The LSU Tigers 2019 football season kicks off on August 31 at Tiger Stadium where the Tigers will square off against the Georgia Southern Eagles. With one day until kickoff (August 30), The Reveille Sports Staff will give a brief bio on a former and current Tiger who wore the jersey number equal to the number of days left before kickoff.

1 day left

The current No. 1’s: Ja’Marr Chase, WR; Kristian Fulton, CB
The final day of the countdown features two players who share many of the same attributes but play on different sides of the ball.
Sophomore receiver Ja’Marr Chase was one of the pleasant surprises of last season, making an immediate impact on the field, showing a penchant for big plays. Chase gave a glimpse into what type of impact he can have this season in the Fiesta Bowl against the University of Central Florida in which he had six catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. Expect Chase to again be one of LSU’s leading receivers.
Senior cornerback Kristian Fulton had a rocky start to his career as a Tiger, but after regaining eligibility for the 2018 season, Fulton took full advantage and held the starting corner spot opposite Greedy Williams for the first 10 games of the season before going down with a left foot injury. 
Fulton was targeted heavily throughout the season as opposing teams were afraid to target Williams, who had garnered a strong reputation as a shutdown corner from his freshman season. Fulton played well despite being targeted so heavily, finishing the season with nine pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble. Fulton will start opposite freshman Derek Stingley Jr.
The former No. 1: Eric Reid, S
There were quite a few options for a past number one, but former Tiger safety Eric Reid (2010-2012) had a very productive three-year career and was one of the leaders on the historic 2011 squad. 
In the Tigers first meeting with Alabama in 2011, Reid created one of the most memorable plays in LSU history when he wrestled the ball away from tight end Mike Williams on the 1-yard line saving a touchdown, which proved to be crucial for a 9-6 LSU victory.
Reid earned a number of awards during his sophomore and junior seasons, namely second-team All-SEC in 2011 and first-team All-American and All-SEC in 2012. He was drafted 18th overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2013 NFL draft and played five seasons with them before moving to the Carolina Panthers in 2018.

2 days left

The current No 2: Justin Jefferson, WR
Following in his brother’s footsteps, junior receiver Justin Jefferson went from being a three-star recruit who wasn’t highly sought after to being the Tigers’ leading receiver in 2018. Heading into the 2018 season, a major question mark surrounded the receiver position, but Jefferson seemingly came out of nowhere as the primary receiver and is now expected to be a heavy contributor to the Tiger offense, not only as a pass catcher, but as a leader in the receiving group as well.
The former No. 2: JaMarcus Russell, QB
Despite being notoriously known as one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history, former LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell (2004-2006) had perhaps the greatest single season that a Tiger quarterback has ever had in 2006.
Russell threw for 3,129 yards and 28 touchdowns against only eight interceptions, capping the season with an MVP performance and an emphatic 41-14 victory over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. Russell threw for 6,625 yards and 52 touchdowns in his three seasons as a Tiger. Russell forewent his senior season and was the first overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.

3 days left

The current No. 3’s: JaCoby Stevens, S; Tyrion Davis-Price, RB
Junior safety JaCoby Stevens and freshman running back Tyrion Davis-Price play on opposite sides of the ball, but both are built like tanks and have similar traits; hard-nosed, explosive and bruising.
On the defensive side of the ball, Stevens is listed as a safety, but is more like a safety-linebacker hybrid as he’ll most likely spend a majority of his playing time close to the line of scrimmage helping stop the run and pass-rushing. Stevens played well in this role last season, proving his ability as a solid tackler and showing great speed off the edge. Stevens had 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks and an interception in just 11 games.
On the offensive side of the ball Davis-Price comes into a loaded backfield with junior Clyde Edwards-Helaire the expected starter, senior Lanard Fournette, redshirt freshman Chris Curry and fellow Class of 2019 star John Emery Jr. 
While there will be quite a few mouths to feed in LSU’s backfield, Davis-Price runs well between the tackles and has gotten quite a few looks near the goal line throughout the fall camp. His carries may be limited, but don’t be surprised if Davis-Price finds the end zone on multiple occasions this season.
The former No. 3’s: Kevin Faulk, RB; Odell Beckham Jr., WR
Former Tigers Kevin Faulk (1995-1998) and Odell Beckham Jr. (2011-2013) were two of the most electrifying play makers to ever wear the purple and gold, and choosing just one would be a disservice.
Faulk’s name is littered throughout LSU’s record books, and in the current climate of the best collegiate prospects foregoing their senior seasons, it’s hard to imagine that any of his records will be broken. Here’s just a few of the records Faulk currently holds:
Most All-Purpose Yards in a Career (LSU and SEC) – 6,833 
Most Yards Rushing in a Career (LSU) – 4,557 
Most Rushing Touchdowns in a Career (LSU) – 46
Despite playing during the Les Miles “Ground n Pound” era, Beckham Jr. was able to thrive during his three seasons as a Tiger, in large part due to his chemistry with fellow receiver Jarvis Landry and quarterback Zach Mettenberger. The trio were a force to be reckoned with in the 2013 season; Mettenberger passed for over 3,000 yards and both Beckham Jr. and Landry had over 1,100 receiving yards. Beckham Jr. finished his LSU career in the top-10 all-time for receptions (143) and receiving yards (2,340).

