LSU’s freshman class proved their worth to the football team Saturday against Mississippi State.
Linebacker Whit Weeks and tight end Mac Markway made their first starting appearances of the season against the Bulldogs.
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Weeks took the place of senior Omar Speights who was out with a hip flexor injury. He had an outstanding defensive game, leading the team with eight tackles and a quarterback hurry, tackling Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers right after completing a pass.
“He can go sideline to sideline,” Kelly said. “Our guys really feel comfortable with him out there.”
Although it’s not likely Weeks will replace Speights in the starting lineup, he proved to be an asset to the team and many assume to see more of the freshman linebacker in the future.
Markway started in place of usual sophomore tight end Mason Taylor who suffered an ankle sprain in the first half of LSU’s game against Grambling State. Markway caught one pass for five yards.
Running back Kaleb Jackson got to see the field again after his impressive two-touchdown game against Grambling. Jackson rushed for 19 yards and had 15 yards receiving, including his longest reception of the season.
Jackson had a game, specifically a play, that many fans are still raving about.
Towards the end of the third quarter, the freshman running back harshly put a Mississippi State player to the ground while running the ball. The hit immediately drew excitement from LSU fans.
“That man has a family in the stands,” former LSU star running back Leonard Fournette said on X (formerly twitter).
Jackson is now ranked fourth among the Tigers for most rushing yards, only behind quarterback Jayden Daniels, junior Logan Diggs and graduate student Josh Williams. Jackson averages 5.1 yards per carry.
“Kaleb brought toughness and physicality to the game,” Kelly said. “We’ve added a lot to that position, so we should have an effective running game.”
Zalance Heard was another freshman that had a lot of buzz going into the weekend. Following his playing time against Grambling, there was speculation of him being the next true freshman to start on the offensive line.
Although starting didn’t become a reality, Heard got more playing time against the Bulldogs, playing right tackle while Emery Jones Jr. moved to right guard.
Safety Ryan Yaites also got some playing time against the Bulldogs, gaining one solo and one assisted tackle.
Yaites received playing time since captain Greg Brooks Jr. couldn’t play after undergoing surgery for a large brain tumor Friday.
Yaites and many other freshmen showcased their talent against Mississippi State, a competitive SEC school, and positively impacted the game. It is safe to say this is not the last we will see from them this season.
Continuing to play the class of 2027 benefits the Tigers in multiple ways.
Jackson’s speed allows LSU to utilize a running game if necessary, which will help them when facing more experienced secondaries.
Weeks’ consistency making big plays for the Tigers makes him seem more like a veteran instead of a true freshman. He helped the Tigers in both games against Mississippi State and Grambling, where he made four tackles. Weeks proved that he can help LSU get a pass rush with his speed, making him a threat to other quarterbacks as well.
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Heard adds size to the offensive line, even as a true freshman. The 6’6, 340 pound lineman has already proven his capabilities, as he has gotten to play many snaps with the first-string offense.
Playing Yaites and Markway allowed them to gain experience, preparing them for future games.
Allowing these freshmen to play early in the season will help them to become more comfortable with the game at a higher level, making them capable of executing later in the season when playing more difficult teams.
