Situational pass rusher to return to LSU football in 2020

LSU football will be getting a former three-star defensive lineman back in 2020.

LSU football head coach Ed Orgeron announced on Tuesday, during an appearance on 104.5 in Baton Rouge, that defensive end Justin Thomas is back with the team.

Thomas left the team last season after five game for “personal reasons”.

When Thomas left, he had accumulated eight tackles and one sack.

The Alabama native, who was rated as the No. 25 player in the state of Alabama in 2017 (247Sports composite), was use primarily as a third down pass rusher by LSU in 2019 before he left the team.

Orgeron noted on Tuesday that Thomas currently weighs 300 lbs, but he’s hoping the rising senior can get down to 285 lbs.

Coach O suggested that Thomas will play at right defensive end in LSU’s new 4-3 base defense under defensive coordinator Bo Pelini.

(Pelini was hired last month to replace Dave Aranda, who left to become the head coach at Baylor.)

While I don’t expect Thomas, who was described by Coach O as “quick and explosive” to be a “star defensive player” for the Tigers in 2020, I still think his return is great news for LSU.

Depth is extremely important — especially in the trenches.

LSU will need to rotate defensive ends to keep everyone fresh for 60 minutes. Thomas should be a key part of that rotation. His previous experience will help, and going through spring practice under Pelini will allow him to adjust to a new defense.

These types of “additions” don’t typically generate headlines, but they’re part of what keeps a team fresh late in the season.