LSU finished the 2024 season with a 9-4 record and could have made a real push for the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019 had it not lost its season opener to USC and a road game against an unranked Florida team. The Tigers did however finish the season strong with a […]
LSU finished the 2024 season with a 9-4 record and could have made a real push for the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019 had it not lost its season opener to USC and a road game against an unranked Florida team. The Tigers did however finish the season strong with a shootout victory over Baylor in the Texas Bowl, giving them their third nine-plus win season under head coach Brian Kelly.
Its defense was a major detriment to team success last season, as LSU ranked 11th in the SEC in allowed yards per game (364.4 YPG) and ranked 14th in the SEC in allowed points per game (24.3). Head coach Brian Kelly however revealed that he and the Tiger staff really like their defensive line heading into the season this week at a media opportunity.
“If you look carefully, a lot of the pressures (last season) were from inside out not outside in,” Kelly said. “That’s a great thing. When you have guys that are creating issues from the inside out the pocket instead of just rushing off the edge, where you can get a hand on them and widen it and step up.”
“Where we’re getting our best success is inside out, and so you’ve got [Bernard] Gooden, [Jacobian] Guillory and [Jimari] Butler who have played a little bit inside. Gabe [Reliford] can also play a little bit inside. We can be very dynamic from an inside out perspective as well. Obviously [Dominick] McKinley is big and long, so when you add that to what we think is four guys that we can play off the edge, you’ve got a pretty dynamic pass rush now.”
Kelly brought up a few contributors by name, but didn’t even mention starting transfer defensive ends Jack Pyburn and Patrick Payton. Pyburn transferred in from Florida this offseason after recording 60 tackles and one sack last season, while Payton transferred in from Florida State after recording 35 tackles and four sacks for the Seminoles in 2024.
A revamped defense alongside an offense led by preseason Heisman Trophy contender quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, the Tigers head into the 2025 season dreaming about potentially making the College Football Playoff for the first time in six years.
The college football world will quickly get a glimpse at the LSU defense as it opens its 2025 season against Cade Klubnik and Clemson on Aug. 30 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, SC. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM on ABC.
Category: General Sports
