2020 Projected Depth Chart, Too Early?

[LSUDad]

LSU's Projected Depth Chart: Defense

• by Shea Dixon
• 9 hours ago

The LSU football team capped off a 15-0 season with a blowout win over Clemson in the National Championship Game in New Orleans, etching the program's name into the record books as arguably one of the best college football teams of all time.

Head coach Ed Orgeron reeled in nearly every Coach of the Year award, as did senior quarterback Joe Burrow with Player of the Year awards - most notably the Heisman Trophy, the second in program history and first since Billy Cannon took home the honor 60 years ago.

As the page turns, turnover comes with it.

LSU saw defensive coordinator Dave Aranda head to Baylor as the new head coach in Waco, while passing game coordinator Joe Brady left after one season to become the offensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers.

Meanwhile, a handful of seniors are gone from the roster, from Burrow to cornerback Kristian Fulton and more.

Toss in that nine underclassmen declared for the NFL Draft, and the roster in 2020 will look completely different than the one the Tigers put on the field this past season.

Here's the breakdown on what the depth chart might look like on defense.

DEFENSIVE END

(Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

Projected Starters: Glen Logan, Neil Farrell

The Other Options: Travez Moore, Jarell Cherry, T.K. McLendon, Justin Thomas, Nelson Jenkins, Jaquelin Roy, Eric Taylor, Ali Gaye

Thanks to Orgeron and the staff's efforts on the recruiting trail, the Tigers have plenty of talented options on the defensive line in 2020 - and certainly that's the case at defensive end.

Logan started in 11 of the 12 games he played, logging 20 tackles last season. His return will put him back into the starting lineup, which should also become the case for Farrell, who was arguably LSU's best defensive end across the first month of the season. He only made three starts, but he had 46 tackles, seven tackles for loss and three sacks. The duo gives LSU a pair of veterans who also have proven to be talented when on the field.

 

 

But there will be competition and plenty of rotating.

Moore and Cherry were outside linebackers who moved down to defensive end as pass rushers with their hands in the dirt, while McClendon moved from tight end to defensive end to give LSU even more options at the position. Thomas has shown some flash when he's been given the chance, but he sat out much of the season after taking time away from the team. His return will boost the depth at the defensive end spot, for sure. After two years in the program, Jenkins should be ready to battle for playing time in the rotation, as well.

Then there's the incoming signees, who all have their eyes on early playing time. Roy, a Baton Rouge native, could certainly see snaps next season given his talent. Taylor will not be far behind, though a redshirt season wouldn't be a surprise given depth at the position.

Gaye isn't expected to redshirt, with Orgeron signing the JUCO standout to give LSU an experienced option who has great size and put up some solid numbers during his final year of JUCO ball. Gaye's rise up the depth chart will depend largely on how he looks in summer workouts and fall camp.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

(Photo: Chuck Cook, USA TODAY Sports)

Projected Starter(s): Tyler Shelvin, Apu Ika

The Other Options: Joseph Evans, Jacobian Guillory

Shelvin was one of the most pleasant surprises of the year for LSU, regardless of position. His 2019 showing was a breakout campaign that saw him log starts in 12 of 13 games he appeared in, finishing with 39 tackles and three tackles for loss as one of the most disruptive nose tackles in the country. His return for the 2020 season is a major boost to the interior of the defensive line, which is key in Southeastern Conference play.

 

 

Ika also saw plenty of action behind Shelvin during his true freshman season in 2019, appearing in 13 games and logging 17 stops and 1.5 tackles for loss. Much like Shelvin, Ika is a natural nose tackle who is able to draw double teams but also blow up the point of attack and get himself into the backfield.

Evans could likely play inside or outside, but we expect him to remain in the middle and see more action as a redshirt freshman. The staff started him in one game, but capped his action at four games so he could keep a redshirt. He logged seven tackles in those four games.

Guillory is one of the most talented interior linemen in the 2020 recruiting class, and landing his signature in December was huge for the position. He's a national champion powerlifter with insane strength, but he also does much more than eat up blockers, showing a consistent ability as a senior in high school to get past the line of scrimmage and get to the ball carrier. His upside is there, and most feel he's set for a huge career in Baton Rouge. Expectations are that all four defensive tackles listed above will see playing time in 2020. 

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

(Photo: Stephen Lew, USA TODAY Sports)

Projected Starters: Ray Thornton, Marcel Brooks

The Other Options: Andre Anthony, Soni Fonua, Desmond Little, Ray Parker, Phillip Webb, BJ Ojulari

This is where things get interesting. Does LSU role with Thornton at one of the outside linebacker spots, or will they move JaCoby Stevens down from safety and play him in a full-time role at outside linebacker? He's done both while in Baton Rouge. With Thornton, you get a veteran who has played plenty as a backup during his time on campus, and he had nine tackles and a quarterback hurry in 13 games played. He also recovered one of the biggest fumbles of the year, which came on Alabama's opening drive in Tuscaloosa and helped give LSU the edge early on.

