LSU’s 63-14 rout of McNeese didn’t just pad the scoreboard. It gave the Tigers a long look at the younger players who may be asked to carry more weight as the season moves deeper into SEC play.
Head coach Lane Kiffin made clear after the game that the point was bigger than the final margin. With injuries piling up and veterans like Whit Weeks, Trey’Dez Green and Dashawn Spears out, LSU needed to find out who could handle real snaps.
“It was good to see a lot of guys make plays,” Kiffin said after the win. “A lot of snaps for guys, which was the goal. The goal is to get up, but then to evaluate these guys because they’re going to need to play with the injuries that we have down the stretch.”
On defense, several freshmen answered the call, but Deuce Geralds, Zach Weeks and Jhase Thomas stood out the most.
Geralds kept building on a fast-rising season, picking up his fifth sack and his third in the last two weeks. He now leads all freshmen in sacks and sits tied for eighth nationally. Working alongside Princewill Umanmielen, who leads the nation with 8 sacks, Geralds is part of a front that has become one of the most dangerous in the country.
Then came the surprise moment. Geralds, who played both defensive tackle and running back in high school, lined up on offense and took a direct snap at the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown. That pushed LSU’s lead to 42 points and made him the first LSU player to record both a sack and a touchdown in the same game.
Kiffin’s decision to lean on Geralds wasn’t random. He recruited him knowing what he could do with the ball, and Geralds’ background at Collins Hill High School included 8 rushing touchdowns and 211 yards during his senior season.
Thomas also made his presence felt while filling in for Spears, who tore his ACL against Ole Miss. He led LSU defensive backs with 4 tackles and added one of the Tigers’ 7 tackles for loss.
Zach Weeks, meanwhile, got a bigger role while covering for his injured older brother and made the most of it. He finished with 5 tackles, bringing his season total to 9.
Weeks is fourth on LSU’s linebacker depth chart behind TJ Dottery, Davhon Keys and Tylen Singleton, but his family name keeps him in the spotlight. He is the youngest of the Weeks brothers, behind Whit and West, and has become a fan favorite with a chance to push for more playing time as his career goes on.
LSU also got Lamar Brown back on the field for the first time since LA Tech. ESPN’s former No. 1 recruit in the country did not play much, but he did record a tackle.
On offense, Corey Barber Jr. delivered the biggest freshman breakout. He caught 7 passes for 83 yards and 2 touchdowns, giving LSU a fresh spark after not recording a catch since a 15-yard reception against Clemson. Barber’s day became even more important after Winston Watkins Jr. dropped 2 wide-open touchdowns in the first half, and Kiffin said that opened the door for Barber to take over.
“Corey’s done a great job, you know,” Kiffin said. “[Watkins] dropped 2 easy touchdowns, and so we put Corey in, and Corey stepped up and did a really good job. Actually started him in a series after that.”
Barber’s production helped LSU pile up 731 total yards, the second most in program history.
With seven straight SEC games ahead, LSU will need more than one strong showing from its younger players. Against McNeese, the Tigers got several.
In Other News...
LSU Just Got Encouraging News At Two Crucial Positions
LSU got a welcome update on two important pieces of its roster, with coach Lane Kiffin saying tight end TreyDez Green and linebacker Whit Weeks are both expected to return at some point this season. Green, who has been working back from a knee injury suffered in September, is out of his brace and moving freely, while Weeks continues to recover from a fractured lower leg.
The Tigers have managed to keep winning with others stepping into those roles, but the eventual return of both players would still give the team a boost on each side of the ball. For now, LSU can at least feel better about the direction of two injuries that looked like they could linger much longer. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Got A Hopeful TreyDez Green Update Before SEC Play
LSU is heading into SEC play after a win over McNeese, and the conversation around the Tigers has quickly shifted from settling things down to getting ready for a tougher test against Kentucky. Lane Kiffin had plenty to say about the matchup and had praise for Wildcats coach Will Stein, while also using the week to take stock of where his own team stands after the opener.
The injury picture remains part of the backdrop, especially with quarterback Sam Leavitt dealing with a hamstring issue and the staff watching how that situation unfolds. Kiffin also offered a positive update on TreyDez Greens recovery, a development LSU will be happy to hear as it moves into conference play and continues to sort through the details of a game that figures to draw out more from the Tigers on both sides of the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Ranking Snub Makes South Carolina Loss Sting Even More
Kentuckys overtime win over South Carolina should have given the Wildcats a little breathing room, but instead it left them with an even sharper edge. The AP Top 25 dropped Kentucky after the victory, a result that turned a hard-fought conference win into something of a rankings headache, even as ESPNs College Football Playoff insider Heather Dinich said her understanding of the selection committee would put the Wildcats back inside the top 25, at No. 17.
For LSU, the timing adds another layer to a Week 6 matchup already carrying plenty of weight. Kentucky gets a chance to answer the ranking snub against a top-10 opponent in No. 10 LSU, and the Tigers will be facing a team that has every incentive to make a statement and force its way back into the national conversation. [Read more 🡒]