LSU football: 5 reasons to buy into the Tigers hype train for 2023

LSU football turned a corner last season, winning big games in Brian Kelly’s first year as head coach. Hence, there are five reasons Tigers fans must buy into the hype for 2023.

The LSU football team is already practicing ahead of their 2023 season. Last year’s squad produced numerous memorable moments on the way to a 10-4 (6-2 SEC) record.

Few fans will forget Mason Taylor’s two-point conversion catch that walked off the Alabama Crimson Tide in Baton Rouge. Moreover, the LSU football demolition of Purdue in the Citrus Bowl was a fitting end to an incredible year.

The LSU football program is in a great place, and fans must expect big things from the Tigers in 2023. However, it’s understandable many LSU fans are hesitant to get excited after a small sample size of Brian Kelly’s lead.

Therefore, Death Valley Voice is giving fans five reasons to buy into the LSU football hype in 2023.

No. 5 – Coaching continuity

LSU football will enjoy coaching continuity unheard of in Baton Rogue in recent seasons. The Tigers return virtually the same coaching staff from 2022, except for the special teams coordinator.

LSU returning the same head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator from 2022 is a huge deal. The Tigers are the only program in the SEC to return such. As a result, LSU football returns the same schemes, terminology, playbooks, and culture, from a year ago.

Last season, LSU fans watched in frustration as the Tigers dropped a close game to Florida State in Baton Rouge. Such was the result of the program’s newness. The start of Kelly’s tenure included a new coaching staff and a lot of learning. Thus, LSU football looked raw and somewhat unprepared in their earlier games.

Many expected last season’s sluggish start with a new regime in Death Valley. Although Kelly’s squad enjoyed spring and summer practices, no practice compares to playing another team. Either way, the Tigers are set to experience the opposite dynamic to begin 2023.

LSU football is arguably ahead of their SEC opponents this spring because they’re picking up where they left off. Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock is well aware of the talent he has to work with at quarterback. Similarly, defensive coordinator Matt House has an entire season’s body of work to know what right looks like for LSU.

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Special teams were a central area needing improvement for 2023. Kelly realized such and acted by moving Brian Polian to an off-the-field role. John Jancek steps in as special teams coordinator, but in title only. Jancek is an experienced defensive coach specializing in linebackers. He will lead LSU’s special teams efforts, but Kelly admitted he will employ a committee approach in 2023.

Despite the change in the special teams approach, LSU cannot do any worse in such areas for 2023.

No. 4 – Returning critical players on offense

Unfortunately, LSU football will not produce a first-round pick during April’s NFL Draft. But oddly enough, such is excellent news for the 2023 LSU Tigers, especially on offense.

LSU’s roster continuity into the spring is just as advantageous as their coaching continuity. Moreover, the Tigers are the only SEC West team that returns their head coach, offensive coordinator, and starting quarterback.

Jayden Daniels returns for his final season of eligibility, as does fellow quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. We expect Daniels to start the season at the top of the depth and remain the starter unless he struggles. The former graduate transfer struggled some last season, but there’s much to blame on the offense finding their footing.

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Either way, few will deny Daniels’ ability to manufacture big plays was crucial to LSU’s win over Alabama last November. Still, Daniels must improve his downfield accuracy to stave off Nussmeier in 2023. The return of LSU football’s leading receiver will help.

All eyes were on Kayshon Boutte in 2022, but Malik Nabers emerged as LSU’s top target. Nabers caught 72 passes for 1,017 yards, including nine receptions for 163 yards in the Citrus Bowl. Joining Nabers are fellow returning Tigers’ receivers Brian Thomas Jr., Kyren Lacey, and Chris Hilton Jr.

The offensive line was a massive point of contention during the 2022 LSU football season. Fans witnessed multiple line combinations before Charles Turner settled in at center, and a pair of true freshmen took over as offensive tackles. The Tigers return their entire offensive line from a year ago and will add graduate transfer, Mason Lunsford.

Suffice it to say; the LSU football offensive line is in a great place ahead of the 2023 season.

No. 3 – The return of Harold Perkins

Harold Perkins emerged as one of the best players in the 2022 LSU football program. Perkins racked up 72 total tackles and 7.5 sacks during his freshman season. However, the Tigers’ best-returning defender is just getting started.

