Welcome everyone to the latest edition of the LSU position preview! This week, we wrap up on the offensive side of the ball with a look at the offensive line.
The amount of talent on this offensive line is strong and could be one of the best in recent memory. However, with one player recently suspended indefinitely there’s at least one spot that’s in question.
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Departing Players:
There were some notable departures from the program and that includes Will Clapp, who was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft. His loss is going to be a big one to fill considering the role that he had on the offensive line.
Also, LSU will be without KJ Malone as his eligibility ran out. His senior season was rough, only playing in six games before suffering a knee injury against Florida. He did play in the Citrus Bowl and didn’t allow a sack from his position. With these two players no longer part of the program, there’s some big shoes on the offensive line that need to be filled.
Returning Players:
While there are some notable departures on the offensive line, there’s a lot of depth to this offensive line. So much so, that Ed Orgeron has touted that they’ll be going three deep. It’s a bold statement, but still has some truth to it.
You look up and down at the roster, the amount of experience on the offensive line is unreal. Of the 17 players on the Tigers roster you have five players that played in all 13 games and two played in 11 games. Right now, you could peg sophomore Lloyd Cushenberry as the center, but there’s some question marks especially when you think about the suspension of Ed Ingram. Could he back prior to the start of the season? Of course, but we’re working with the information that we know at the time of this writing.
All this being said, players like Garrett Brumfield, Jakori Savage, and Austin Deculus will be the heart and soul of this offensive line.
The Other Guys:
While there’s a lot of experience with this position group, the Tigers have some talent that you might not have thought about and that’s Badara Traore and Cameron Wire. With Traore, there’s a good chance that the junior college transfer gets some playing time. When you look at Wire, he could work out on both sides of the ball because that’s how he played in high school and that would work well in terms of depth.
Overall Thoughts:
One of the most important battles in college football, especially in the SEC is between the trenches. There’s no other way around it. The SEC is smash-mouth football and this offensive line will have that mentality in mind every time they take the field. You add the depth that they have, this is going to be a formidable offensive line that many teams can’t take lightly.
-Clint Domingue