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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
After a few days of fall camp, my belief is reinforced that this is a team that's a lot deeper in some spots than we know, maybe more talented and better defensively than previewed, there's a lot of strong pieces to this team everywhere you look....but it's all about a few things falling into place: figuring out the right mix at the secondary spots, seeing if defensive tackles Gio Paez, Jacobian Guillory, Preston Hickey or Shone Washington contribute high impact seasons, and if the OL & QB positions stay healthy, this rubic's cube of a team, this chameleonic, tectonic, supersonic squad of Tigers could actually usurp what JD5 and Co were able to do last season as far as wins & losses....if not take the whole kaboodle.

It's almost impossible and near sacrilege to say this team is more talented overall than a 2023 team that became one of the best offensive juggernauts college football has ever seen, however, the weapons, the OLine, and most importantly the QB is there for lightning to strike for a third time, perhaps featuring a more expansive list of participants, maybe at a different speed due to a new rushing focus, or an altered statistical output, but with a unit loaded at WR, RB & TE, rest assured Nussmeier will have bountiful options on every play...
To illustrate the Tigers' depth at nearly every offensive position, one can merely point out the fact there is former 5 stars running with the 3rd string, such is LSU's offensive cache.....I don't see how, despite all the criticism of a few INTs from the first few days, this 2024 adventure could actually go wrong for Nuss.
That statement above isn't guaranteeing a championship, necessarily, just a strong chance to win one (our prediction piece arrives soon):
Nuss looks smooth, confident and most of all, commanding.
This is his team. Plus, he has the best OL in America covering his ass, giving him that confidence, and wearing down opponents inside the trenches.

Defensively, you have to love what you see at linebacker, up front, or the wide ranging collection of DBs making plays...LSU's transfer arrivals, veterans, freshmen alike all making their presence felt...
Of course, The Usual Suspects:
Wide receiver optimus prime Kyren Lacy, All-SEC level tight end Mason Taylor, poised to breakout RB & WR Kaleb Jackson & Chris Hilton are all making plays, sticking out among the crowd of Tigers...yet some roster surprises have occurred...as they always do for LSU:

Shelton Sampson Jr, approaching what appeared to be a make or break Fall camp, has pulled out all the stops...Mossing former Ohio State transfer CB JK Johnson among others...ratcheting his name up the depth chart in a colossal way.
Jordan Allen started at safety for the 1st team & made the most of his opportunity by intercepting Garrett Nussmeier.
Could he play at safety alongside Jardin Gilbert while Sage Ryan sticks to cornerback??? Or is Ryan playing cornerback merely a moment where Ryan's versatility is utilized while recently suspended / now reinstated cornerback Javien Toviano thoroughly gets the hint about his future as a Tiger (no more getting in trouble or....)...

5 interceptions over the first few practices, some batted passes by the front and secondary (barrelhouse DEs Paris Shand & Saivion Jones both getting their hands up & causing havoc), all against an elite skill position and QB room, is a very promising start by Blake Baker's first year defense:
Perkins, Allen, Kylin Jackson, Stamps and Woodland all picked off passes, including multiple thrown by Nussmeier.
Special teams was also more promising than I expected:
Punters Peyton Todd & Blake Ochsendorf will raise each other's games and whoever wins out will be better for it with a ready-made backup in tow. Slade Roy is an All-SEC long snapper and arguably the best in the country, recovering a fumble vs Miss State in 2022 & tackling returners (5 overall stops).
The return game, featuring former Miss State transfer Zavion Thomas, Aaron Anderson, freak track man Jelani Watkins, among others, there's enough dynamism there to make plays. All backed by the kicking of Damian Ramos, who nailed all 77 of his extra points (12/15 field goals).

There is some strong indications of a far more complete squad than initially believed by most outside commentators, an offense that could be among the best in the sport, a defense that has every chance on the field (& coach on its sideline) to go from the 107th ranked defense to the mid 50s, and a special teams group that looks set to stop the bleeding over recent years....it's a promising start to Fall Camp....a fiery, youthful, energetic team full of one layer after another of exciting, intriguing Tigers....stay glued & tuned to LSUOdyssey.com for daily, sometimes up to the minute updates on Fall Camp....
By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
©️2024 Uninterrupted Writings Inc
Exciting opportunities. If the puzzle pieces fit together we could be very dangerous.