4 days left

The current No. 4: John Emery Jr., RB
Continuing the trend of LSU signing highly-rated running backs, freshman running back John Emery Jr. was a consensus five-star prospect and one of the top recruits in the state of Louisiana out of Destrehan High School. Emery Jr. was a massive get for the Tigers and has shown his ability throughout fall camp.
“First of all, John Emery is everything and more that we thought about in recruiting,” said LSU coach Ed Orgeron. “He can make you miss. He has tremendous feet, he has tremendous vision. There were a lot of times in practice that he broke outside and we didn’t catch him, so he had some very explosive runs.”
The former No. 4: Charles Alexander, RB
Perhaps a name that only true LSU football historians remember, running back Charles Alexander starred for the Tigers in the mid-1970s and was a two-time First Team All-American and All-SEC, one of only ten LSU players to do so. Alexander rushed for over 4,000 yards in his career, was a Heisman finalist in 1978, and had a seven-year career in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals. Alexander is currently enshrined in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.

5 days left

The current No. 5’s: Kary Vincent Jr., CB; Devonta Lee, WR
Both junior cornerback Kary Vincent Jr. and freshman receiver Devonta Lee have the chance to make a big impact on their respective sides of the ball, with Vincent Jr. being the starting nickel corner and Lee proving to be a legitimate red zone target in the passing game.
Vincent Jr. played most of his snaps in 2018 as the nickel, but he also filled in as cornerback numerous times and proved his mettle at that position as well. If senior Kristian Fulton or freshmen Derek Stingley Jr. were to go down with an injury, expect Vincent Jr. to be their replacement.
Lee has impressed throughout the fall camp, with his fellow receivers continually commenting on Lee’s ability to make difficult catches in the end zone. Junior receiver Justin Jefferson noted Lee made a catch during a red zone drill, reaching over the helmet of a defensive back for a touchdown.
The former No. 5: Derrius Guice, RB
A player who needs no introduction, former Tiger running back Derrius Guice (2015-2017) continued the trend of having a workhorse in the backfield set by the likes of Leonard Fournette, Jeremy Hill, Spencer Ware, Jacob Hester and Joseph Addai, just to name a few. Guice exploded onto the scene his sophomore year, averaging an absurd 7.6 yards per carry, finishing the season with 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns. His junior season, while slightly less productive, was still a good one, as Guice was second-team All-SEC and still averaged over five yards per carry and rushed for 1,251 yards and 11 touchdowns.

6 days left

The current No. 6’s: Jacob Phillips, LB; Terrace Marshall Jr., WR
Yet another tandem of players comes up where a clear-cut choice couldn’t be made, so both sophomore receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. and junior linebacker Jacob Phillips will make the countdown.
While both Phillips and Marshall Jr. are set to be heavy contributors at their respective position this season, Phillips had a bigger impact in 2018, making 11 starts and racking up 87 total tackles, three pass deflections and an interception returned for a touchdown. Phillips is expected to be starting at inside linebacker, which on its own merits notice as LSU’s linebacking corps is as talented as any in the country. 
Marshall Jr. went into his freshman season as the highest-rated recruit in the Tigers 2018 class and the No. 2-rated wide receiver in the country, putting pretty lofty expectations on his shoulders. Marshall Jr. certainly didn’t achieve equally to those expectations, but he showed flashes throughout the season, evidencing why he was so highly rated. If Marshall Jr. can make those flashes occur on a regular basis, he’ll undoubtedly be one of senior quarterback Joe Burrow’s top targets.
The former No. 6: Rohan Davey, QB
Despite only starting one full season for the Tigers in 2001, quarterback Rohan Davey (1998-2001) had one of the better single seasons an LSU quarterback has possibly ever had. Davey currently holds the record for the most passing yards in a single season with 3,347 yards, and he also tossed 18 TD’s for a QB rating of 146.5.
Davey went on to become a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots as the backup to Tom Brady.

