Bayou Boys: The Pratt & Daniels Takeover

Jason Watson Jr • September 22, 2023

Jayden Daniels

        Quarterback Jayden Daniels was a highly touted four-star player when he came out of high school after graduating early from high school in late 2018. Although the California native received several offers from big-time schools like the University of California (CAL), Utah, and UCLA, Daniels opted to travel eastward and continue his career on the gridiron at Arizona State University as a Sun Devil.

        Daniels joined recently hired coach Herman “Herm” Edwards at ASU. Daniels was selected to lead the offense over fellow recruit Joey Yellen. He would become the first true freshman starting QB in program history and shine in his freshman season. Jayden was named a freshman All-American by ESPN and led Arizona State to an 8-5 record that included a Sun Bowl win versus the FSU Seminoles and an MVP-winning performance in the season finale.

        After spending three years with the Sun Devils, Daniels decided it was time to move on and find a better opportunity for himself. After Jayden announced that he would enter the transfer portal in 2022, it became clear he’d be a sought-after target. Daniels’ transfer came amidst investigations and coaching losses within ASU, but the star QB has not shied away from bringing his talents to higher competition.

        LSU and Daniels developed a chemistry that allowed the dual-threat player to commit to playing under coach Brian Kelly and moving to the boot where he was named the starter last year as part of a talented quarterback room. Daniels spoke on his transfer process last year and said, “Just the opportunity to come here, an opportunity that presented itself to come in and compete at the highest level against the best conference in college football, the SEC West. So to be able to go here, be around the talent that matches where I’m trying to go, I’m trying to be. So that’s the reason why I chose to come here.”

        In the Tigers’ first season with Kelly and Daniels at head, they notched numerous achievements for the program by earning just their second win versus Alabama since 2011 and their first since the 2019 National Championship squad. LSU secured the SEC West title and picked up their tenth win of the season in 2022 with a 63-7 blowout bowl game victory against Purdue.

        Fast forward one year; LSU is in the thick of the SEC race again three weeks into the 2023 campaign. Daniels is a competitor on the football field, and it shows as he finds himself a Heisman Award contender. The West Coast dynamic playmaker has found his untapped potential in the SEC and is making himself a true Bayou Boy of the South.

- Jason Watson Jr. @JWatsonJr__

Michael Pratt

        Quarterback Michael Pratt has bayou roots, and while he doesn't display it often he definitely has that "Florida Swag" in his attitude on the field. Growing up in Boca Raton, FL and attending Boca Raton High School until winding up at Deerfield Beach High School his senior year graduating as a three-star recruit. Pratt had offers from schools like Western Michigan, Toledo, Yale, and Harvard but opted to keep his talents in the south and committed to Tulane, even beating out his presumed favorite Florida Atlantic. Pratt wound up at Tulane as he felt the school offered the best of both worlds for academics and football.

        Just 3 games into his freshman season Pratt became the starter for the Green Wave and finished off the year going 5-4 and eventually losing against Nevada in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. His second year left a lot to be desired finishing at an abysmal 2-10 but still posting 21 touchdowns and only 8 interceptions with the only knock being his completion percentage sitting close to dipping to 55% for the 2021 season. Pratt turned something on going into the 2022 season, and whatever it was, it worked. 

        Pratt threw for 27 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions, adding in another 478 rushing yards and notching 10 scores on the ground. While a long-shot, he even heard whispers of the Heisman, but he would have to double those numbers coming from a 2-10 year to get serious consideration there. Yet still, it had to make Pratt realize he could be whatever kind of quarterback he wanted to be, but knew the one he needed to be. The one thing you want to see in a QB with professional aspirations is progression, and looking at his stats it is no secret he has done that every year at Tulane. In 2022 Pratt became the best "NFL" version of himself he could be bringing Tulane to the Cotton Bowl and eventually beating USC in a thriller of a game.

        Pratt only has one game under his belt prior to his injury, but in that one game he impressed and turned around and doubters of yet another year of success and progress. Pratt posted a 93% completion rate for nearly 300 yards and 4 touchdowns with zero interceptions and only one incompletion. Since then, Pratt has had to watch from the sidelines while he recovered from a knee injury. Pratt has earned the patience of Tulane fans to come back stronger, turning down multiple NIL deals to leave the program but he chose to stay.

        Now we sit here and wait, wait until Pratt returns against another Louisiana school in Nicholls. The Wave's defense held down the team and K12 did enough to hand the team back to Pratt still getting Top 25 votes, and sitting at 2-1. The injury may have been a set back, but Tulane still has the chance to show the world they are truly a football school that can produce an NFL ready quarterback in Pratt.

-Ethen Meyers @BeInTheKneaux

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Why Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton RoyalWhy Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton Royal

By Auston Taylor • July 8, 2026
 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.

Tight End Room Outlook: Revamped and Ready To Roll

By Kaden Arkeder • July 4, 2026
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.
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