LSU should be the overwhelming favorite when it meets McNeese St. this weekend, but the Tigers can’t afford to drift through the game on autopilot.
That warning feels especially relevant after LSU spent a messy first half against Louisiana Tech just a couple of weeks ago, leading only 10-7 at halftime. With that kind of uneven stretch still fresh, Lane Kiffin will have his team locked in.
Even so, there’s a decent chance LSU leans on depth pieces as the game unfolds. That makes a few McNeese players worth keeping an eye on.
Omiri Wiggins is the kind of back who can turn a routine snap into a problem. LSU hasn’t found a running back that has truly challenged it this season, and the Tigers’ run defense has been among the nation’s best.
Still, Wiggins brings a physical edge. The senior has bounced through JUCO and Louisiana Tech before arriving at McNeese this season, and he’s averaging 75 yards per game.
A lot of that damage comes after contact. He’s also shown big-play juice, with two of his three touchdowns coming on runs of 74 yards or longer.
McNeese may also need Kenyatta Fleet to flash on the back end if LSU gets careless with the football. One of the reasons LSU had such a rough opening half against Louisiana Tech was Sam Leavitt’s three interceptions, and Fleet has the kind of ball skills that can punish mistakes.
He’s been targeted 12 times this season and has already forced three breakups. The true freshman hasn’t picked off a pass yet, but he’s clearly tracking the ball well and has looked impressive.
Then there’s quarterback Jake Strong, who steps in after Devin Lippold’s season-ending injury. Strong has not exactly produced a long list of headline performances, but his pedigree is hard to ignore.
He was once a Top-15 quarterback recruit and began his college career at Texas Tech. The arm talent is there, even if it hasn’t fully shown up yet.
Across his career, he has completed 59% of his passes for 2,329 yards with 15 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He’s also a sneaky runner, piling up more than 500 rushing yards and seven scores last season.
LSU did a solid job of containing Marcel Reed last week, and that should matter here. Rushers at quarterback have given the Tigers issues before, but this defense feels different.
In Other News...
LSU Suddenly Has Real QB Intrigue Before McNeese
LSU heads into Saturday nights game against McNeese with more uncertainty at quarterback than anyone expected this week. The Tigers are set for a 6:45 p.m. kickoff in Death Valley, but the main storyline isnt the matchup itself so much as who Lane Kiffin will put behind center after Sam Leavitts recent left hamstring injury opened the door for questions about the depth chart.
Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet have both entered the conversation, and Kiffin still has not made a decision on the starter. McNeese brings its own established signal-caller in Devin Lippold, a third-year quarterback with a steady season to this point, but for LSU the intrigue is all about whether the Tigers can navigate the week cleanly enough to get the right answer before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Quarterback Situation Just Got More Interesting Before McNeese
McNeese will head into its matchup with LSU without third-year quarterback Devin Lippold, who is out with a right wrist injury and will be replaced by Jake Strong. On LSUs side, the quarterback picture is still taking shape as the Tigers prepare for the game, with Sam Leavitt expected to start while working back from a left hamstring injury.
The bigger question for LSU is how much the offense might need to lean on depth behind Leavitt if he is not fully ready to handle his usual workload. Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet are both candidates to see the field, which gives the Tigers a little more insurance but also leaves some uncertainty in a position group that will be closely watched once kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
LSU May Have Found A New Defensive Contributor Fans Should Watch
Jhase Thomas is starting to look like more than just a special teams piece for LSU. The defensive back saw his playing time rise against Texas A&M after spending most of his first season in that familiar off-to-the-side role, and his growth has been building quietly in the background as he settled into college football and worked his way toward a bigger defensive opportunity.
Thomas prepared for the expanded look by studying film and leaning on veteran teammates, while also drawing on the guidance of his father, former NFL defensive back Fred Thomas. For LSU, it is the kind of progression coaches like to see from a young recruit becoming a real contributor, and it gives the defense another name worth tracking as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]