7 days left

The current No. 7: Grant Delpit, S
Perhaps the easiest choice for LSU coach Ed Orgeron this year was deciding who would wear the coveted No. 7 jersey, as junior safety Grant Delpit will be one of the top defensive backs in the country and should provide game-changing plays throughout the season. The hype surrounding Delpit is at a fever pitch, as he has been named to nearly every pre-season All-American list. Anything less than an All-American type season would be a disappointment.
The former No. 7’s: Patrick Peterson, CB; Tyrann Mathieu, CB; Leonard Fournette, RB; D.J. Chark, WR
Choosing just one player who wore the No. 7 jersey would be a disservice to the other three players who’ve worn it. It would also be remiss to not mention some of the other players who wore the No. 7 before it became a tradition, like Ali Highsmith, who actually wore No. 7 the season prior to Patrick Peterson. Former Tiger linebacker Trev Faulk also wore the No. 7 and was a Butkus award semifinalist in his junior season leading the Tigers in tackles with 119.
The player who started it all, cornerback Patrick Peterson (2008-2010), is already recognized as one of the greatest players to wear the purple and gold and has been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL for eight seasons, making the pro bowl in each of them and a First-team All-Pro in four of them. If there were a king of the No. 7’s, it would be hard to choose anyone over Peterson.
While his tumultuous exit from the team put somewhat of a stain on his reputation, cornerback Tyrann Mathieu (2010-2011), aka “The Honey Badger,” left an imprint on not only the football program but also on Tiger fans that will be remembered for years to come. Mathieu only wore the No. 7 for one season, but it was certainly a remarkable one. Mathieu finished the season with 77 tackles, five forced fumbles and two interceptions. Mathieu won the Bednarik award and was a Heisman finalist, the first for LSU since 1977.
Maybe one of the most hyped prospects to ever play for LSU, running back Leonard Fournette (2014-2016) was given the number before he ever played a down. While the start to his freshman season was somewhat of a letdown, Fournette would go on to become one of the greatest running backs in school history, breaking record after record, and did it all in three seasons.
A relative unknown for his first two seasons, wide receiver D.J. Chark (2014-2017) took full advantage of the opportunities he received in his junior season, so much so that he was awarded the No. 7 jersey for his senior season. Chark had great chemistry with quarterback Danny Etling, with whom he had formed a connection through the scout team in their first seasons on the team. Chark led LSU in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2017 and was voted to the All-SEC Second team.

8 days left

The Current No. 8: Patrick Queen, LB
Following a solid finish to his sophomore season, junior linebacker Patrick Queen should be a heavy contributor at the inside linebacker position whether he starts or sophomore Damone Clark gets the nod. Expect to hear Queen’s name called very often throughout the season
A former No. 8: Trindon Holliday, RB/KR
While diminutive in size, former kick returner and running back Trindon Holliday (2006-2009) had a penchant for making a big impact on games with just one play. Holliday returned two punts and kickoffs for touchdowns in his four-year career at LSU, and he proved to be a valuable option on the offensive side of the ball running end-arounds. Holliday ranks second in kickoff return yards (1,806 yds) and seventh in punt return yards (647 yds) on the LSU all-time list.

9 days left

The Current No. 9: Joe Burrow, QB
Heading into the 2019 season, senior quarterback Joe Burrow may have the highest expectations for an LSU quarterback since Zach Mettenberger in his senior season of 2013.
Burrow was named to the Manning and Unitas Award watch lists, the two most prestigious quarterback awards in the NCAA. With Burrow’s top four receivers from last season returning, and what looks to be a healthy offensive line, Burrow should be in line for a very productive senior campaign.
A former No. 9: Devery Henderson, WR
Both an NCAA National Champion and Super Bowl champion, former Tiger standout Devery Henderson (2000-2003) may be most remembered by LSU fans for being on the receiving end of the “Bluegrass Miracle,” but he had a very productive senior season in 2003.
Henderson broke the single-season receiving touchdown record with 11, a record that still remains to this day. Henderson’s overall numbers were 53 receptions for 861 yards, second on the team behind LSU great Michael Clayton.
Henderson was then drafted by the New Orleans Saints with the 50th pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. He would form a strong connection with current Saints quarterback Drew Brees and became integral to the Saints Super Bowl XLIV victory with seven catches for 63 yards. Henderson was again a part of history in 2012 when he caught a touchdown pass from Brees, marking his 48th straight game with a passing touchdown. Henderson is currently ranked sixth all-time in receiving yards and ninth for games played with the Saints.