Several fans ponder Perkins’ college football ceiling. But if you ask Death Valley Voice, we’ll tell you he will be one of 2023’s best college football players.

Think back to Chase Young’s impact on Ohio State or, more recently, how important Will Anderson was to Alabama’s success. Such an impression is what fans must expect of Perkins’ upcoming season in Baton Rouge. But conversely, the potential exists for the Tigers’ sophomore linebacker to be more impactful than his predecessors.

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Perkins was exclusively an edge rusher in 2022, a role he plays well. However, there is offseason speculation LSU will move Perkins to JACK linebacker. But, of course, LSU football has a void at the position because BJ Ojulari is NFL bound.

Perkins becomes nearly unavoidable for offenses if lining up at JACK linebacker. The position predominantly involves rushing the passer and some dropping into coverage. Perkins certainly has the athleticism to cover tight ends and running backs coming out of the backfield.

Either way, the best perk to Perkins at JACK linebacker is he’ll be all over the field for LSU.

No. 2 – The 2023 LSU football schedule

The LSU football schedule is rarely easy, and we like how it sets up for Brian Kelly’s team in 2023. We like the setup because of 2022’s results.

We expect LSU to take the field with a swagger composed of confidence and vengeance. For example, Week 1 allows LSU to avenge 2022’s opening kickoff loss. Their opponent is again Florida State, but the game will take place in Orlando this time. But, of course, the last time the Tigers were in Orlando, they pummeled their opponent by a score of 63-7.

LSU football will see KJ Jefferson for the last time on September 23 in Baton Rouge. The Tigers are on the road at Mississippi State and Ole Miss, but neither opponent is expected to threaten LSU. Moreover, we don’t expect Auburn to challenge LSU much in 2023, either. Auburn is in their first year with a new coaching staff, and the Tigers will have home field advantage.

The Bayou Bengals will also play games against Florida and Texas A&M in Death Valley. Fans should expect a pair of tightly-contested games, of which LSU has the edge because of the location.

The most challenging games on LSU football’s 2023 schedule are Army and Alabama. Of course, LSU will welcome Army to Baton Rouge, but the Black Knights’ style of football tends to give opponents fits. As for the 2023 game against Alabama, it is never easy when played in Tuscaloosa.

However, we’d argue LSU has the clear edge against the Crimson Tide, who have new coordinators and questions at quarterback.

No. 1 – Brian Kelly is the LSU football coach

LSU football fans must buy into the 2023 hype because Brian Kelly is running the show.

Brian Kelly is a college football blue-blood that wins everywhere he goes. Kelly can recruit, develop, and coach players. LSU football fans realize such is true despite the head coach’s short tenure in Baton Rouge.

the same people that once proclaimed Kelly would never leave Notre Dame

Many Notre Dame fans dared to celebrate Kelly’s decision to depart South Bend. We heard claims that Kelly couldn’t recruit on top of the complaints that he hasn’t won any College Football Playoff games. But, of course, such noise resulted from Irish fans masking their shock and awe with misguided bullheadedness. These are the same people that once proclaimed Kelly would never leave Notre Dame.

As it turns out, Brian Kelly can recruit. The head coach mustered the 12th-ranked recruiting class of 2022 in a short window. Such included gaining the commitment of 5-star recruit and budding superstar Harold Perkins. Moreover, Kelly followed up by recruiting the 5th-ranked class of 2023. Such consists of three players ranked inside ESPN’s top 100 college football recruits.

Brian Kelly’s inability to win a College Football Playoff game is worth mentioning. However, we argue his capacity to bring Notre Dame to a pair of playoff appearances is impressive. The same goes for leading the Irish to the 2013 BCS National Championship Game.

Kelly took Notre Dame to great heights despite the high-academic standards levied by the prestigious and private Catholic university. Then, of course, there’s also the issue of Notre Dame’s unwillingness to invest in football facilities. Regardless, the Irish’s loss remains LSU’s gain.

Now, LSU football enables Brian Kelly’s football acumen with resources previously unheard of in his career. As a result, he’s already led the Tigers to an SEC West title in his first year in Death Valley. In year two, we think greater results are on the way.