LSU Tigers: LSU football
GeauxTigerNation's Gary Laney stopped by this afternoon to discuss all things LSU, from the Tigers' spring game to recruiting efforts to the recent NFL draft.
Click here to read the chat transcript.
Click here to read the chat transcript.
Despite losses to the NFL draft and an incredibly difficult schedule, KC Joyner warns not to forget about the Tigers in 2013.
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to read his breakdown on how LSU can make up for its big losses.
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to read his breakdown on how LSU can make up for its big losses.Several of RecruitingNation's SEC sites took a look this week at the players headed to the NFL combine, which begins today in Indianapolis, and other predraft camps. Click here to read the entire predraft series. Today: Defensive backs and special teams.
LSU Tigers
The obvious acronym for Louisiana State University is "LSU." But to many, the Baton Rouge school gets the title "DBU" for its mass production of NFL defensive backs, from cornerbacks like Patrick Peterson and Morris Claiborne to safeties like LaRon Landry. This draft will do nothing to harm that reputation. Three LSU defensive backs -- including the booted-from-the-team Tyrann Mathieu -- were invited to the NFL combine this week, a year after three (Claiborne, Ron Brooks and Brandon Taylor) were taken in the draft.
Several of RecruitingNation's SEC sites will look this week at the players headed to the NFL combine, which begins Friday in Indianapolis, and other predraft camps. Today: Defensive linemen and linebackers.LSU Tigers
If there's any doubt where LSU will need to replenish its stockpile after the 2012 season, watch the NFL combine. LSU has four defensive linemen scheduled to attend, including at least two who are likely to go in the first round. Add linebacker Kevin Minter and the Tigers will have five players from their front seven at the combine. LSU might have the "DBU" reputation, but perhaps it should be more noted for its defensive line production.
Several of RecruitingNation's SEC sites will look this week at the players headed to the NFL combine, which begins Friday in Indianapolis, and other predraft camps. Today: Offensive linemen.
The biggest question mark among the 13 players LSU has headed to the combine is left tackle Chris Faulk who, despite missing all but the season opener with a torn ACL, opted to forgo his senior season at LSU and try for the NFL. He's one of two offensive linemen the Tigers have attending the NFL combine, along with center P.J. Lonergan.
LSU Tigers
The biggest question mark among the 13 players LSU has headed to the combine is left tackle Chris Faulk who, despite missing all but the season opener with a torn ACL, opted to forgo his senior season at LSU and try for the NFL. He's one of two offensive linemen the Tigers have attending the NFL combine, along with center P.J. Lonergan.
Several of RecruitingNation's SEC sites will look this week at the players headed to the NFL combine, which begins Friday in Indianapolis. Today: Quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers.
Perhaps it says something about LSU's offense in 2012 that among a record 13 players invited to the NFL combine from the Tigers, only two are offensive skill players who are generally considered, at this point, marginal talents. Running backs Spencer Ware and Michael Ford are the only skill players invited to Indianapolis, which is understandable when one considers LSU was 10th in the SEC in total offense. It's also a sign of youth. Quarterback Zach Mettenberger, fullback J.C. Copeland, running back Jeremy Hill and all of LSU's primary threats at wide receiver will return in 2013.
LSU Tigers
Perhaps it says something about LSU's offense in 2012 that among a record 13 players invited to the NFL combine from the Tigers, only two are offensive skill players who are generally considered, at this point, marginal talents. Running backs Spencer Ware and Michael Ford are the only skill players invited to Indianapolis, which is understandable when one considers LSU was 10th in the SEC in total offense. It's also a sign of youth. Quarterback Zach Mettenberger, fullback J.C. Copeland, running back Jeremy Hill and all of LSU's primary threats at wide receiver will return in 2013.
BATON ROUGE, La. -- When we last saw Cam Cameron, he was being fired as offensive coordinator of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, taking the fall after an overtime loss to Beltway rival Washington with three games left in the season.
