The preseason is in the books, and once again LSU has a handful of rookies making noise around the NFL. That’s become part of the brand in Baton Rouge: players leave campus, get into the league, and somehow seem to look even better once the pads come on for real.
This group gave plenty of reasons for LSU fans to pay attention.
Mansoor Delane, one of the top players on last year’s LSU team, turned in a strong summer for the Kansas City Chiefs. The rookie corner showed he could handle different kinds of work in coverage, staying steady in zone and sticky in man.
What jumped out just as much was what he did away from the ball. His effort as a tackler stood out, and one of his best preseason moments was a strong stop behind the line of scrimmage.
For a team that expects to be in the Super Bowl mix, Delane has already done plenty to ease concerns.
A.J. Haulcy’s preseason was much shorter, but it still left a mark.
The Indianapolis Colts played him in their first preseason game, and he looked solid. After that, he didn’t take another snap.
Even so, the Colts clearly see him as one of their starting safeties, and in a defense that’s well coached, he could be in line for a big year. He’s also been standing out in practice, which has only made the buzz around him louder.
Zavion Thomas had one of the loudest performances of any LSU rookie in the Chicago Bears’ final preseason game. On 5 targets, he caught all 5 for 140 recieving yards, added a touchdown, and chipped in a 22-yard punt return and a 39-yard kick return.
That kind of all-purpose burst is exactly why his name keeps coming up. Under Ben Johnson, Thomas could wind up being one of the more intriguing rookies in the league, even if his role in the offense stays limited.
Barion Brown has also put himself firmly on the radar. The Saints originally looked at him as a return man, but he’s climbed all the way to WR3 in just a few months.
Jordyn Tyson’s injury opened the door, but Brown’s own talent is what kept it open. In New Orleans’ final preseason game, he was used heavily and scored his first NFL touchdown on a handoff to the receiver.
He looks set to matter on offense and on special teams.
Bauer Sharp didn’t have a flashy preseason with Tampa Bay, but he still did enough in practice to get noticed by the coaching staff. His place on the 53-man roster was never secure, yet after the deadline, it was official: he made it.
He’s one of four tight ends on the Buccaneers’ roster, and he’s currently last in that group. The league leans on tight ends more and more, so his chances to get on the field are still real, but that depth-chart spot is still a concern.
Harold Perkins Jr. also entered preseason with roster uncertainty hanging over him. His final game against the Miami Dolphins may have been the turning point.
He was active, flashed as a blitzer and in coverage, and added a nice 6-yard sack. Perkins is still growing as a player and may never fully live up to the expectations that followed him from LSU, but for now, he looks like a useful depth piece for the Atlanta Falcons.
Garrett Nussmeier, the last LSU player picked in the draft, is headed into the season as Kansas City’s third-string quarterback. With Patrick Mahomes starting and the Chiefs having traded for Justin Fields, that role was always the likely outcome.
Still, Nussmeier gave the team something to work with during preseason. He made tough throws, moved well in the pocket, and showed positive signs for where his game can go.
He didn’t throw a touchdown and did toss one interception, but the overall start was encouraging.
Jack Pyburn was the standout former Tiger among the undrafted rookies. The EDGE racked up two sacks in preseason and looked like a player on track to land with Tampa Bay.
Then things changed, as some players from the class, including Pyburn, decided it was time to go back to college. Pyburn was set to return to LSU if he cleared waivers and if the move was allowed, but the Chiefs claimed him instead.
In Other News...
LSU Just Got Pulled Into A Roster Fight With Real Stakes
LSUs offseason has taken on a legal edge, with the SEC filing a lawsuit against the school, its Board of Supervisors, president Wade Rousse, athletic director Verge Ausberry and head coach Lane Kiffin over how the program has gone about recruiting former professional athletes. The conferences complaint argues that LSU crossed a line under SEC rules and is asking a court to step in before the dispute grows into something bigger than a roster issue.
The filing is aimed at stopping LSU from being tied to conduct the league says runs counter to its purpose, and the crux of the dispute centers on players who previously signed NFL contracts. At the same time, a separate hearing in Baton Rouge is still working through whether those players should be considered eligible under NCAA and SEC rules, leaving LSU in the middle of a fight with real stakes and no immediate resolution in sight. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Lands In A High Stakes Eligibility Fight Before The Opener
With the opener looming, LSU has been pulled into a dispute that stretches well beyond the usual late-summer roster chatter. The SEC has filed a federal lawsuit against the school, head coach Lane Kiffin and other administrators over the eligibility status of several potential players who spent time on NFL training camp rosters, pushing the issue into court just as teams are finalizing plans for the season.
The conference is seeking injunctions to stop LSU from violating league rules by recruiting and rostering professional athletes, arguing the schools approach is harming the SEC as a whole. A separate state court hearing is also moving forward on the eligibility of specific players, including DaeQuan Wright and Zxavian Harris, adding another layer to a situation that could shape LSUs available options before the first game is even played. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Just Added A Homegrown Twist To Its Clemson Spotlight
College GameDay is rolling into Baton Rouge with a distinctly Louisiana flavor before LSUs showdown with Clemson, and the guest picker this time is bringing some Bayou State star power with her. Lainey Wilson, the country music artist from Louisiana, will serve in the celebrity role and also perform live on the show as the pregame spotlight gets going at 8 a.m. CT.
The staging only adds to what should already be a packed scene, with Rece Davis hosting, Nick Saban among the analysts and Lane Kiffin set for a live appearance as the Tigers build toward kickoff. LSU and Clemson are scheduled to meet later that night at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, giving the campus a full day to lean into the moment. [Read more 🡒]