While the Tiger faithful eagerly await sophomore Brandon Harris 2015 debut, Harris is ready to work.
“We are all excited that he has the starting position,” said sophomore running back Leonard Fournette. “There will be some trials and tribulations throughout this season, but we are looking forward to working with him. His [game] has grown tremendously over the spring and this summer.”
Sophomore wide receiver Malachi Dupre said Harris’ appointment was no shock to the team.
“It wasn’t a huge surprise or anything like that. He’s prepared,” Dupre said. “He was working with us during 7-versus-7 while Anthony [Jennings] was away. It’s not like he’s excited or anything like that. He’s just taking the same approach.
Offensive Line
The battle for playing time on the LSU offensive line is still on-going. Though, the spots at left and right tackle seem to be filled with 6-foot-6, 305-pound junior Jerald Hawkins and 6-foot-6, 320-pound senior Vadal Alexander, respectively.
Those players will be on the field Saturday night against McNeese State, but the guys beside them are still somewhat unknown.
The LSU official football depth chart features freshman William Clapp or freshman Maea Teuhema at left guard and junior Josh Boutte or Clapp at right guard.
No matter who starts beside Hawkins — collectively, the group needs this weekend to “get going.”
“We need to get that motor going,” Hawkins said. “We need to come out the blocks fast and keep that going all season.”
Hawkins, along with Fournette, said the Tigers will be prepared for McNeese State on Saturday night.
Kickoff Battle Continues
Although Harris has won the starting job at quarterback, other position battles still rage deep into Week One, including the right to literally kick off the 2015 season.
Sophomore kicker Cameron Gamble and junior kicker Trent Domingue continue to compete for the starting role as the Tigers’ kickoff kicker for the second-straight season.
“Put it this way, whoever starts we’re not going to be upset about who starts, whether it’s Trent or Cameron, because both of them can put the ball deep into the end zone,” said junior place kicker Colby Delahoussaye. “Both of them have really strong legs.”
Gamble and Domingue shared the kickoff duties through the first six games of the 2014 season before Domingue took over the role for the rest of the season on Oct. 11, 2014.
Domingue averaged 62.2 yards per kickoff and tallied 28 touchbacks in 51 kickoffs last season.
Even though Domingue earned the starting job midseason, Gamble’s leg strength has impressed his teammates from his LSU debut last season in the Tigers’ opener against No. 14 Wisconsin on Aug. 30.
“It’s pretty ridiculous what Cameron can do with the football as far as hanging it,” Delahoussaye said. “His first kickoff ever against Wisconsin was 78 yards with a 4.60 [hang time], which doesn’t make sense. I’ve never seen any type of ball like that before.”