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LSU Football: Top 5 concerns heading into the 2023 season

By Charlie Hubbard

Dec 3, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; LSU Tigers place kicker Damian Ramos (34) attempts a field goal against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; LSU Tigers place kicker Damian Ramos (34) attempts a field goal against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 05: Jahmyr Gibbs #1 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled by Greg Brooks Jr. #3 and Jay Ward #5 of the LSU Tigers during the first half at Tiger Stadium on November 05, 2022 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 05: Jahmyr Gibbs #1 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled by Greg Brooks Jr. #3 and Jay Ward #5 of the LSU Tigers during the first half at Tiger Stadium on November 05, 2022 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

No. 4 – The LSU Football secondary

When Brian Kelly came to LSU last season, one of his main goals was to rebuild the secondary. LSU Football went from DBU to a very weak defensive backs room in just a couple of years.

Kelly brought in multiple transfer players to help those who stayed with the program. As a result, the Tigers quietly fielded one of the better secondaries in the SEC. The 2022 Tigers ranked 42nd in passing yards allowed per game with 217.2 YPG. The only SEC schools better against the pass last season were Alabama, Kentucky, and Texas A&M.

Unfortunately for fans, most of the 2022 LSU Football secondary did not return for 2023.

Major Burns, Sage Ryan, and Greg Brooks Jr. are all that remains from a year ago. Thus, Kelly dove back into the transfer portal to plus-up the backend of his defense.

LSU brought in some of the portal’s top defensive backs including Denver Harris, Deuce Chesnut, JK Johnson, and Zy Alexander. They also recruited some of the nation’s top high school DB prospects including Javion Toviano and Kylin Jackson.

However, Harris is reportedly away from the team for now and is dealing with a personal matter. Harris was booted from Texas A&M last season due to discipline issues and the feeling in Baton Rouge is that the talented sophomore is down to his final strike with Kelly.

Moreover, Johnson is injured and in a walking boot; thus, it seems unlikely the transfer cornerback is available to play against Florida State in Week 1.

Ultimately, I’m worried about the LSU Football secondary because it’s difficult  for a group of new players to learn a complex scheme in one offseason and immediately take the field against some of college football’s best offenses.

The new personnel turned around quickly for the Tigers last season, but the exception is not the rule.

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