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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
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THE COUNTDOWN
(NO ORDER)
5. GARRETT NUSSMEIER
Following Jayden Daniels' historic two season dual threat extravaganza, capped off by a Heisman victory, all the headlines before and after the Reliaquest Bowl will focus on The Nuss Bus revving up its engines into a new offensive era. While there is palpable excitement for #13's imminent takeover, pressure is also mounting for the young signal caller to stamp his authority on the Tigers' 2024 QB job.
With a strong quarterback heritage behind him, including two seasons supporting and learning plenty under JD5, Nussmeier will forge forward into a fresh, bold future, welcoming in a new offensive coordinator this coming spring, while going without LSU|'s dual 1,000 yard receiving titans, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr for next season.
However, LSU still possess a bevy of weapons on roster going forward.
Although mostly young and inexperienced, this bowl game is the perfect testing ground for Nussmeier to establish a connection with a whole host of playmakers, from his tight ends (Mason Taylor, Mac Markway or hybrid aerial imperialist Ka'morreun Pimpton) to his crop of freshmen receivers, all 4 going without a catch over their 9 combined appearances (Shelton Sampson Jr, Jalen Brown, Khai Prean and Kyle Parker; all maintaing their red shirt status).
We'll also get to see if Nussmeier can ignite former 5 star WR Aaron Anderson, a big time playmaking colossus who stands on the verge of finishing 2023 without a single moment of magic to his name;
We'll also gauge how strong the chemistry is between Nuss & veteran senior wide out Kyren Lacy (7 TDs in 12 games, carrying one more season of eligibility).
It'll be titillating to see how much Head Coach Brian Kelly and interim offensive coordinators Joe Sloan and Cortez Hankton let their new quarterback loose, or if the absence of Mike Denbrock negatively affects or changes LSU's #1 ranked offensive juggernaut.
Obviously the offense will look different under Nussmeier, rather than Daniels' stratospheric 2023 Heisman season:
There will be more communication errors, sacks suffered, and possibly points left out on the field.
Plus, Jayden Daniels led our offense to a .567 conversion rate on 3rd down, the highest in the nation.
It would be insane to expect Garrett to immediately replace Daniels' Heisman level of poise, command and execution, not to mention during a time when the offensive staff and playbook itself is currently in flux and under new leadership....but it doesn't mean he can't pull it off:
This is still the same RPO, shotgun spread attack Nuss has ran over the past 3 seasons, within an offensive base set up by a coordinator and now QBs Coach he worked under for consecutive seasons.
While the offense will aesthetically look different, and the results may not be as explosive, New Year's Day is about snaps, repetitions, and experience....but not as nearly as it is about winning the Tigers' 10th game for the second year in a row.
As much as I expect Nuss will do well vs Wisconsin, the circumstances aren't ideal for the young slinger: first, the departure of his offensive coordinator over the past 2 years, then, LSU just signed a transfer portal QB AJ Swann from Vanderbilt to bolster competition, and now, the Tigers will be searching for a new play caller for 2024 as well.....heading into a pressure-filled "audition", it's a lot to take in for Nussmeier....yet, I feel he's ready for this moment.
After all, this is a young man who's made his mark as a gunslinging Saturday Night Warrior who's not afraid to vibe and thrive with ultimate pressure.
On New Year's Day, he'll get his fill.
4. JAVIEN TOVIANO
Will the young freshman standout CB continue his solid streak of play?
Over 12 appearances (headlined by 2 pressure-filled starts @ Alabama & against Florida), Toviano produced 30 tackles, 2 PBUs, and 1 fumble recovery (18 tackles, 2 PBUs & 1 fumble recovery as a starter vs Alabama & Florida), proving himself to be a certifiably badass young Tiger....beyond ready for the biggest stages, Toviano was born for 'em.
Allowing 11 catches from 17 targets for 167 yards & 1 TD (scored on vs Grambling), Toviano wasn't perfect in coverage, yet he grew as the season went on, impressively standing tall on the road in Tuscaloosa, racking up 11 tackles and only allowing a single catch for 13 yards.
Much like true freshman safety Ryan Yaites, I feel Javien Toviano is a DBU superstar of the future, learning on the fly in the present.
Despite being raw and unpolished, every Tiger fan would agree LSU's historically pisspoor 2023 defense would've been greatly served with an earlier introduction of Toviano into the lineup.
Though veterans like Zy Alexander may get the start ahead of him, the former 5 star recruit out of Martin High is a blast to watch play the game, specifically his aggression, intensity, closing speed, and hopefully, if Wisconsin dare to test him, we see more of his ball skills.
