Three potential LSU Tigers breakout players for the 2024 college football season
The LSU Tigers just sent their quarterback, two star wide receivers, and a good portion of their defense to the NFL this spring. They'll need some major help from new breakout players in 2024 if they hope to make the first ever 12-team College Football Playoff this fall. Obviously Garrett Nussmeier will need to step […]
The LSU Tigers just sent their quarterback, two star wide receivers, and a good portion of their defense to the NFL this spring. They'll need some major help from new breakout players in 2024 if they hope to make the first ever 12-team College Football Playoff this fall. Obviously Garrett Nussmeier will need to step up in a big way at quarterback if the Tigers want to have any hope. But who else should we expect to see make a huge leap this fall for LSU?
There are several potential breakout players on the LSU Tigers to watch for this fall, but let's talk through three that could completely change the course of the season if they step their game up to the peak of their potential in 2024.
Kaleb Jackson, Running Back
Now that Jayden Daniels is gone, the LSU Tigers will have to lean much more heavily on their running backs than their quarterback to generate rushing yards in 2024. Logan Diggs, who led all LSU running backs with 119 carries, transferred to Ole Miss this off-season. Noah Cain is gone. It's time for the Kaleb Jackson era to begin.
Jackson only saw 70 total snaps and 31 carries as a true freshman in 2023 but he made every last one of them count. He was dominant, powerful, and elusive forcing double digit missed tackles on just a very small sample of action. Given how good LSU's offensive line should be in 2024, Kaleb Jackson should impress if he continues to run like he does on the play CFB Dynasty's post below.
Jackson is a former four star running back who is already up to 6'0", 225 pounds since joining LSU. He's a feature back talent ready to explode for the Tigers. Yes, he'll have to split carries with Josh Williams early on in the year, but by season's end Jackson should own the lion's share of the backfield work given his talents and angry running style.
PJ Woodland, Cornerback
One of the most pleasant (and much-needed) surprises out of spring action this year was definitely true freshman cornerback PJ Woodland. He committed to LSU rather late in the process last October as a highly rated three star recruit, and wasn't supposed to be a high impact addition right away. It turns out he was too good to keep off the field and secured a starting cornerback role before spring was even over.
Woodland spent a ton of time locking down starting outside wide receivers all spring long, looking like an immediate answer at a huge position of need for the LSU Tigers. He'll likely be tested early and often given that he's a freshman, but Woodland certainly looks like he's already up to the challenge.
Aaron Anderson, Wide Receiver
The former Alabama Crimson Tide five star recruit returned home to the state of Louisiana last season, but didn't get to show off his skills too much as it was the Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. show in 2023. Now it's Aaron Anderson's time to shine. He spent much of the spring practice functioning as the LSU Tigers' starting slot wide receiver, impressing, making plays.
He may split some time in the slot with transfer wide receiver Zavion Thomas who caught a nice deep shot from Garrett Nussmeier in the spring game, but Anderson is the far superior talent. In fact, while Anderson should share the field with Kyren Lacy, Chris Hilton, and CJ Daniels for much of the year, if he reaches the potential that he flashed as a recruit there should be zero doubt as to who the best wide receiver on the team truly is.
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And if you want to watch some Aaron Anderson highlights that made him a five star recruit you can check out the video below!