Every spring, college football players seize the opportunity to assert themselves and take on a more prominent role. Teams also need to adapt to change. For example, the LSU Tigers added six new assistant coaches and moved two others to serve as offensive coordinators.
With departures in 2023 weakening certain positions, Baton Rouge will have players arriving in the new transfer portal, 2024 signees arriving early, and an opportunity to take a big step toward assuming a bigger role. There will be opportunities for returnees.
Let's take a look at the LSU personnel worth keeping an eye on this spring.
Running back Caleb Jackson (6-0, 225)
The true sophomore will receive a lot of attention during spring practice. Jackson will be able to focus more on becoming a more polished receiver and better blocker.
Despite sharing the backfield with seven others, he gained 165 yards (5.3 yards per carry) with four touchdowns. He ran for 62 total yards and two scores on 11 carries against Grambling, and returned a kickoff 62 yards against Auburn.
Jackson showed his true power when he trucked through Mississippi State defenders, but he's more than just a brute. His speed is 4.45, and in the 100 meter dash he runs 10.66, which is a prerequisite to be classified as a home run threat.
Wide receiver Kylen Lacy (6-2, 215)
The Thibodaux High School product completed 30 passes for 588 yards and seven scores last season. His numbers are similar to Brian Thomas Jr.'s 2022 performance. He caught 31 passes for 361 yards and five touchdowns, and exploded last season with 68 catches for 1,177 yards and 17 points. Thomas is currently a potential first-round pick in 2024, but Lacey could be eyeing a bigger role, which could be reflected in Thomas' performance this season. .
Lacey can line up in the slot, has a high football IQ, is a solid route runner who is good at creating separation, yards after the catch, and good hand-eye coordination.
In 52 collegiate games (ULL and LSU), Lacy had 104 grabs for 1,494 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Wide receiver CJ Daniels (6-2, 200)
The transfer from Liberty has two seasons of eligibility remaining. He had 55 catches for 1,067 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023, and had the third-highest average yards per catch (19.4 yards) in the nation among players with 50 or more catches.
Daniels also averaged just under four yards per route in 2023, which was a better average than Malik Nabors and Marvin Harrison Jr.
Daniels' ability to make difficult catches look easy makes him a big-play threat. He led the FBS in yards of 20+ yards (19), which accounted for 34.5 percent of all catches.
Defensive end Paris Shand (6-5, 280; 4.9)
Shand had 18 stops last season, five tackles for loss and two sacks. Depth is a big concern on the defensive line, so we'll likely see more of it this spring. He showed improvement as the season progressed. His best performance was six tackles against Auburn.
It has plenty of length and power to keep you in position on the run. Shand can cut through blockers. He has a good punch and quick feet. Shand was a standout basketball player in high school. He has NFL potential.
Jack linebacker Dashawn Womack (6-5, 266)
The 2023 five-star signee recorded 13 stops, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in a limited role as a true freshman. He exploded off the edge and showed off his ability to make big plays. Womack was primarily active in his package on third down in his 12 contests and also contributed special to his team.
Thanks to his quick twitch reflexes, some think he could develop into the next BJ Ojulari.
Defensive Tackle Jacobean “Big Tank” Guillory (6-2, 320)
The Alexandria High School graduate played in 39 games during his time with Tigertown, but started just three. He recorded 27 tackles last season.
Guillory was considering entering the 2024 NFL Draft. With the departures of Marson Smith, Mekhi Wingo, and Jordan Jefferson to the NFL, there will be plenty of opportunities for seniors to step up.
At 740 pounds, he was a two-time state weightlifting champion. Squat, 370 lbs. bench press and 625 pounds. Guillory, who demonstrated a talent for deadlifting, was pursued by top college football programs as a high school freshman.
Linebacker Whit “Sunshine” Weeks (6-3, 222)
The four-star, signed in 2023, recorded 50 tackles in three starts as a freshman, including nine stops against both Ole Miss and Arkansas, and losses against Wisconsin and Mississippi State. That included eight tackles.
He runs very well, plays with predictive skill and rarely takes a false step. He improved a lot as a freshman last season.
His contribution in '24 may depend on whether Harold Perkins converts to inside linebacker again. As Perkins develops, Weeks' role could change, even if his position is different.
Secondary is an area that is likely to receive a lot of attention in the spring. Depth as well as starters are question marks at this point. Two players who arrived in the transfer portal will be on the training ground for the first time.
Free safety Jardin Gilbert (6-1, 200)
After transferring in the offseason, he appeared in 23 games at Texas A&M, recording 79 tackles, two interceptions, and nine passes defensed. He has two seasons left.
Coming from a university lab, he has excellent ball skills, sniffs out plays quickly, and is a solid tackler. Gilbert is very versatile, good in open space, and very instinctive. His career high was nine tackles against Arkansas.
Cornerback JK Johnson (6-0, 185)
Johnson, a player LSU fans are eager to see play, will need to be healthy to make his first appearance in the purple and gold. He was the No. 3 ranked cornerback in the 2021 class and No. 50 overall player. He spent two seasons at Ohio State and started five games for the Buckeyes in 2022. He had five stops against Northwestern that season.
Johnson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury as a freshman in 2021 and broke his left leg upon arriving at LSU. He is part of a pipeline of players who transferred from Ohio State to LSU, including Joe Burrow, Sevin Banks and cornerback Jaire Brown, who is currently committed to LSU.
Johnson plays with aplomb, is a good learner, and records speed in the low 4.3 second range.
Free safety Dashawn McBride (6-2, 200; 4.55)
The Denham Springs High progeny is a 4-star recruit in 2024 and will be available early for the spring. He recorded 19 interceptions in his final two high school seasons.
McBride has big play ability, covers a lot of ground and plays with aplomb. As a ball hawk, he takes big angles to the ball and puts wood on receivers who are encroaching on his area. If McBride learns the speed of college football and can play consistently, he could reach stardom in the near future.
Defensive back Javien Tobiano (6-1, 201)
Tobiano was a jack-of-all-trades last season as a true freshman, finishing with 33 tackles, three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
The No. 6 cornerback in the nation in the 2023 class hails from Arlington, Texas, and has a muscular frame, broad shoulders and good strength. Tobiano can change direction quickly and reacts well to receiver movements.
Tobiano, who has excelled on special teams, is already cross-training at all defensive back spots. If he can focus on one thing, he could be something special.
Note: Speaking of cross-training, expect some experimentation during spring training. Due to the lack of running backs, backup wide receivers Landon Ibieta and Kai Prian could be at running back, although this is just my speculation. Both have explosive skills and running ability.
