“Do the Heisman pose,” a young fan said to his friend, who was donning a No. 7 LSU jersey while waiting to talk to junior running back Leonard Fournette after Saturday’s spring game.
The Heisman Trophy might be the least of Fournette’s worries, though, as the acclaimed running back said he barely keeps up with any of his rushing records.
His team is now focused on making its way to Tampa, the site of next season’s College Football Playoff National Championship. The expectations will again be high, as they always are for any LSU football team, but Fournette knows his team is capable of making noise this upcoming season.
“We have the talent,” Fournette said. “We’ll have to see. The main goal for me is don’t forget our ‘why’ — why you started playing football. Why this? Why that?”
The end of spring marks a time for reflection, for what the Tigers will look to fine-tune before they enter summer workouts.
LSU coach Les Miles said his team has the “foundation” to be a great team, but it’s on them to put in the work during the offseason.
With the veteran leadership that Miles possesses, it should be easier for his team to take on that challenge. For the first time in a long time, Miles and his team have consistency among 18 of 22 returning starters, including a veteran signal caller.
For the second straight spring, LSU will have the same starter under center in junior quarterback Brandon Harris. The 6-foot-3, 206-pound gunslinger is unquestionably one of the leaders of the LSU team, something else that’s different for the Tigers, junior wide receiver Malachi Dupre said.
“He’s a lot more comfortable,” Dupre said. “I think that’s just showing how confident he is as a starter with a year under his belt. That’ll keep progressing.”
Both quarterbacks showed poise, as Harris was able to run the no huddle offense multiple times, lining up players where they needed be. Transfer junior quarterback Danny Etling threw a pick on his first drive, but responded on the next, launching a 70-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Dee Anderson.
To fans in Tiger Stadium on Saturday, the National L Club Spring Game wasn’t the offensive explosion everyone may have been looking for, but it was a step in the right direction.
Apart from two or three incomplete passes, Harris was in sync with most of his wideouts, a skill that comes with being the incumbent starter.
“We didn’t have a lot of peaks and valleys. We were actually pretty consistent,” said LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron on what he learned from spring practices. “Our scrimmages were solid, especially our first unit.”
While there remain a few “bells and whistles” yet to be added, the defense has the potential to be fierce, Miles said. Aranda and his staff will have a blend of youth and experience on the defensive end, which is something that has Miles excited.
“Our defensive front is going to be salty,” Miles said. “When we get the secondary back healthy and some guys that are coming in, it should be a lot of fun.”
Freshman cornerback Saivion Smith will be called upon this season to make an impact on defense. The lanky, 6-foot-3, 191-pound defensive back drew praise from coaches on his play in the spring game Saturday.
Miles doesn’t have a problem playing younger players, especially in the rugged SEC.
“Saivion Smith came in so ready to play in our conference at a high level, to be with us this spring,” Miles said. “If we can get a couple guys like that to go with this experienced team, I think we’ll be where we want to be.”
In all, there were several takeaways for the LSU team, said senior cornerback Tre’Davious White.
“We got a lot accomplished this spring,” he said. “We’re looking forward to the offseason. We already know the goal. That’s a championship.”