The LSU Football team enters the 2025 season with College Football Playoff expectations as the Tigers have a loaded roster. The majority of the buzz comes from the fact that the Tigers added one of the Nation's top transfer classes while signing another Top 10 recruiting class. Flying under the radar is the level of talent that the LSU Tigers return which will help gel this team together.
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier will garner most of the attention and rightfully so as the Tigers starter has a chance to compete for the Heisman Trophy and to be the 1st Overall pick. Aside from Nussmeier, the Tigers return key pieces on both sides of the football with the chance to take the next step which would take this team to the next level.
Heading into the Summer, this is how we rank the LSU Football team's 5 best returning starters:
5. Harold Perkins Jr - Linebacker
The 2024 season didn't pan out like LSU fans and Harold Perkins Jr would've hoped especially as the Tigers lost Perkins Jr to a torn ACL before SEC play. The biggest question with Harold Perkins will be how he looks recovering from the torn ACL but, coming into the season he's one of the Tigers best returning players.
Where Perkins will play is a mystery as he was set to play the STAR position but, the Tigers have a great nickel in Tamarcus Cooley which could lead to Perkins taking more snaps as a pass rusher or at linebacker. If Blake Baker is able to tap into the talent Perkins has shown at times, he can be a Chess Piece for the Tigers.
4. Aaron Anderson - Wide Receiver
All of the transfer additions LSU has made at the wide receiver position has overshadowed the fact that LSU returns one of its breakout stars in Aaron Anderson. After making his way into the lineup when Kyle Parker was hurt on the opening drive of the season, Anderson broke out for the Tigers, becoming one of Garrett Nussmeier's go-to targets.
Anderson finished the season with 61 catches for 884 yards and 5 touchdowns, leading the Tigers in receptions and yards. Heading into the 2025 season, Anderson is one of the best slot receivers in the Country and can be one of the most productive receivers in the Country as LSU's talent on the outside will garner a ton of attention.
3. Caden Durham - Running Back
Despite being a summer enrollee and the 4th running back on the depth chart to start the season, Caden Durham broke out for the Tigers quickly becoming one of the best freshmen in the Country. As LSU struggled to run the football, Caden Durham came in against South Carolina and changed the game with his ability after contact.
On the season, Durham rushed for 753 yards on 140 carries with 6 touchdowns while adding 260 yards and 2 touchdowns as a receiver. Most of the season, Durham played with a metal plate in his shoe while being buried on the depth chart for the start of the season. Alex Atkins coming in to help LSU in the rushing attack will only allow Durham to find more open holes which will allow him to showcase his big play ability.
2. Whit Weeks - Linebacker
While Whit Weeks constantly showed promise, when Harold Perkins Jr was lost for the season, Weeks was thrust into a full time role and emerged as one of the best linebackers in the Country. In 2024, Weeks racked up 120 tackles with 3.5 sacks, an interception, 2 forced fumbles, and 4 pass deflections.
As LSU's defense looks to finally return to the standard at LSU, Whit Weeks is the focal point of the defense. Playing alongside a faster linebacker in Dahvon Keys or Harold Perkins Jr will help Weeks excel while allowing the others to make more plays in space as Weeks controls the middle.
1. Garrett Nussmeier - Quarterback
At quarterback, LSU returns not only one of the best quarterbacks in the Country but, one of the best players in the Country. After showing a ton of promise in his first season as the starter, LSU was able to get Garrett Nussmeier back for one season, and it makes the Tigers a College Football Playoff contender.
In 2024, Nussmeier passed for 4,052 yards with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, rushing for another 3 touchdowns. The keys to Nussmeier taking the next step are cutting down on interceptions while also learning to use his legs, as he'll be behind an offensive line that lost 4 of 5 starters to the NFL Draft. The reason to be optimistic is the fact that LSU's last two quarterbacks to return for a second season won the Heisman Trophy while Joe Burrow led his team to a National Championship.