At the time, the buzz was that Baltimore’s offense was vanilla, had gotten away from what gave it early success and perhaps did not feature running back Ray Rice enough.
When we last saw Cameron in college football, he was coaching an Indiana Hoosiers team that put up big offensive numbers with Antwaan Randle El at quarterback, but lost twice as many games as it won because of a porous defense. That was 12 years ago.
The question now as Cameron prepares to begin his new job as LSU’s offensive coordinator is this: What Cam Cameron is LSU getting? The one that won with a dual-threat quarterback at Indiana? The one that mentored the Ravens offense for the first three-quarters of a Super Bowl-winning season?
Or how about the one who knew LSU coach Les Miles when they both were understudies of Bo Schembechler at Michigan? Or the one who helped mold Drew Brees and Philip Rivers with the San Diego Chargers?
Those who covered Cameron in previous jobs say you shouldn’t expect any of it.
At the time, the buzz was that Baltimore’s offense was vanilla, had gotten away from what gave it early success and perhaps did not feature running back Ray Rice enough.
When we last saw Cameron in college football, he was coaching an Indiana Hoosiers team that put up big offensive numbers with Antwaan Randle El at quarterback, but lost twice as many games as it won because of a porous defense. That was 12 years ago.
The question now as Cameron prepares to begin his new job as LSU’s offensive coordinator is this: What Cam Cameron is LSU getting? The one that won with a dual-threat quarterback at Indiana? The one that mentored the Ravens offense for the first three-quarters of a Super Bowl-winning season?
Or how about the one who knew LSU coach Les Miles when they both were understudies of Bo Schembechler at Michigan? Or the one who helped mold Drew Brees and Philip Rivers with the San Diego Chargers?
Those who covered Cameron in previous jobs say you shouldn’t expect any of it.
BATON ROUGE, La. -- When ESPN 150 defensive end Tashawn Bower gave LSU its only signing day drama Wednesday by picking the Tigers over Florida and Auburn, he filled the last spot in the signing class.
That’s true literally -- after Bower’s letter of intent arrived, LSU coach Les Miles said the Tigers are done signing players for the 2013 class -- but also in a geographical sense.
Bower, from just outside of New York in Somerville, N.J., gave the Tigers’ class a northeast presence, filling the one region of the country that was previously missing from what Miles described as the “most geographically diverse class in school history.”
That’s true literally -- after Bower’s letter of intent arrived, LSU coach Les Miles said the Tigers are done signing players for the 2013 class -- but also in a geographical sense.
Bower, from just outside of New York in Somerville, N.J., gave the Tigers’ class a northeast presence, filling the one region of the country that was previously missing from what Miles described as the “most geographically diverse class in school history.”
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU’s 26-player recruiting class is signed, sealed and delivered.
Well, maybe.
We’ve yet to see where Priest Willis will go or whether Tevin Lawson will accept LSU’s grayshirt offer instead of choosing a conventional scholarship offer elsewhere. And, for that matter, there still might be a scholarship awaiting defensive back Jeremy Cutrer, who did not sign Wednesday because it was unclear whether he will qualify academically.
Well, maybe.
We’ve yet to see where Priest Willis will go or whether Tevin Lawson will accept LSU’s grayshirt offer instead of choosing a conventional scholarship offer elsewhere. And, for that matter, there still might be a scholarship awaiting defensive back Jeremy Cutrer, who did not sign Wednesday because it was unclear whether he will qualify academically.
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LSU landed the No. 7 class in the nation on signing day. Here's a look at each signing as the LOIs rolled into Baton Rouge.
11:50 a.m. CT -- DE Tashawn Bower 
Somerville, N.J./Immaculata
Visit recap
A highly regarded defensive end who could fit right in with LSU. Made a signing-day decision after considering Auburn, Florida and Florida State, among others.
