The LSU football team lost the only consensus All-American placekicker in team history, but LSU coach Les Miles doesn’t appear concerned.
Junior kicker Drew Alleman will take the reins as LSU’s new kicker, replacing Josh Jasper, who capped his four years as the most accurate kicker in school history.
“Drew Alleman I expect to be very competitive. He will handle our kickoffs, field goals and extra points,” Miles said. “I think that he will be ready to do that and compete with any of the country. He may be as good as we’ve had.”
Alleman said during LSU’s Media Day that Jasper is the blueprint of the kicker he wants to emulate.
“Josh was probably one of the best kickers ever to come here, and just watching him over the last two years you learn a lot,” Alleman said. “Just him teaching me through it and taking notes, and trying to match him I’ve become even better.”
Alleman saw action in games against McNeese State and Louisiana-Monroe last season. He had seven kickoffs, averaging 63.4 yards per kick, but he has yet to attempt a field goal in college.
“There is pressure but I try not to focus on that,” Alleman said. “I just try to do me. I try to do what I do best and that’s kicking the ball.”
The Tigers must also replace former punter Derek Helton, who averaged 45.7 yards a punt last season. LSU will look to redshirt freshman Brad Wing and senior punter D.J. Howard as replacements.
“Brad Wing and D.J. Howard will handle the punting, with the edge toward Brad Wing,” Miles said.
Wing, a native of Melbourne, Australia, spent his senior year of high school at Parkview Baptist in Baton Rouge before Miles offered him a scholarship. After only one year of football at Parkview, Rivals.com ranked Wing No. 5 in the nation for punters.
“There’s a bit of pressure,” Wing said. “It’s obviously a big tradition school here with big-time football, but [special teams] coach [Thomas] McGaughey talks about how pressure can be a good thing,” Wing said. “It just depends how you use it. I’ve just got to focus on what I do, and I think if I stick to that I’ll be right on.”
Along with the losses at kicker and punter, LSU must also fill the void in the return game as former cornerback and returner Patrick Peterson was drafted in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
“I think we’ll look at Tyrann Mathieu as a punt returner,” Miles said. ” I think he gives you real speed, ball skills, and the ability to make people miss. Mo Claiborne, Ron Brooks will step in there. We’ll have real speed on our coverage units. I think the team is really in a position to achieve.”
 
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