The Vanderbilt Commodores huffed and puffed, but all they blew out was a knee.
LSU senior running back Richard Murphy tore his ACL last season at Tiger Stadium as the Commodores pestered the Tigers in a sloppy 23-9 LSU victory.
Senior defensive tackle Drake Nevis said Vanderbilt fought valiantly that rainy night, and he expects the same Saturday when No. 19 LSU (1-0) opens its Southeastern Conference season at Vanderbilt (0-1).
“They have a lot of talent,” Nevis said. “They have a lot of speed and good coaching. We’re going to be ready for their best performance.”
There were many firsts for the Tigers against the Commodores last season. Junior safety Brandon Taylor recorded his first career interception as LSU nursed a slim seven-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Sophomore defensive end Lavar Edwards recorded his first career sack. It also marked the debuts of four sophomores — wide receiver Russell Shepard, offensive tackle Alex Hurst, cornerback Morris Claiborne and wide receiver Chris Tolliver.
LSU coach Les Miles said this week that Tolliver (concussion), junior linebacker Ryan Baker (broken jaw) and junior safety Karnell Hatcher (knee) could return from injuries this week.
“They look good, and it’ll be interesting to see how they play,” Miles said. “I think they may well get in the rotation.”
Another first could occur this weekend as redshirt freshman guard Josh Williford is expected to make his first career start for junior guard Will Blackwell, who broke his ankle in last week’s game against North Carolina.
Miles said Williford is competing with sophomore guard Matt Branch and junior offensive lineman T-Bob Hebert, who took the majority of snaps last week for Blackwell.
“Williford probably might get the first nod,” Miles said. “We have three guys who could move in there and play.”
Vanderbilt boasts last season’s SEC Freshman of the Year in sophomore running back and kick returner Warren Norman. He had arthroscopic knee surgery at the end of August but returned last week, rushing for 46 yards and a touchdown in a 23-21 loss to Northwestern.
“It’s amazing how quickly he got back,” said Vanderbilt coach Robbie Caldwell. “He doesn’t have much regard for pain.”
The glaring difference this season is on the sideline, where Caldwell begins his first season as Vanderbilt’s head coach. He spent the last eight seasons as the Commodores’ offensive line coach and assistant head coach.
Miles said he hasn’t seen any major differences in this year’s Vanderbilt squad.
“It appears the schemes are similar,” Miles said. “There may be another piece that we’re not seeing just yet, but I would expect that there would be gameday adjustments.”
Vanderbilt junior quarterback Larry Smith threw for 240 yards and a touchdown against Northwestern. He didn’t have the same success against LSU last year, throwing for a meager 88 yards and an interception.
“Coach Miles does a heck of a job, but you can see coach [John] Chavis’ stamp on that defense now,” Caldwell said. “They’re flying around to the football with multiple fronts.”
Caldwell said one of his main concerns is junior cornerback and kick returner Patrick Peterson, who set an LSU record against UNC with 257 return yards, including an 87-yard punt return touchdown.
“I’ll tell you one thing, he’s a guy you don’t want to kick to, that’s for sure,” Caldwell said.
Miles said he will continue to use Peterson as a returner, but he wants to make sure the oft cramp-stricken cornerback is in the secondary when the game comes to a close.
The Tigers have mostly had success against Vanderbilt, leading the all-time series, 21-7-1.
But one Tiger enjoys the trip to Tennessee more than most. Senior kicker Josh Jasper, a Memphis native, travels to his home state Saturday to play the team he drilled three kicks against last year.
“My older sister, Colby, she actually works at the Marriott where we’re staying,” Jasper said. “I’ve got a lot of friends coming up from Memphis and coming down from Knoxville.”
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Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected]