LSU football starts spring practice next week, officially beginning the first preparations for year three under head coach Brian Kelly.

From coaches to players, the team will look different in many areas next season, but the Tigers return their fair share of production as well. The spring is an opportunity for both new and returning players to battle for starting jobs and make first impressions with the staff.

Here are 10 players to watch for LSU football this spring:

Garrett Nussmeier, QB

It only makes sense to start at the most important position on the field, the quarterback. For LSU and Nussmeier, the spotlight will be even bigger at that position following Jayden Daniels’ Heisman season.

Despite only starting one game, Nussmeier has three years of experience at LSU and has played meaningful snaps in the Southeastern Conference. In his one start last season, he threw for 395 yards and three touchdowns in the ReliaQuest Bowl win over Wisconsin.

Nussmeier has proved over the last three years that he has the arm talent to be a good quarterback in the SEC. Whether or not he’s able to consistently make the right plays and take care of the ball will likely determine how productive LSU’s offense is in 2024.

Harold Perkins, LB

Heading into his third season, it’s already well-known how talented Perkins is. What will be more interesting to watch during spring is how new defensive coordinator Blake Baker utilizes Perkins.

Kelly told The Advocate that they plan on moving Perkins back to inside linebacker, a position he played to start last season before moving back outside after the season opener.

Baker has a great track record developing linebackers, so it will be interesting to watch how he and Perkins work together. Given Perkins’ talent, getting the best out of him may be the biggest key to improving what was a bad defense in 2023.

JK Johnson, CB

The secondary was arguably LSU’s biggest weakness in 2023. Kelly and LSU signed four corners out of the transfer portal going into last season, but for numerous reasons, none of the four were active by November.

Johnson was one of those four and missed the entire season with a leg injury he suffered during fall camp. While Johnson is unproven at LSU, he played in 12 games and made five starts for Ohio State in 2022. 

The biggest questions surrounding Johnson going into the spring are whether he can emerge as LSU’s No. 1 corner and what kind of lasting effects (if any) his injury will have on him.

Kaleb Jackson, RB

The running back room has quickly become one of the biggest questions on LSU’s roster. With Trey Holly suspended indefinitely and incoming freshman Caden Durham not enrolled yet, Jackson and veteran Josh Williams are the only scholarship running backs on LSU’s roster this spring.

Jackson was one of LSU’s most exciting young players last season but played sparingly. Kelly said this was due to Jackson still learning the offense and grasping skills like pass blocking. Whether he can develop in those areas this spring will be something to watch.

Whit Weeks, LB

Just as Jackson was on offense, Weeks might’ve been LSU’s most exciting freshman on defense last season. One of the most polarizing players on the roster, Weeks started three games in 2023, but despite playing well in those starts, didn’t see the field much later in the season.

Now with Omar Speights gone, that could open up a starting spot for Weeks. That depends, however, on what position Perkins plays.

If Perkins returns to inside linebacker, that could demote Weeks back to the bench, unless veteran Greg Penn III comes out of the lineup. Weeks has better size and feel for the position than Perkins based on what they each showed in the middle last season, but how that plays out during spring practice is something to watch.

DJ Chester, C

The offensive line is arguably the strongest unit on LSU’s team. The Tigers return four of last year’s five starters up front, but the one replacement will come at center. 

Charles Turner, who started at center the past two seasons, left for the draft, leaving a hole at one of the most important positions on the field. The likely heir is Chester, a rising sophomore.

Chester played high-leverage snaps in SEC play when Turner left the Missouri game last season with an injury. He looked comfortable in the role and the spring will be an opportunity for him to transition into the starting role full time.

Jyaire Brown, CB

Johnson isn’t the only Ohio State transfer that could feature in the secondary in 2024 as Kelly and LSU went back to Columbus to sign Brown this transfer portal cycle. Brown played in 14 games across two seasons at Ohio State and was a top 150-ranked player out of high school.

He’s another potential option at corner given LSU’s turnover at the position over the last two years. Brown could be LSU’s most important transfer from this past cycle and spring practice is an opportunity for him to make a good first impression.

CJ Daniels, WR

Despite LSU losing two projected first round draft picks at receiver, the unit still looks good on paper. Kyren Lacy returns after starting 10 games and tallying 558 receiving yards last season and the Tigers signed Zavion Thomas and Daniels out of the transfer 

What Daniels does this spring will be worth following given his step up in competition. Thomas already has SEC experience coming from Mississippi State, but Daniels comes to Baton Rouge after spending four years at Liberty.

Daniels caught 55 passes for 1,067 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, showing off impressive athleticism and great hands. The only question that remains is whether he can continue that production against SEC defenses.

Jacobian Guillory, DT

Defensive tackle is undoubtedly LSU’s thinnest position going into spring practice. The Tigers lost their three top players at the position from last season, and the only returning scholarship players at the position are Guillory and Jalen Lee.

Guillory saw more playing time than Lee last season and is going into his fifth year at LSU. Despite being in the program for four years, though, Guillory has never been a consistent starter. How much of an impact player he can be up front is something to watch this spring.

Dashawn McBryde, S

McBryde is LSU’s highest ranked incoming freshman who is already enrolled in school for spring practice. A local talent from Denham Springs High School, McBryde is the No. 95 overall player in the country and No. 3 player in Louisiana for the class of 2024, according to the 247sports composite rankings.

As a safety, a position where LSU was relatively weak last season, McBryde could get an opportunity to compete for early playing time this spring.