It was clear who the stars of the show were on Saturday in Starkville. Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers earned SEC Co-Players of the Week after their connections led them to a 41-14 win over the Bulldogs.
The Tigers, however, seemed to play a solid game on both sides of the ball. Because of the comfortable lead LSU had, many freshmen were able to get in the game. Not only true freshmen, but several newcomers overall, made an impact on Saturday.
MORE FOOTBALL: Breakdown: How Malik Nabers and LSU attacked Mississippi State’s defense
Here are three players who had performances that flew under the radar:
Kaleb Jackson
The whole country seemed to have heard that hit. Late in the third quarter, Jackson delivered a big hit against a Mississippi State defender to run for a first down on second-and-11. He finished the day with 19 yards on five carries.
While on paper the production doesn’t seem like much, Jackson getting reps in an SEC matchup speaks volumes. He most likely won’t be a main running option this season as a true freshman, but using him in an introductory role only shows they look to use him in a starting role in seasons to come.
His ability to convert on later downs and be a force in the red zone will likely put him in Noah Cain’s role when Cain graduates.
Whit Weeks
Weeks appeared in the Grambling State game as a true freshman and made an impact, but his performance against Mississippi State did much more. He finished with eight total tackles against the Bulldogs.
In the two games he’s played, Weeks has made plays. When it comes to consistency, Weeks has been as consistent as you could hope from a true freshman. This could be crucial down the line if starters aren’t performing up to expectations.
Andre’ Sam
Sam has some of the most experience on this season’s LSU team; his experience is important to not just LSU’s secondary, but the defense as a whole.
Similar to Weeks, Sam has been consistent since the start of the season. Against Florida State and Grambling, he had five total tackles in each game. While he only finished with four against Mississippi State, along with a pass deflection, he’s been a player on LSU’s defense where the staff knows what they’re going to get.
Paired with his experience, Sam’s consistent production could play a big role in LSU’s defense when the Tigers get deeper into SEC play.