10:42 a.m. CT -- DT Maquedius Bain
Fort Lauderdale, Fla./University New School of Nova South
Profile
Part of a deep defensive tackle class, Bain has raw athleticism and size. During his prep career, he also showed a willingness as a team player, taking on the offensive line to fill a team need as a senior.
11:50 a.m. CT -- DE Tashawn Bower
Somerville, N.J./Immaculata
Visit recap
A highly regarded defensive end who could fit right in with LSU. Made a signing-day decision after considering Auburn, Florida and Florida State, among others.
10:42 a.m. CT -- DT Maquedius Bain
Fort Lauderdale, Fla./University New School of Nova South
Profile
Part of a deep defensive tackle class, Bain has raw athleticism and size. During his prep career, he also showed a willingness as a team player, taking on the offensive line to fill a team need as a senior.
SEC shows more interest in Todd Kelly Jr. 
January, 25, 2013
Jan 25
11:38
AM ET
By
Dave Hooker | ESPN.com
Despite being one of the top programs in the nation, LSU still has some work to do to land one of the top junior prospects in the south.
Coaches from LSU visited Todd Kelly Jr. this week. However, the Watch List prospect from Knoxville (Tenn.) Webb said he's primarily focusing on his top ten finalists.
Coaches from LSU visited Todd Kelly Jr. this week. However, the Watch List prospect from Knoxville (Tenn.) Webb said he's primarily focusing on his top ten finalists.
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OTL: Former LSU CB Tyrann Mathieu
January, 24, 2013
Jan 24
4:40
PM ET
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
Former LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu hopes to play in the NFL despite personal troubles that have included a drug arrest and dismissal from LSU’s football program for failing a drug test.
LSU has numbers at all the positions where it is losing transfers, according to the roster the team updated Wednesday.
Commits: ATH Kendell Beckwith, ATH Melvin Jones.
Linebacker
Luke Muncie was one of four linebackers to start games at the strong side linebacker spot -- and the other three return.Tahj Jones, who was academically ineligible for the season after he emerged from last spring as the starter, is back in the fold and will battle rising sophomores Kwon Alexander and Lamar Louis for the starting job.Commits: ATH Kendell Beckwith, ATH Melvin Jones.
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Bama leads for No. 5 DE after visit
January, 14, 2013
Jan 14
11:55
AM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama was the first school to start showing interest in ESPN 150 defensive end Tim Williams (Baton Rouge, La./University Lab) back when he was a freshman. Now, three years later, the Crimson Tide hosted Williams on his first official visit over the weekend.
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- Before Chris Faulk's surprising announcement Wednesday that he'll leave LSU this spring, the starting lineup for Tigers' 2013 offensive line seemed easy enough to figure out.
The only departing starters from LSU's line would be center P.J. Lonergan -- who has an heir apparent in Elliott Porter -- and left tackle Josh Dworaczyk, who became the starter only after Faulk got hurt.
Move Porter into the lineup, bring a healthy Faulk back at left tackle, and just like that you have an experienced and talented offensive line set to go.
But now that Faulk will depart despite suffering a season-ending knee injury that cost him the season's final 12 games, the outlook is less clear.
The only departing starters from LSU's line would be center P.J. Lonergan -- who has an heir apparent in Elliott Porter -- and left tackle Josh Dworaczyk, who became the starter only after Faulk got hurt.
Move Porter into the lineup, bring a healthy Faulk back at left tackle, and just like that you have an experienced and talented offensive line set to go.
But now that Faulk will depart despite suffering a season-ending knee injury that cost him the season's final 12 games, the outlook is less clear.
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ABOUT GEAUX TIGER NATION
Gary Laney
Gary Laney joined ESPN.com in 2012 after spending a year and a half as online sports editor of the Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate. Before that, he covered LSU sports for the Advocate. He has also been the sports editor at the Beaumont (Texas) Enterprise and covered McNeese State athletics for the Lake Charles (La.) American Press. Laney currently lives in Baton Rouge. Email him at glaneyespn@gmail.com