Ed Orgeron gave updates on the statuses of LSU and Houston players’ families in his first weekly luncheon of season.
Orgeron also officially ruled out junior linebacker Arden Key and said he cannot say 100 percent whether junior running back Derrius Guice will play due to injury.
Hurricane Harvey’s effect on Houston
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Houston and South Texas,” Orgeron said. “We understand what they are going through.”
Orgeron said that he and his staff called the parents of all LSU’s Houston-based players Monday night.
“We talked to most of them, and most of them were OK,” Orgeron said. “[Junior right tackle] Toby Weathersby’s mother was concerned about her mother, and was going get her out of a situation she was struggling in. Most of the other parents either had little water or none, and they felt that were on an island, felt like they were trapped and couldn’t move.”
Regarding the status of where the LSU-BYU game would be played, Orgeron said he complete faith in both school’s administration and ESPN to make the right decision.
“I totally trust Joe and administration, they lead the way. Our job is to get the team ready. We are going to focus on the task at hand, and wherever they tell me to play, we are going to get the team ready to go and compete like Tigers.”
Orgeron maintained that the uncertainty surrounding the game will not be a distraction for the team.
Orgeron announces starting offensive line
The Tigers return senior left tackle K.J. Malone, junior center Will Clapp and Weathersby. Junior Garrett Brumfield will start at left guard and freshmen Saahdiq Charles and Ed Ingram will both play at right guard.
Orgeron said last week on his weekly radio show that he expected both Charles and Ingram to redshirt, but with limited depth both players have been thrusted into the starting lineup.
“I’m proud of those guys,” Orgeron said. “I’ve seen them work throughout camp, I’ve seen them go against very good defensive linemen. They are ready to go. Will they make mistakes, yes, but it’s not like they are not physically prepared to do it.”
Freshmen on the Depth Chart
Orgeron also announced the rest of the depth chart prior to the game against BYU. With Key out, Orgeron said it will be a possible game-time decision as to who starts in his place. Orgeron expects three freshman – Ray Thornton, K’Lavon Chaisson and Andre Anthony – to play in place of Key.
The three freshman were a part of 14 other freshmen Orgeron listed on LSU’s depth chart.
“We put them through as much preseason prep,” Orgeron said regarding his freshmen. “We tried to manufacture all the pressure we can for those guys and they have done well, but until we get under the lights, until the game-time situation, we kind of have an educated guess. We do believe in them, and we do believe they are prepared to do it.”
Other freshmen listed as starters were running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire as the primary kickoff returner, free safety Grant Delpit and nickel back Kary Vincent.
Orgeron said that freshman safety Todd Harris will start on all special team units, and that he will spell John Battle at strong safety.