There's no doubt that Brooks - a former five-star - will be in the starting lineup. He showed a ton of flash as an edge rusher playing opposite K'Lavon Chaisson in passing situations, and the six-game suspension for Michael Divinity allowed him to really settle into a groove as a freshman. With his sophomore season coming in 2020, Brooks should be one of LSU's most talented players on defense.

Anthony is the veteran alongside Thornton, and he logged nine tackles in nine games played with a pair of starts. He will certainly battle Thornton - and others - for playing time opposite Brooks. 

Fonua, a one-time JUCO prospect who spent his first season on campus last year, appeared in four games on the back end of the season, but what he can truly offer up remains to be seen. Little took a redshirt and will try to battle his way into the two-deep, while Parker - a talented athlete - moved from tight end to outside linebacker during the season, though he didn't see game action during year one. Could he wind up moving again? He can play outside linebacker, defensive end, tight end or even offensive tackle.

LSU signed a pair of talented outside linebackers in four-stars Webb and Ojulari, and Ojulari is an early-enrollee who will have a jump start on getting acclimated to college life. Both had tons of college offers and were coveted by plenty of SEC programs. If there was an early edge to give from the group, it likely goes to Ojulari, a freakish athlete who posted big numbers at Marietta and will be a full participant in spring practices with the team.

MIDDLE LINEBACKER

(Photo: Derick E. Hingle, USA TODAY Sports)

Projected Starters: Damone Clark, Micah Baskerville

The Other Options: Donte Starks, Antoine Sampah, Josh White

Another position LSU will have to replace both starters is middle linebacker. That means finding a way to replace the combined production from Jacob Phillips and Patrick Queen, who together posted 198 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. LSU's had a great run at middle linebacker with players like Devin White, Deion Jones, Duke Riley and others, but now it's on a new defensive coordinator to find a way to keep that momentum rolling.

Clark is the most experienced middle linebacker back on the team, and despite starting just three games, he finished sixth on the team in total tackles with 50. He added four tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, and he's the most cerebral linebacker on the roster, which will make him a massive piece to the middle of the defense. Who starts alongside him remains to be seen, but our guess goes to Baskerville. He played in 12 games and logged 15 tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack. 

Starks took a redshirt and will look to carve out a role after appearing in three games last season. LSU signed two more four-star middle linebackers in Sampah and White, and both head to Baton Rouge with a chance to lock up a spot in the two-deep right away. Sampah finished with 60 tackles in six games as a senior, while White logged 100-plus tackle seasons as a sophomore, junior and senior in high school in Texas.

CORNERBACK

(Photo: Chris Graythen, 247Sports)

Projected Starters: Derek Stingley Jr., Cordale Flott, Kary Vincent

The Other Options: Jay Ward, Raydarious Jones, Elias Ricks, Dwight McGlothern

There was arguably no cornerback in the country who played better than Stingley, who didn't even turn 18 years old until after the season began. He led the Southeastern Conference in nearly every category among defensive backs, and it's almost unfair to think quarterbacks and receivers will have to face him for two more years in college before he's allowed to enter the NFL Draft. 

But what happens beyond Stingley for "DBU"? Thanks to Corey Raymond's recruiting over the past two cycles, some talented options are available. 

The replacement for Kristian Fulton could well be Flott, who appeared in 14 games with one start as a true freshman, logging 15 tackles, four pass breakups and four passes deflected. He played with confidence given he was thrown in the fire right away, and Flott should be primed to grab the spot Fulton left opposite Stingley. 

 

 

That said, Ward is another option who will certainly see plenty of playing time. After battling injury, he still appeared in 13 games and had three passes deflected and three passes broken up with nine total tackles. For a freshman, those were solid numbers against stiff competition.

Don't sleep on the upside Jones brings. He played only quarterback in high school, but won a state title thanks to his athleticism - and his testing numbers were nearly on par with Stingley coming out of high school. He's long and can run, which is what Raymond loves in a cornerback. And after a year of adjusting to the position, he should see his game grow in a huge way this offseason.

As always, the Tigers reloaded at cornerback with a signing class that will include Ricks and McGlothern. Ricks, a five-star, is an early-enrollee who will be determined to crack into the rotation, and history has shown us that LSU will need as many cornerbacks available as Raymond can get ready. Expect Ricks to play as a freshman. The same goes for McGlothern, a four-star out of Texas who shined at defensive back and receiver as a senior. He committed to LSU in January and will sign in February, and he is position versatile as he could offer up a talented option at cornerback, safety or even receiver. 

