2025 LSU Football Preview
Erik Trosclair • August 28, 2025
Let's get into it!
The 2025 LSU football season is here! Here we go Tiger fans!!! This may be the biggest season of Brian Kelly's tenure at LSU. The Tigers are ranked 9th in both the AP and coaches polls.
Number 7
For the second consecutive season, Harold Perkins, Jr., has been awarded the number 7 jersey. The number 7 jersey is awarded to an electric playmaker who is also a leader.
Number 18
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has been awarded the honor of wearing the number 18 jersey. The number 18 jersey is awarded to a true leader on and off the football field. This is a perfect choice for this number.
Preseason Award Watch Lists
Maxwell Award - Garrett Nussmeier, Caden Durham
Bronko Nagurski - Whit Weeks
Butkus - Harold Perkins Jr., Whit Weeks
Wuerffel - Harold Perkins Jr.
Paul Hornung - Zavion Thomas
Lou Groza - Damien Ramos'
Walter Camp - Garrett Nussmeier
Biletnikoff - Aaron Anderson
Davey O'Brien - Garrett Nussmeier
AP Preseason All American - Garrett Nussmeier, Whit Weeks, Harold Perkins Jr.
Preseason Coaches All SEC - Garrett Nussmeier, Whit Weeks, Barion Brown, Caden Durham, Aaron Anderson, Harold Perkins Jr., and Zavion Thomas (WR and Return Specialist)
Offense
Quarterbacks
#18 Garrett Nussmeier - You cannot say enough good things about this guy. In a world full of transfers, Garrett stayed at LSU to wait his turn. Garrett has high expectations for the season that lies ahead. According to DraftKings, Nuss has the 2nd best odds to win the Heisman.
#11 Michael Van Buren Jr - The Mississippi State transfer comes into the season with valuable starting experience. The dual threat quarterback brings a lot to the table.
#16 Colin Hurley - Entering his redshirt sophomore season, Hurley has had an impressive camp.
Running Backs
#29 Caden Durham - Coming off of a Freshman All SEC season, Durham is looking to have a big season. Look for Caden to touch the ball early and often.
#28 Kaleb Jackson - The junior has played in all 26 games of his LSU career. He brings value to this offense and special teams.
#8 Ju'Juan Johnson - Possibly one of the most versatile Tigers on this roster. Johnson has spent time in many position rooms. Look for Ju'Juan to get plenty of touches this season.
#22 Harlem Berry, #23 JT Lindsey - These two true freshmen will add valuable depth to the backfield.
Tight Ends
#14 Trey'Dez Green - At 6'7" and 240 pounds, Trey'Dez will be a red zone threat. The two sport athlete will have a big part in this offense.
#10 Bauer Sharp - The versatile tight end brings a lot of experience to this tight end group. Bauer has played in 37 games at tight end and quarterback in his college career.
#88 Donovan Green, #47 JD Lafleur, and #45 GiVanni Peterson - All three will provide valuable depth.
Offensive Line
#71 Tyree Adams - Probable starter at left tackle
#65 Paul Mubenga - Probable starter at left guard
#61 Braelin Moore - Probable starter at center
#56 Josh Thompson - Probable starter at right guard
#75 Weston Davis - Probable starter at right tackle
#79 DJ Chester, #78 Coen Echols, #57 Carius Curne - Look for these three to get a lot of playing time.
Wide Receivers
#3 Chris Hilton Jr. - Look for Chris to be involved in a big way this season. This can be a huge season for Hilton Jr.
#1 Aaron Anderson - Aaron was the most consistent receiver for the Tigers last season. Look for Aaron to continue to step up in big moments.
#0 Zavion Thomas - Thomas is a threat anytime he touches the football.
#6 Barion Brown - The 3 time All SEC wide receiver is the most experienced in this group. Brown is a big play threat.
#4 Nic Anderson - Anderson had a huge freshman season at Oklahoma. Nic looks to build off of that season after missing last season.
This is an extremely deep wide receiver room.
Defense
Defensive Tackle
#96 Dominick McKinley - At 6'6, and 308 pounds, Dominick McKinley looks to make a statement for the Tigers this season.
#88 Bernard Gooden - The 5th year senior will bring a ton of experience to the defensive tackle position for the Tigers.
#16 Ahmad Breaux - The true sophomore will look to build off of a strong freshman season.
#90 Jacobian Guillory II - The 6th year graduate student is a true leader on this team. He brings a lot of talent and experience to this group.
Defensive End/JACK -
#44 Jack Pyburn - The Florida transfer has 80 total tackles in his career. Jack has hit the ground running in Baton Rouge. Get familiar with this name Tiger fans!
#19 Gabriel Reiford - Reiford had a strong freshman season. He will be making a statement this season for the Tigers.
#6 Patrick Payton - Payton played in 40 games in 4 seasons at Florida State. Payton has 16 sacks to his name.
#12 Jimari Butler - The graduate transfer from Nebraska has played in 36 games with 7.5 sacks.
Linebackers
#33 West Weeks - The graduate student looks to continue building on his strong career at LSU.
#40 Whit Weeks - The true junior, with 174 career total tackles, is looking to have a huge season for the Tigers.
#42 Davhon Keys - Keys burst onto the scene last season for the Tigers. The sophomore flies to the football.
#46 Tylen Singleton - Tylen had a big offseason. Tiger fans will be hearing this name often.
STAR Position - The STAR position is a safety/linebacker hybrid in Blake Baker's defense.
#7 Harold Perkins Jr. - It goes without saying, Harold Perkins Jr. is a massive part of the success of the Tiger defense.
Cornerback
#4 Mansoor Delane - The Houston transfer has 146 total tackles and 6 interceptions in his career. Look for Mansoor to have a big season.
#1 Ashton Stamps - One of my favorite Tigers. Ashton is an extremely hard worker and plays with passion. Look for Ashton to continue his strong LSU career.
#11 PJ Woodland - PJ stepped up early in his Tiger career. The true sophomore brings experience and production to this defense.
#3 DJ Pickett - At 6'5" and 195 pounds, look for DJ to make a quick impact this season. Pickett had a great offseason.
Safety
#13 AJ Haulcy - The Houston transfer has 259 total tackles, 7 interceptions, 15 pass breakups, and 22 passes defended in his career. This guy has a nose for the football.
#10 Dashawn Spears - Dashawn had an extremely productive freshman season. Look for Dashawn to have a strong presence in the defensive backfield.
#0 Tamarcus "Agent Zero" Cooley - Tamarcus had a strong season at NC State last season with 39 total tackles and 3 interceptions. Tamarcus will look to keep the momentum going.
#25 Javien Toviano - Toviano has played in 26 games in 2 seasons with LSU. Javien can provide valuable depth all over the defensive backfield.
Special Teams
Kickoff Specialist
#32 Aeron Burrell - Burrell has a cannon for a leg. He finished in the top 3 in the nation in kickoff average. Aeron will look to build off of his All SEC 2024 campaign.
Kicker
#34 Damian Ramos - The fifth year senior will look to build on his strong LSU career.
Punter
#90 Grant Chadwick - The All Conference USA punter brings his talents to Baton Rouge. Tiger fans should feel great with Grant taking over the punting duties.
Long/Deep Snapper
#49 Jonathan Ferguson - Ferguson is likely to take over as the long snapper for the Tigers.
Return Specialist
#0 Zavion Thomas - A big play waiting to happen.
#6 Barion Brown - Brown can take one to the house at any point in the game.
These two returners are EXPLOSIVE!
GEAUX TIGERS!
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LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.

The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.

