Update: Junior guard Maea Teuhema has been released from his scholarship and will transfer.
LSU’s offensive line depth has been thinned out since the end of last season.
The Tigers have lost six offensive lineman to the NFL and other schools from last year’s squad. Starting center Ethan Pocic and guard Josh Boutte graduated, and are now competing in the NFL. Reserve tackles Chidi Okeke and Willie Allen both transferred along with center Andy Dodd.
Coach Ed Orgeron had secured the commitments from four offensive line prospects in the class of 2017, but announced on Sunday that freshman tackle Seth Stewart would no longer attend LSU. The 6-foot-8, 320-pound West Virginia native committed to LSU last July.
“Seth Stewart will not be reporting to camp, he will not be attending Louisiana State University,” Orgeron said in his first press conference of the fall. “As far as we know he has decided to not play football. We wish him the best.”
“He spent a couple days here, and decided he wanted to move on. Obviously we tried to get him back, coach Grimes tried to recruit him back, but it’s something he decided he wanted to do.”
The loss of Stewart is another blow to LSU’s dwindling offensive line. The Tigers may also be without redshirt sophomore Adrian Magee due to an arrest for simple burglary in April.
“Adrian Magee’s status is still unknown,” Orgeron said. “He will be in camp, but we have to figure out what his status will be throughout the season. And that is something that has yet to be determined.”
On Monday, The Advocate reported that Baton Rouge District Attorney’s office had dropped charges against Magee. With Magee the Tigers have 12 scholarship offensive linemen, a number is quite alarming to the coaching staff.
“I am really concerned about the offensive line,” Orgeron said. “Not the quality, but the depth. We have got some youngs guys like [freshman tackle] Austin Deculus, who will have to step up. [freshman guard] Ed Ingram. [redshirt freshman center] Lloyd Cushenberry had a tremendous spring for us. [sophomore guard] Donavaughn Campbell, he’s got to step up.”
LSU is also currently practicing without junior guard Maea Teuhema. Orgeron said in a press conference on Monday that Teuhema is focusing on academics at the moment. Cushenberry and Campbell are practicing in his place.
According to Orgeron, Deculus and fellow freshman Saahdiq Charles are working at the backup left tackle spot behind senior K.J. Malone, and redshirt freshman Jakori Savage is backing up junior Toby Weathersby at right tackle. Redshirt sophomore Garrett Brumfield is listed as the starting left guard with Ingram listed as his backup.
The Tigers lack of depth and experience is a huge concern going to the season, especially since Weathersby and junior center Will Clapp have struggled with injuries the past two seasons.
During SEC Media Days, Orgeron made it a point to mention that the key to beating Alabama was neutralizing its defensive line. He and offensive line coach Jeff Grimes will need to use fall practices to continue to build up the Tigers offensive line.