3. DASHAWN WOMACK
Maximizing every rare snap that came his way, 5 star freshman Dashawn Womack was stuck further down the depth chart behind Ovie Oghoufo, Saivion Jones, and Bradyn Swinson for 99% of his debut campaign.....and yet he still made an immediate impact.
Playing a paltry 62 defensive snaps, Womack produced 11 total tackles, 6 pressures, 1.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss, including a brilliant sack on 3rd down vs Arkansas, sans helmet, to force a field goal, and another half sack vs A&M.
Sure, the Maryland-born edge-rushing hellhound is very young, but he already plays with such unbridled fury, channeled emotion, and madcap pass-rushing violence, he becomes must see TV, regardless of his youth, inexperience or penchant for overrunning plays in the backfield (a hallmark of our entire D-line this season).
In my view, it's imperative Matt House plays the young bull for the majority of the Reliaquest Bowl....this is a special talent for the future LSU cannot lose. We're hearing, during his media availability (his first ever), that Dashawn will at least play during dime packages (most 3rd or 4th downs).
2. KALEB JACKSON
Kaleb Jackson's star rose fast and bright this past fall, becoming an absolute beast of every opponent's burden right before our eyes, accelerating his development by the carry....and he's primed to add more big plays on New Year's Day.
Associate Head Coach/ RBs Coach Frank Wilson brought him along methodically: wisely limiting his carries despite the excitement and calls for his inclusion.
The fall prior, during his first game as a senior at Liberty Magnet, Kaleb suffered a season ending injury, which made Frank Wilson careful with him; Still, Uncle Frank gave him a taste of what playing running back for LSU is all about.
When you first witness Jackson rushing the football, #28 immediately evokes a bygone era of smashmouth Tiger running back play, images of Faulk, Fournette, Alexander and Guice begin to flood the mind as Jackson sledgehammers through defenders with a violence and fury usually reserved for UFC fights.
Rushing for 150 yards, 29 Carries, averaging 5.2 per rush, scoring 3 TDs on the ground, while adding another 40 receiving yards, alongside 249 collective return yards (24.9 average each return), Jackson is a high octane Tiger, a thoroughly entertaining, bedazzling phantasm we must see more of....beginning New Year's Day.
1. FRESHMEN RECEIVERS
Just as we mentioned previously, freshmen WRs Jalen Brown, Shelton Sampson Jr, Kyle Parker and Khai Prean are all yet to catch a pass wearing purple & gold...through no fault of their own.
Cortez Hankton's 2023 freshmen WRs only featured in 9 combined appearances, translating to a mere 72 snaps, receiving 2 total targets shared between the first three (Prean is yet to appear as a receiver or on special teams)......but how can anyone expect true freshmen to usurp Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr, and Kyren Lacy's 36 total touchdowns and 3,086 receiving yards together?
There is a reason these four were red-shirted in Year 1: all to retain their eligibility due to such a high powered feast of veteran options.
Now, with one free game remaining for all 4 players, we'll likely witness Cortez Hankton give opportunities to Jalen Brown & Shelton Sampson Jr specifically, but I'd be shocked if we didn't see all four players take the field in rotation throughout the Reliaquest Bowl.
Sampson Jr, recognized here as the lone 2023 freshman WR to get a pass thrown his way (Pro Football Focus stats back that up; 2 targets total), will likely get the most snaps, but let's hope the Baton Rouge native cleans up his hideous pair of touchdown drops vs Grambling (both perfect passes by Garrett Nussmeier). The Catholic High superstar and state champion possesses a Brian Thomas Jr-esque profile, tall, rangy, lengthy, powerful after the catch, yet at the same time is his own brand of player.
Against Wisconsin, we could be witnessing the first true flickers of Sampson's LSU stardom, which would also provide an exciting preview of his future partnership with QB Garrett Nussmeier.
Jalen Brown is another young stunner who must receive snaps and most importantly, targets, catches, and extended time on the field to end his red shirt freshman campaign by racking up a couple big time, confidence-building plays to build on going into Year 2.
Ranked as a 5 star at one point, Brown was born with ultimate pedigree speed alongside a rare breed of twitchy finesse & strong-willed strength, all backed by incredible athleticism.
No question, I believe it's a likely bet that Brown will transform into a serious game-changer for LSU in the near future...and the Reliaquest Bowl might just be the start.
Appearances from Parker & Prean will make this New Year's Day a rare, yet revealing morning showdown in Tampa.
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
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