LOUISIANA STATE TIGERS
OFFENSE - 9
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 7
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Terrence Toliver-WR, Joseph Barksdale-OT, Josh Jasper-K/P, Stevan Ridley-TB (NFL)
DEFENSE: Lazarius Levingston-DT, Drake Nevis-DT, Kelvin Sheppard-MLB, Derek Helton-P, Patrick Peterson-CB (NFL)
Receiver / Secondary

The bowl game showed that the LSU passing game may be finally developing. Shepard and Randle highlight an extremely gifted groups of receivers. The No. 1 rated pass defense in the SEC will be another tough cookie for opponents.

Quarterback / Defensive Tackle

Whether coaches go with Jefferson or Lee; this was still the nation's 107th ranked passing attack at the end of the regular season. Losing two full-time starters Nevis and Levingston at DT is a load for any team to replace.

WR Rueben Randle
 
CB Morris Claiborne
 
* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic gauge for listing players that departed and players that received the most playing experience (consistent starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts, transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our full 2011 Preseason Preview due out this coming spring.
LOUISIANA STATE 2011 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Jordan Jefferson-Sr Jarrett Lee-Sr
FB James Stampley-Sr ..
TB Michael Ford-So Spencer Ware-So / Alfred Blue-So
WR Russell Shepard-Jr Chris Tolliver-Jr / Kadron Boone-So
WR Rueben Randle-Jr James Wright-So
TE Chase Clement-Jr Mitch Joseph-Sr / Deangelo Peterson-Sr
OT Chris Faulk-So ..
OG Josh Dworazcyk-Sr ..
C P.J. Lonergan-Jr ..
OG T-Bob Hebert-Sr Josh Williford-So / Will Blackwell-Sr
OT Alex Hurst-Jr Greg Shaw-Sr
K .. ..
 
LOUISIANA STATE 2011 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Kendrick Adams-Sr Chancey Aghayere-Jr
DT Michael Brockers-So ..
DT Josh Downs-Jr ..
DE Lavar Edwards-Jr Sam Montgomery-So / Barkevious Mingo-So
SLB Stefoin Francois-Sr Tahj Jones-So
MLB Kevin Minter-So ..
WLB Ryan Baker-Jr Lamin Barrow-So
CB Morris Claiborne-Jr Tyrann Mathieu-So
CB Ron Brooks-Sr ..
SS Brandon Taylor-Sr Eric Reid-So
FS Karnell Hatcher-Sr Craig Loston-So
P .. ..
QUICK ANALYSIS

12/18/10
Much like the two teams ranked in front of LSU (Alabama and Oklahoma) with this Early Bird Preview, the Bayou Bengals have a boatload of returning talent/experience in this 2011 lineup. LSU has been no stranger to recruiting the wealth of top rate prep talent in the Deep South. Even with the huge concerns at quarterback, that actually turned out to be even more substantial than once originally believed, LSU had a remarkable run in the polls this season and finished with a 10-2 campaign not many felt was reachable. They did it as a team, somehow managing to defy the odds each Saturday. The culmination of this product and the fact 18 starters are set to return, makes LSU a worthy opponent for this type of ranking. Cornerback Patrick Peterson was the best overall defensive player/return man in the county by most accounts. He is a likely candidate to jump early to the NFL. Such a move will cost LSU this type of preseason ranking. That is how valuable Peterson is to this team. Running with the ball and playing sound defense is what kept LSU in striking distance of winning every game. The people responsible for these successes are all back in the fold. All-SEC running back Steven Ridley and three other highly skilled ball carriers will line up behind an offensive line that loses only one starter. LSU is still missing a passer behind center. Jarrett Lee is athletic enough to make the plays with his feet, but he has not shown at any one point the past two seasons that he is the answer throwing the ball. But if the current formula of rushing and defense got LSU all so close to playing in a BCS title game in 2010, with the same people back in the fold there is no reason to believe the Tigers will fall short of the same achievement, if not more. Coaches just need to find a passing solution. If they can find a way to finally improve in this area, they will push the SEC West back to the top of the national mountain again where the winner winds up playing for all the marbles.

 

LOUISIANA STATE
2011 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT
9-3-11 Oregon @Arlington, TX
9-10-11 NORTHWESTERN STATE
9-17-11 at Mississippi State
9-24-11 at West Virginia
10-1-11 KENTUCKY
10-8-11 FLORIDA
10-15-11 at Tennessee
10-22-11 AUBURN
11-5-11 at Alabama
11-12-11 WESTERN KENTUCKY
11-19-11 at Mississippi
11-26-11 ARKANSAS