2018 LSU football preview

The LSU offense is going to be filled with new faces this year as the Tigers return just five starters, among them three offensive linemen.

After having four years of heavily relying on Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice in the backfield, the returning leading rusher is Nick Brosette, who had just 19 carries for 96 yards last season.

The leading returning receiver, tight end Foster Moreau, believes that the offense will flourish under new coordinator Steve Ensminger.

“It’s going to be an exciting offense,” Moreau said this summer at SEC Media Days, “We are able to do a bunch of different things (in the spring) under Coach Ensminger, but the thing I like most about him is he is one of the best in-game play-callers I’ve ever been around. He calls it how he sees it, and he always has done a great job.”

LSU landed Ohio State transfer quarterback Joe Burrow, who created some buzz around the position. Myles Brennan is the leading returning passer with just 24 attempts last season. Earlier in the summer, second-year coach Ed Orgeron said he wants the position settled by the time LSU opens against Miami.

“Now there could be a possibility, we don’t want to do this, where we would play two quarterbacks if it’s not settled or if it’s even close. We don’t see that happening, but if we have to do it, we could,” the coach said.

2018 schedule
Sept. 2 – vs. Miami
Sept. 8 – Southeastern Louisiana
Sept. 15 – at Auburn
Sept. 22 – Louisiana Tech
Sept. 29 – Ole Miss
Oct. 6 – at Florida
Oct. 13 – Georgia
Oct. 20 – Mississippi State
Nov. 3 – Alabama
Nov. 10 – at Arkansas
Nov. 17 – Rice
Nov. 24 – at Texas A&M

2017 record: 9-4(6-2 conf./3rd in SEC West
All-Time SEC championships: 11
All-time bowl appearances: 49 (25-23-1)

2017 results
Sept. 2 – vs. BYU – W 27-0
Sept. 9 – Chattanooga – W 45-10
Sept. 16 – at Mississippi State – L 37-7
Sept. 23 – Syracuse W – 35-26
Sept. 30 – Troy – L 24-21
Oct. 7 – at Florida – W 17-16
Oct. 14 – Auburn – W 27-23
Oct. 21 – at Ole Miss – W 40-24
Nov. 4 – at Alabama – L 24-10
Nov. 11 – Arkansas – W 33-10
Nov. 18 – at Tennessee – W 30-10
Nov. 25 – Texas A&M – W 45-21
Jan. 1 – vs. Notre Dame – L 21-17*
*Citrus Bowl

Returning statistical leaders

Rushing – Att – Yards – Avg – TD
Nick Brossette – 19 – 96 – 5.1 – 0
Passing – Comp-Att – Int – TD – Yards
Myles Brennan – 14-24 – 2 – 1 – 182
Receiving – Rec – Yards – Avg – TD
Foster Moreau – 24 – 278 – 11.6 – 3
Tackles – Total – Int – Sacks – TFL
Devin White – 133 – 1 – 4.5 – 14

Starters returning: 12
Offense: 5
Defense: 5
Specialty: 2

Starters lost: 13
Offense: 7
Defense: 5
Specialty: 1

Returning offensive starters: Stephen Sullivan (WR, Jr.), Ed Ingram (OG, So.), Saahdiq Charles (OT, So.), Garrett Brumfield (OG, Sr.), Foster Moreau (TE, Sr.),
Returning defensive starters:  Grant Delpit (S, So.), John Battle (S, Sr.), Greedy Williams (CB, So.), Devin White (LB, Jr.), Rashard Lawrence (DE, Jr.)