LSU Tigers' Blake Baker reveals key returning standout playmakers who could make a huge impact alongside important transfers
The LSU Tigers defense has unfortunately been a hot button topic for multiple years now. Head coach Brian Kelly and defensive coordinator Blake Baker couldn't ever get their unit to figure out how to stop mobile quarterbacks last year. The year before they couldn't seem to use star linebacker Harold Perkins correctly and gave up […]
The LSU Tigers defense has unfortunately been a hot button topic for multiple years now. Head coach Brian Kelly and defensive coordinator Blake Baker couldn't ever get their unit to figure out how to stop mobile quarterbacks last year. The year before they couldn't seem to use star linebacker Harold Perkins correctly and gave up too many big plays through the air.
Now they're bringing in a huge number of transfers hoping to finally get the defense where it needs to be, but there are still plenty of question marks heading into a crucial final season for quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. Still, despite all of the questions and pressure, defensive coordinator Blake Baker seems confident in some returning standout playmakers who he clearly expects to have a huge impact this season.
Blake Baker excited for key returning players and transfers
When Blake Baker met with 104.5 FM in Baton Rouge this week he couldn't help but share some of the excitement he felt for some key rising sophomores and other key contributors who have been impressing this spring.
Yes, the team brought in the number one Transfer Portal class with key talents like Mansoor Delane (CB, Virginia Tech), Patrick Payton (EDGE, Florida State), Jack Pyburn (EDGE, Florida), Sydir Mitchell (DL, Texas), Jimari Butler (EDGE, Nebraska), Ja'Keem Jackson (CB, Florida), and Tamarcus Cooley (DB, NC State) who should play major roles. However, it was all of the returning players Baker hyped up most.
Gabriel Reliford, a rising sophomore edge rusher, flashed some last season garnering plenty of attention from fans and coaches, but Baker is excited about his transformation this offseason:
"Gabriel Reliford had an outstanding spring. He’s one of those guys [that stands out] when you talk about competitive depth. He’s not going to lose his reps just because we brought in three seniors. He’s upped his game–the work that he’s put in the weight room. He’s changed his body and his flexibility."
This excitement lines up with what I heard from Reliford's teammates when I spoke to several of them at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine this spring. Bradyn Swinson (star edge rusher last year) was especially complimentary of Reliford, expecting him to be the name who breaks out this year on defense for LSU (as you can see in my post below).
Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins were two names that Baker mentioned as well, and most fans have come to expect great things from them already. Their leadership and motors could be what holds all these new transfers and returning talents together:
"We've gotta start with getting Harold Perkins back. I think it was the third game where he got hurt. [Perkins] is just a natural leader for us. He brings a lot of energy…[Whit Weeks] is doing really well [too]. He was a full speed doing football drills [this week]. He's dang near 100%."
Weeks was hurt in the bowl game to end the year. Perkins missed nearly the entire season with injury. Having both back could prove extremely important to defensive chemistry.
And lastly, the back end of the LSU Tigers defense–which has been a problem off and on for the last couple years–might just have a couple players ready to step up this year into surprisingly expanded roles and succeed in PJ Woodland and Dashawn Spears:
"PJ Woodland had an outstanding spring. Dashawn Spears–I’ve been very vocal [on him]. There was nobody harder on Dashawn Spears than me last year. And that’s just because of the potential that the young man has. To see him start to break through this spring, not only from a tackling standpoint, but with his leadership on the back end–he had a really outstanding spring. Those two guys in particular [have stood out the most]."
The LSU Tigers defense looks absolutely stacked on paper. And if some of these returning players that Blake Baker sounds so confident in can step up like expected there might be a special season ahead this fall. Tigers fans are certainly tired of the defense letting the team down here recently. Let's hope coach Baker and company finally get this unit back up to the LSU standard this season.
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!
And if you want to look back on how special Harold Perkins can be when he's fully healthy just enjoy his highlights below. His return could be a game changer for LSU this season.
