Final LSU football depth chart projections following preseason practice
BATON ROUGE – LSU football wrapped up its 20th preseason practice Saturday, holding a "dress rehearsal" of sorts inside Tiger Stadium.
While the Tigers began game preparation for their 2024 season opener against USC this past week, when the calendar flips to Monday, they will have officially reached game week. No. 12 LSU kicks off the season in Las Vegas against the No. 23-ranked Trojans next Sunday (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC).
LSU has navigated three weeks of fall camp and during that stretch, its' two-deep has begun to take shape.
Based of what we've seen through camps thus far, here is The Daily Advertiser's final depth chart projections as game week for LSU arrives Monday.
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LSU football depth chart projections
Quarterback
Starter: Garrett Nussmeier, Jr.
Backup: Rickie Collins, Soph. OR A.J. Swann, Jr.
Which player would back up Nussmeier was the major storyline at QB heading into fall camp. Collins and Swann are still locked in a competition.
Running back
Starter: Josh Williams, Sr.
Backups: Kaleb Jackson, Soph.; John Emery, Sr.; Caden Durham, Fr.
All four tailbacks will play for the Tigers this season. Williams, who was award the No. 18 jersey for the season, will get the nod out of the group.
Wide receiver
Starters: Kyren Lacy, Sr.; Chris Hilton, Jr.; C.J. Daniels, Sr.
Backups: Aaron Anderson, Soph.; Kyle Parker, Fr.; Zavion Thomas, Sr.
The trio of Hilton, Daniels and Lacy have had a hold on the first rotation at receiver all camp long.
Tight end
Starter: Mason Taylor, Jr.
Backups: Ka'Morreun Pimpton, Soph.; Trey'Dez Green, Fr.
LSU's tight end room is one of the deepest on the team. Taylor leads the way but expect to see plenty of Pimpton and Green in 2024.
Offensive line
Starters: Will Campbell, Jr.; Garrett Dellinger, Sr.; D.J. Chester, Fr.; Miles Frazier, Sr.; Emery Jones Jr., Jr.
Backups: Tyree Adams, Fr.; Paul Mubenga, Fr.; Coen Echols, Fr.; Bo Bordelon, Soph.; Weston Davis, Fr.
Center was the only position that had a question mark coming into preseason practice but Chester punctuated any doubt early.
Place Kicker
Starter: Damian Ramos, Jr.
Backup: Aidan Corbello, Fr.
Ramos made 12-of-15 field goals and all 77 of his PAT attempts last season.
Defensive line
Starters: Sai'vion Jones, Sr.; Jacobian Guillory, Sr.; Gio Paez, Sr.; Bradyn Swinson, Sr.
Backups: Paris Shand, Sr.; Ahmad Breaux, Fr.; Jay'viar Suggs, Jr.; Da'Shawn Womack, Soph.
Starting defensive line should feature all seniors but the collective experience isn't there. Guillory is the lone returning starter at LSU.
Linebackers
Starters: Greg Penn III, Sr.; Harold Perkins Jr., Jr.
Backups: Whit Weeks, Soph.; West Weeks, Sr.
Tons of productions and stats back for LSU at the linebacker position with Penn and Perkins, who'll have a new role in new defensive coordinator Blake Baker's scheme.
Cornerbacks
Starters: Sage Ryan, Jr.; Ashton Stamps, Soph.
Backups: P.J. Woodland, Fr.; J.K. Johnson, Jr.
Pound-for-pound, no player for the Tigers arguably has had a better fall camp than Ashton Stamps. Ryan has switched positions from safety to corner this preseason.
Safeties
Starters: Major Burns, Sr.; Jordan Allen, Soph.; Jardin Gilbert, Jr.
Backups: Javien Toviano, Soph.; Kylin Jackson, Fr.; Dashawn Spears, Fr.
The safety positions haven't varied during fall camp as Burns, Allen and Gilbert have all performed solidly in practice.
Punter
Starter: Blake Ochsendorf, Sr.
Backup: Peyton Todd, Jr.
Expect both punters to punt for LSU this season. Both have had inconsistent preseasons but it seems Louisiana Tech graduate transfer Ochsendorf has edged Todd to get the nod.
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Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Projecting LSU football's depth chart for opener against USC
