Brian Kelly's confident comments on LSU Tigers depth suggests strengths outweigh weaknesses heading into 2024 season

LSU may have lost a significant amount of talent last year, but according to the staff and some objective measures of composite talent they still have monstrous depth in several key spots. Over 70% of the Tigers' roster are four and five star talents with a great balance of experience and rising youth who look ready to take the next leap this season.

While the Tigers might not have a Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers, or Brian Thomas Jr. on the team Brian Kelly is obviously very happy with his team's talent and depth based on his confident comments on Friday. "I think the sum of the team will be greater than any of its parts," Kelly said following practice this week. "We're going to play five or six defensive tackles, five defensive ends, and four or five linebackers." That kind of depth sounds promising, but what position groups are really a strength for the Tigers? And what position groups might cost them?

LSU Tigers Strengths

Offensive Line

It's no secret. LSU might have the best pair of offensive tackles in the nation between Will Campbell and Emery Jones. Both could possibly be first round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. They return two strong starting guards as well in Dellinger and Frazier. The only wild card on LSU's stacked potential #1 offensive line in the nation is at center, where DJ Chester has been reportedly stepping up all off-season long as a redshirt freshman. If he is a "hit" for them, the Tigers likely have a top five offensive line in the game at worst .

Linebackers

Hopefully Blake Baker gets the team's act together on defense this year and doesn't pigeon hole Harold Perkins into the same role all game long like the team tried to do on several occasions a year ago. Greg Penn III is a great linebacker himself, but Harold Perkins should be a top five defender in the game, if not the best given his ability and history of making absolutely wild plays. If LSU let's him play free the linebacker position is going to be incredible.

Wide Receivers

Losing Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. hurts, but Kyren Lacy has been stepping up all spring and summer to be the go-to option for Garrett Nussmeier this fall. CJ Daniels is fresh off 1000+ yards for Liberty last season. Chris Hilton Jr. is finally ready for his near every down role. And the the depth behind those three in Aaron Anderson, Zavion Thomas, and Kyle Parker looks phenomenal as well. Surprise, surprise. LSU has a stacked receiver room again.

Quarterbacks

It's finally time for Garrett Nussmeier to show the world what he's made of and he's more than ready. Nussmeier was amazing in his limited action last season and the bowl game against Wisconsin where he slung the rock for nearly 400 yards and three touchdowns. His 2023 highlights look like a potential early NFL Draft pick.

If he takes any step forward this fall as he takes advantage of his first career full-time starting season LSU might have a top tier SEC QB in Nussmeier. He's already averaging 9.9 yards per pass attempt in the last three games where he threw at least 15 pass attempts. With a full off-season to take first team reps expectations are sky high for Nussmeier.

Related: Will Garrett Nussmeier carry the LSU Tigers offense to the playoffs, and is there a solid backup behind him?

Tight Ends

Not many teams return a starting tight end with over 1500 snaps of experience just heading into his true junior season. Mason Taylor is a spectacular talent who's already logged over 800 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns through two years. There's a great chance he breaks out even further this fall as the team's de facto WR2 tallying over 700 receiving yards on the 2024 season.

And beyond Taylor, the team has a couple extremely talented high pedigree athletes in true freshman Trey'Dez Green and Ka'Morreun Pimtpon. The team should feel more than comfortable going with multiple tight ends if needed.

Weaknesses

Defensive Line

Brian Kelly may feel fine rotating six defensive lineman but that doesn't speak well to his confidence in any one of them to make a huge impact on every play. Jacobian Guillory just renewed his NIL deal and is likely expected to be the best player there, but there's not a ton of proven production.

Transfers Gio Paez and Shone Washington will likely see some action to pair with returning defensive tackles Jalen Lee and Kimo Makane'ole, but none have significant history of being high level disruptors. Hopefully the young five star true freshman Dominick McKinley emerges as a difference maker by midseason.

Edge Defenders

The edge defender group might be the most concerning on the roster. Only one returning edge with more than 50 snaps a year ago logged even a 10% pass rush pressure rate, so the team seriously might just not be able to create uncomfortable situations for opposing quarterbacks at all on the outside. Bradyn Swinson likely generates the most pressures. Da'Shawn Womack flashed potential and could emerge as a decent second option if defensive coordinator Blake Baker doesn't overcommit to Sai'vion Jones or Paris Shand. Someone has to step up and have a career year here or there's potentially real trouble.

Defensive Backs

This isn't surefire negative position, despite the pass defense that ranked outside the Top 100 a year ago. Ashton Stamps has been stepping up looking like CB1 for the Tigers defending passes and making some interceptions in practice. Sage Ryan has shown flexibility to play any defensive back position this season. Major Burns looks like a strong "star" position player in the new defensive scheme.

The issue might lie with true "safety" designation players like Jordan Allen and Jardin Gilbert. That spot has looked questionable all off-season long. They can't give up big plays if LSU wants to win the big ones.

Running Backs

The running back position might actually end up being a strength if Kaleb Jackson emerges alongside (or beyond) Josh Williams for the Tigers this year. Williams has been a steady contributor for a good long while now, but Jackson is a physical feature back that packs a punch with every carry. He could own the majority of the touches early in the season.

And beyond those two, John Emery Jr. is still technically there, but he's been a complete let down for his entire career. The one wildcard that might get the backfield a pop it severely needs is Caden Durham, true freshman four star. He and his track relay teams set national U.S. high school records thanks to his incredible speed. The running backs didn't have to do much last year with Jayden Daniels, so it makes this position rather difficult to predict.

The Tigers might have a few obvious glaring weaknesses on defense, but their offense looks like it might be ready to carry the team to the 12-Team College Football Playoff.

Be looking for more LSU Tigers coverage here at A to Z Sports all year long! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!