HOOVER, Ala. – For a football team that lost nine players to the 2014 NFL Draft, LSU seems to be doing just fine.
The Tigers are accustomed to that kind of turnover – nine players were selected in the last year’s draft, and 11 were taken between the two drafts before that. But LSU coach Les Miles’ expert recruiting reloads the roster with high-level talent every year, and the Tigers’ production reflects that.
“There’s a responsibility that the coaching staff has to see a void that will potentially occur, and we have to recruit to that void,” Miles said Wednesday at the 2014 Southeastern Conference Media Days in Hoover, Ala. “We have to make sure that our style of recruiting is the style of recruiting that we get an athlete that has a want to be something special. Then that guy steps in and plays as a true freshman.”
Though Miles acknowledged that relying on freshmen isn’t an ideal situation, it’s a tactic he and LSU will have to embrace this season.

The most notable freshman expected to play significant minutes is running back Leonard Fournette, the former No. 1 overall recruit in the 2014 class. Miles and the three players present at Media Days heaped praise on Fournette, comparing him to NBA legend Michael Jordan and NFL All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson.
“When he comes in, he’s humble,” senior running back Terrence Magee. “He’s worked his behind off since the day he’s been there. He’s patient, and he’s willing to learn from everybody…I just can’t wait to see him put a set of pads on and go against the defense.”
Despite the high praise for the freshman, the preseason depth chart in the LSU media guide listed Fournette as the No. 3 running back behind senior Kenny Hilliard and Magee.
However, the most tightly contested position battle is between quarterbacks Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris.
Jennings, a sophomore who led the Tigers to a comeback win against Arkansas and an Outback Bowl victory against Iowa, was listed as the starting signal-caller. But the freshman Harris outplayed Jennings in the spring game, sparking a quarterback controversy that has yet to be resolved.
“It will be a very competitive event from the start to the finish,” Miles said. “[Offensive coordinator] Cam Cameron, a guy who’s made a career mentoring quarterbacks, will do the exact right things with those guys.”
Whether it’s Jennings or Harris running the offense, the receivers will be as inexperienced as their quarterback. Miles praised sophomore Travin Dural, who is LSU’s leading returning receiver despite catching only seven passes in 2013, for his development during spring practice.
But Miles said there’s a “constant rumble” about the Tigers’ legion of talented freshman receivers, including top-ranked recruits Malachi Dupre and Trey Quinn.
While the Tigers will count on their youth at the skill positions, experience pervades the offensive line. LSU returns four starters with a combined 73 starts led by Second Team All-SEC left tackle La’el Collins.
“First of all, the game starts up front,” Collins said. “As a veteran offensive line group, we just have to set the tone on how we want the season to go.”

The Tigers’ defense could be poised to bounce back from an uncharacteristically mediocre season despite losing four starters.
Miles showed confidence in LSU’s potential pass rushers, calling upperclassmen Danielle Hunter and Jermauria Rasco “two of the finest defensive ends in the country.” He said sophomore Christian LaCouture and junior Quentin Thomas are the favorites to replace NFL draftees Anthony Johnson and Ego Ferguson at defensive tackle.
According to Miles, junior linebackers Kwon Alexander and Lamar Louis both ran sub-4.5 second 40-yard dashes. They are expected to flank senior middle linebacker D.J. Welter, who finished second on the team with 80 tackles last season.
“[Alexander] knows that in order to get to the next level he has to put in great work, and I think he’s done a great job of doing that this summer,” Welter said. “This year will be the year for him.”
Sophomore Rashard Robinson and Tre’Davious White will return to their starting spots at cornerback, and Miles gave the early nod to Corey Thompson and Ronald Martin at safety. Freshmen John Battle and Jamal Adams are projected to bolster a secondary that surrendered nearly 200 passing yards per game in 2013.
Miles did not mention junior safety Jalen Mills, who was absent from the depth chart after being indefinitely suspended from the team in June following his arrest on second degree battery charges.
Junior Jamie Keehn will return as punter and sophomore Colby Delahoussaye will resume his role as kicker, Miles said. The 10th-year coach named Magee kick-off returner.
LSU opens the season against Wisconsin on Aug. 30 in Houston, Texas. When the time comes, Miles is confident his young team will succeed like those that came before it.
“It’s an opportunity for us to raise our level of play and expect that those freshman are going to step up to the field,” Miles said. “Those underclassmen are now being counted on to show that they can play big roles for the Tigers, that they’re ready to do so in the first game.”