College Football Countdown Team Spotlight: LSU Tigers

LSU Tigers

2009 Record: 9-4

Highest/Final Ranking: 4/17

Bowl: Capital One Bowl, Lost 17-19

They're getting restless in Baton Rouge. After winning the 2007 National Championship, Coach Les Miles and LSU have yet to get another 10 win season or bowl victory. The Fighting Tigers and their fan base are yearning for another try at a National Championship after two relatively "down" years. This year in a weakened SEC they should first concentrate on winning the conference. With a strong recruiting class coming in, and returning talent on both sides of the ball, the Bayoux Bengals should absolutely be in the conversation with Alabama for the SEC West.

The Tigers have possibly more unearthed potential on offense than any other team in the country. Sophomore converted wide receivers Russell Shepard and Rueben Randle were Rivals.com top ten blue chips coming out of high school, and the gems of LSU's 2009 recruiting class. Both are former quarterbacks who have size (Shepard is 6'1", Randle is 6'3") and explosive playmaking ability. Shepard, in particular, can also kick return and play tailback as well. NFL scouts are already projecting Randle and Shepard as future high first round picks. The cornerstone of this very talented receiving corps is veteran Terrance Toliver. The 6'5" senior was LSU's second leading receiver last year, catching 53 passes for 3 touchdowns and 735 yards. Look for Toliver to be one of the SEC's leading pass catchers by years end thanks to his crisp route running and physical stature. The Bayoux Bengals' ground game will be headed up by the former prep Parade All-American Michael Ford. Ford will be a redshirt freshman this year, and is fast and exciting to watch. Keep an eye on five star recruit and true freshman Spencer Ware though. A 5'11", 225 pound power back, Ware might be used in goal line situations and on third downs.

The talent of the Tigers' offense will shine through only if junior quarterback Jordan Jefferson (right) is able to step up his game this upcoming season. Last year, the 6'5" Jefferson was brought along slowly but was efficient, throwing for 2166 yards, 17 touchdowns, and only 7 interceptions. New wide receiver coach Billy Gonzalez will not only be counted on to manage the high pedigree pass catchers LSU has, but also add life to a Tigers' passing game that finished 97th in the FBS last year. The offensive line protecting Jefferson has been shifted around by coordinator Gary Crowton to compensate for player departures. This unit is anchored by senior Joseph Barksdale, while talented sophomore Alex Hurst has used a strong showing in the spring game to be the leading candidate at right tackle.

The Bayoux Bengals defense doesn't lack star power, but might not be as effective as it should be this year. Leading the squad is one of the best players in the nation, cornerback Patrick Peterson (above). Standing at 6'1" and weighing 220 pounds, Peterson can play physical on a wide receiver at the line of scrimmage or tackle a running back in the open field. His 4.2 hand timed 40 yard dash proves that he has blazing speed to accompany his strength. Also, Peterson has ball skills and soft hands, as his 2 interceptions and 15 passes defended from last year show. NFL Scouts stoutly believe he is the best defensive back in all of college football, and a future top 5 draft selection. The rest of the LSU secondary are speed merchants, too. The junior cornerback opposite of Peterson, Ron Brooks ran a 4.23 40. The safeties Jai Eugene and Brandon Tyler are both veterans who will assure that nobody will be passing over the top of the LSU defense. The Tigers' front seven isn't nearly as deep or skilled as the secondary. Middle linebacker and All-America candidate Kelvin Sheppard might be the only bright spot in a depleted linebacking corps and defensive line. Three of the four starters on the defensive line have departed, as well as two of Sheppard's partners at middle linebacker. The 6'3", 239 pound Sheppard will have to be the vocal leader of an inexperienced group, and try to keep them organized.

Les Miles in his first five years as the head man in Baton Rouge has already placed himself third on LSU's all time wins list with 51. Now, with an offense littered with young stars ready to break out and a defense that has talent but little experience, to get this group to working as a unit could be his most challenging job yet. If Miles is able to get LSU out of a difficult month of September undefeated, with games against North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, and West Virginia, the Tigers could very well find themselves in the nation's top ten once again and ready for another run at college football glory.


-John Stoller