The LSU Tigers started the 2015 season hot, but a loss to Alabama caused the wheels to come off and ruin their College Football Playoff hopes. LSU finished the year 9-3, including an impressive 56-27 bowl win over Texas Tech. Even though head coach Les Miles nearly lost his job during the Tigers' three-game losing streak, he's back with expectations of competing for an SEC title.
Spring practice will be extremely vital to LSU's success next year as they try to replace several key starters on both sides of the ball. Here's an overview of everything that has happened and is happening around the Tigers this spring:
Top Position Battle
Linebacker
LSU usually has a very dominant front seven, but they come into this season with a big question mark at the linebacker position. Senior Kendall Beckwith is the only player locked into a starting position in their 3-4 defense. Prized freshmen Devin White and Michael Divinity enrolled early and have already been practicing with the team, and it looks like they'll see a good deal of playing time right away. However, they're competing with a group of five other players for three spots.
3 Players That Need To Step Up
QB Brandon Harris
Harris has been limiting LSU's offense for each of the past two years, completing just over 53 percent of his passes for just 2,165 yards with 13 touchdowns. He completed less than 10 passes in five games last year, which completely eliminated any threat of a passing attack from the Tigers. He needs to improve if this LSU team is going to reach their full potential.
TE Colin Jeter
A big part of Harris' development will be on him getting a reliable target over the middle of the field, and Jeter has to be that guy. Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre are gamebreakers on the outside, but Jeter caught just 12 passes for 132 yards last year. He has to at least double or triplee that production this year for LSU's passing game to really take the next step. They can't afford to get nothing from the tight end position again in 2016.
LB M.J. Patterson
Patterson only found his way onto the field for one game last season, and now that he's entering his redshirt junior year, the time is now for him to make an impact. The athletic 6'3", 223-pounder is making the switch from defensive end to inside linebacker, hoping to provide the Tigers with much needed depth at the position. If he doesn't step up, LSU will have a lot of trouble in the middle of their defense.
3 Newcomers To Watch
WR Stephen Sullivan
Sullivan is a four-star recruit and the No. 122 overall recruit. He enrolled early, which will give him a chance to find his way onto the two deep. At 6-foot-5, 230-pounds, he can be a red zone threat early. Sullivan could take over as the No. 3 WR for the Tigers quickly, giving them the red zone threat the team didn't really have in the passing game last season.
DT Rashard Lawrence
Lawrence is a five-star recruit and the No. 23 overall player. While LSU is deep at defensive tackle, he should be able to carve out a niche at least as a rotational player right away. He has great size and will eventually work his way up the depth chart to become a real impact player.
OLB Michael Divinity
Divinity didn't quite get the hype that Lawrence or Fulton did, but he might find the field first. A four-star recruit and the No. 63 overall player, Divinity has a chance to earn a starting job right away. LSU is losing both OLBs and are thin at the position. Divinity is athletic and enrolled early to help him learn the new Dave Aranda defense.
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