LSU Head Coach Ed Orgeron announced at a press conference on Tuesday that senior Danny Etling will be the starting quarterback for LSU’s season-opener against BYU, but emphasized the importance of the competition for this starting position.
“I just wanted to make sure that Danny knew that I believed in him. I think he’s going to play better,” Orgeron said.
Coach Orgeron believes it was necessary to name a starting quarterback two weeks before the opener against BYU to boost team confidence. He is focusing on better preparing the team for this year’s season opener after a tough loss last season when LSU fell to the Wisconsin Badgers.
Coach Orgeron believes the competition for quarterback and all starting positions brings out the players’ best performances. Although Etling already secured the starting position, Orgeron’s faith in a quarterback only goes so far. Coach Orgeron would not hesitate to put up-and-coming freshman Myles Brennan in the game.
“If Danny goes in the game and flops, I don’t have no problem putting in Myles, but we don’t expect that,” Orgeron said.
Orgeron also discussed that Derrius Guice was not practicing due to a minor injury, from which he should recover soon. Another injured LSU star player, Arden Key, will not play against BYU due to a shoulder injury over the summer. Key was a dominating force on the Tiger defense last season and named to first team all-SEC.
“It was a very spirited practice,” an optimistic Orgeron concluded. 
LSU’s season opener is Saturday, Septemper 2 against BYU at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.