SAFETY

(Photo: Andy Altenburger, 247Sports)

Projected Starters: JaCoby Stevens, Maurice Hampton

The Other Options: Todd Harris, Eric Monroe, Cameron Lewis, Jordan Toles

LSU loses Grant Delpit from the safety position, and the Thorpe Award winner isn't easily replaceable. But getting Stevens back for his senior season was huge, and it won't surprise us to see him move into the No. 18 jersey after he passed up the chance to enter the NFL Draft. Stevens had an insane stat line in 2019, finishing second on the team in tackles with 92 and adding nine tackles for loss, five sacks, three interceptions, six pass breakups, nine passes deflected and two quarterback hurries.

The question becomes, does LSU's new defensive coordinator stick with Stevens at safety or move him down to outside linebacker in an effort to get Hampton and Harris onto the field as starters?

Hampton came on strong at the end of his freshman year to earn two starts and log action in 13 games with 10 total tackles. He's a natural fit at free safety, but given Harris can also play the spot, we could see Hampton find time at both safety spots - which have often become interchangeable in recent years for the Tigers. Harris missed nearly all the season after suffering a knee injury ahead of week four, but he entered 2019 as a starter alongside Delpit. Regardless of how the trio of Stevens, Hampton and Harris are used, all three will play a ton.

Monroe will be a senior who has experience, but he's played through injuries for much of his career, finishing 2019 with just seven tackles. With Delpit gone and the chance of Stevens seeing more time playing in the box, Monroe's playing time should go up. The same goes for Lewis, who appeared in all 15 games and had 20 tackles on the year. When Delpit was banged up, it was Lewis who saw more playing time.

Toles is the lone pure safety the Tigers signed in December, and the two-sport standout brings athleticism and physicality to the position. It won't surprise us to see him get some early playing time with the safety group in 2020.

FINAL THOUGHTS

There are certainly some key names gone from the roster, from Rashard Lawrence at defensive end to Patrick Queen and Jacob Phillips at middle linebacker to K'Lavon Chaisson and Michael Divinity at outside linebacker to Grant Delpit at safety. 

But the talent is there with the backups and returning starters, and a majority of them saw playing time either in 2019 or years prior. 

The most interesting position battle should come along the defensive line, with LSU offering up plenty of options while returning a pair of starters in Shelvin and Logan. 

Getting Stevens and all the production he brought in 2019 was massive for the outlook in 2020, and the signing class will bring in some key names who can help right away on the defensive side.

Of course, the biggest question mark is defensive coordinator. Who will LSU hire to replace Dave Aranda, who departed to take the head coaching gig at Baylor. There could also be other movement with the coaching staff, most notably the potential for safeties coach Bill Busch to follow Aranda to Waco as a defensive coordinator.

The new hire will also bring with it the question of whether the Tigers stay in a 3-4 defensive scheme or move to a 4-3 scheme, and many feel the depth along the defensive line would make a 4-3 more beneficial. 

[Hatchertiger]

This guy does his homework!

 

[LSUDad]

The three biggest returning names, Shelvin, Vincent and Stevens. Those three are major in this defense. Let’s see who steps up in the Spring. Then go from there. 
 

Will take a look at the offense later. 

[Hatchertiger]

The new DC in part will determine more what the d-line and LBs may look like than anything else. Will he stick with the 3-4 or go back to the 4-3? I've read couple places that O wants more of attacking defensive utilizing the defensive lineman more than simply holding blocks so that the LBs can make play.  Apparently the 4-3 is better suited for that.  We shall see.  Regardless, new players have to step of every year for the team to have success.

[LSUDad]

20 minutes ago, Hatchertiger said:

The new DC in part will determine more what the d-line and LBs may look like than anything else. Will he stick with the 3-4 or go back to the 4-3? I've read couple places that O wants more of attacking defensive utilizing the defensive lineman more than simply holding blocks so that the LBs can make play.  Apparently the 4-3 is better suited for that.  We shall see.  Regardless, new players have to step of every year for the team to have success.

True Hatch, we may do this as a base, but remember, down and distance, we have speed rushers for a 3rd and long situations. Many teams we faced went with 3 down linemen, 1 or two LB, then the rest, DB’s. 
 

As our players got healthy, our defense got so much better. 

[Hatchertiger]

27 minutes ago, LSUDad said:

 

As our players got healthy, our defense got so much better. 

I'm not advocating a switch, that call is waaaay beyond my knowledge of the game at this point. In HS we ran a straight "50" defense and experimented with a 2-6-3 (It was essentially a 4-3 with the defensive ends standing up rather than having a hand down) my junior year due to the absence on many capable defensive lineman. It was a cluster and we returned to the "50" real quick.

[dachsie]

12 hours ago, LSUDad said:

The three biggest returning names, Shelvin, Vincent and Stevens. Those three are major in this defense. Let’s see who steps up in the Spring. Then go from there. 
 

Will take a look at the offense later. 

I would think Stingley should be in this list

[LSUDad]

32 minutes ago, dachsie said:

I would think Stingley should be in this list

Sting can’t go out, these are people that are eligible to leave. Folks that can declare early.