LSU Football: Brian Kelly reveals more of the Tigers’ starters

It’s officially LSU Football game week! The wait is over and we’re finally less than seven days away from the purple and gold taking the field for the first time this season. The Tigers won’t be playing on Saturday, similar to all of its SEC counterparts. Instead, they’ll open the 2022 campaign on Sunday against Florida State from the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans

The Seminoles already have a game under their belts, a 47-7 victory over Duquesne during Week 0. It was a great tune-up for Mike Norvell’s squad, who looked wildly impressive on the offensive side of the ball. Florida State had three running backs rack up over 100 yards on the evening. LSU will certainly have its hands full if it wants to start the Brian Kelly era off on the right foot. All of that being said, there are still plenty of question marks across the depth chart. Coach Kelly helped fill some of these blanks in on Monday during his pre-Florida State press conference.

LSU Football coach Brian Kelly reveals the Tigers’ starting offensive line

Of course, the major talking point was the quarterback position. Following Myles Brennan’s departure from the program, it is now down to two. Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier have been locked into a fierce quarterback competition all summer with neither necessarily being given the edge—at least not in the public eye. Unfortunately for all of those wondering, it will remain that way until the Tigers’ offense takes the field in New Orleans on September 4.

Kelly noted on Monday that he will remain tight-lipped about his quarterback situation until game day. The first-year LSU Head Coach believes this gives his team a bit of an advantage in preparation, as opposed to giving the Seminoles a leg up, in addition to the game already in-hand. The former Notre Dame front man did disclose that he has named a starter behind closed doors, the team is aware of the decision, and that both players will likely see snaps this season.

Many believe the individual under center next Sunday will be the Arizona State transfer, Daniels. Daniels has a lot more experience than Nussmeier and he’s closer to the quarterback Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock worked with last season (Desmond Ridder). However, fans can only speculate about their team’s new QB1 leading up to kickoff.

Quarterback is one of the only remaining questions on the offensive side of the ball after Monday, when Kelly officially named his starters on the O-line:

There is a lot of inexperience on this offensive line, especially as it relates to the left side. Left tackle Will Campbell is a true freshman, left guard Miles Frazier is a transfer sophomore and center Garrett Dellinger is a redshirt freshman. The experience comes in on the right with Anthony Bradford (redshirt junior) and Cam Wire (redshirt senior). The biggest surprise of all is seeing Tre’Mond Shorts—a standout senior transfer who excelled at the FCS level—left out after coming to the program in January.

Regardless, Kelly’s gone out of his way to praise the job done by his lineman during Fall Camp. There is undoubtedly a lot of room for improvement yet, but the young core bodes well for the future. In addition to running back Noah Cain and receivers Kayshon Boutte, Malik Nabers and Jack Bech, the Tigers’ offense is shaping up to be one of the most lethal in the SEC. As long as the offensive line holds up and the quarterback play is consistent, LSU can do big things this year.