: Bauer Sharp , Sr.
Offensive line:Tyree Adams, Jr.; Josh Thompson, Sr.; D.J. Chester, Soph.; Braelin Moore, Jr.; Carius Curne, Fr.
LSU added a few wide receivers from the portal, but I think Nic Anderson is the one that initially cracks the starting lineup with his combination of size and speed. The offensive line was also a heavy position of need for the staff as there'll be four brand new full-time starters among the OL. Freshman Carius Curne could breakthrough and win a starting role as Kelly has raved about his size and physical readiness to tackle the college game.
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LSU defense
Defensive line: Patrick Payton , Sr.; Jacobian Guillory, Sr.; Dominick McKinley, Soph; Jack Pyburn, Sr.
Linebackers:Harold Perkins Jr., Sr.; Whit Weeks , Jr.; Davhon Keys, Soph.
Defensive backs:Ashton Stamps, Jr.; Mansoor Delane , Sr.; Tamarcus Cooley, Soph.; Javien Toviano, Jr.
There's plenty of buzz about freshman cornerback D.J. Pickett, and rightfully so. I'm sure there'll be plenty of calls for him to be a day one starter. But Ashton Stamps had an impressive first-year as the starter in 2024 and expectation is he only gets better with more experience. Mansoor Delane, the Virginia Tech transfer, should be at the other corner spot as LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker leans in on guys that have played a lot of ball. Harold Perkins is back and aims to be healthy by the start of the season. Whit Weeks and Davhon Keys gained a heavy load of experience last season and will be back for more.
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Along the defensive line is where a lot of new faces will be prevalent. I anticipate Florida State transfer Patrick Payton and Florida transfer Jack Pyburn to be the starting defensive ends. Two of the higher rated defensive players out of the transfer portal and both fill big needs for LSU. Senior Jacobian Guillory hopes to be ready to go by the opener after rupturing his Achilles tendon early in the 2024 season. And the Tigers won't go wrong with which defensive tackle plays alongside Guillory as both sophomores Dominick McKinley and Ahmad Breaux had great freshman campaigns. I thought McKinley played better at the end of last season, and with the slight size and reach advantage, another offseason paves the way for him to start in 2025.
LSU special teams
Place kicker:Damian Ramos, Sr.
Punter:Grant Chadwick, Soph.
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Kick returners:Zavion Thomas, Sr.; Barion Brown , Sr.
Punt returner:Zavion Thomas, Sr.
I think the return game is where Kentucky transfer Barion Brown gets his first chance to impact the game at LSU. He was good at it with the Wildcats and the duo between him and Zavion Thomas, who should retain his role of punt returner, is lethal.
Kelly didn't bring in Middle Tennessee State transfer Grant Chadwick in to sit, so he will get a long look at starting punter duties. Peyton Todd couldn't nail down the spot last season and it looks like Chadwick has the inline road to being LSU's top punter in 2025.
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Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com .
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU football 2025 depth chart: Way-too-early projections
