LSU Tigers spring practice and scrimmage finale confirms the hype on a few important new pieces for Brian Kelly and his staff
Expectations were already high for the 2025 LSU Tigers as the team was set to return quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and some key talents on both sides of the ball this fall. However, after Brian Kelly and his staff brought in phenomenal recruiting classes (both freshmen and via the Transfer Portal), the hype began to ramp […]
Expectations were already high for the 2025 LSU Tigers as the team was set to return quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and some key talents on both sides of the ball this fall. However, after Brian Kelly and his staff brought in phenomenal recruiting classes (both freshmen and via the Transfer Portal), the hype began to ramp up this spring for what could be a special season.
LSU Tigers' final spring practice and scrimmage did nothing to dampen the hype surrounding this year's squad. In fact, some of the best plays made on Saturday only confirmed the excitement than fans and the LSU staff can't help but have heading into the summer.
Barion Brown dominated LSU Tigers open practice
As an incoming transfer, wide receiver Barion Brown always had to earn his spot on the team. Despite immediately coming in and looking like the most explosive, dynamic playmaker on the team this spring he wasn't always working with the first team. However, after Saturday's finale to spring practices it looks like he may just be the focal point of the aerial attack in 2025 for LSU.
Brown was making plays all day long, hauling in several catches, including yet another one of his seemingly patented impressive over-the-shoulder grabs. Brown will almost certainly add plenty of value as both the team's premier wide receiver talent and a critical piece of the return game. LSU fans should just hope he lives up to the already legendary hype he's generating this spring.
LSU's revamped defensive front brought heat in pass rush
As Bradyn Swinson and other former LSU stars mentioned this spring when I talked to them throughout the 2025 NFL Draft process, Gabriel Reliford and the revamped pass rush attack has the potential to be truly special.
Much of the hype on defense this spring has been centered around the incredible Transfer Portal additions along the edge in Jack Pyburn (from Florida) and Patrick Payton (from Florida State), but the edge rusher group is much deeper than just those two alone.
Both rising sophomore Gabriel Reliford and unheralded transfer Jimari Butler both stood out to several fans and media members who cover the team on Saturday. Reliford's wild physical traits are hard to miss every time he steps onto a football field. Butler could be a surprising rotational player this fall.
New LSU offensive line looks unsettled
The offensive line was always going to be a huge question for LSU heading into the 2025 offseason seeing as they lost four starters to the NFL Draft this spring. DJ Chester is definitely going to remain the team's starting center, but the other four spots look like they seriously still may be up for grabs.
The two high profile transfers in Josh Thompson (of Northwestern) and Braelin Moore (of Virginia Tech) look to be the most likely true newcomers to supplant any of the returning (yet inexperienced) talents along the line. Both specialize in interior line play. It's tough to tell which offensive tackles are going to push for starting roles outside of the obvious in Tyree Adams and Weston Davis, but nothing looks set in stone just yet.
This may sound worrisome to LSU fans, but it's more likely that the team's depth is just far more developed than we thought initially this spring. Let's hope that's confirmed when fall camp kicks off.
We'll be back with more LSU Tigers coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
If you want to check out why Barion Brown might be the most important difference maker for the LSU Tigers this fall just watch some of his highlights from last season when he was still with Kentucky.
