2013 Season Preview
INTRO
The LSU Special Teams Special teams play has been a difference maker for the Tigers under Les Miles as the Tigers have scored 19 touchdowns on special teams since the 2005 season. Under special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, the Tigers have consistently ranked among the SEC leaders in most categories. Last year, LSU was No. 8 nationally in net punting (40.68), No. 8 in kickoff return defense (18.1) and No. 11 in punt return defense (3.5). LSU lost its punter (Brad Wing) and placekicker (Drew Alleman) from a year ago, but the Tigers return one of the nation’s top punt returners in Odell Beckham Jr., who will likely join Jarvis Landry as LSU’s kickoff returners in 2013.
Placekicker With the graduation of Drew Alleman, LSU will turn to either junior James Hairston (6-1, 220, Jr.-2L) or two freshmen in Trent Domingue (6-0, 177, Fr.-RS) and Colby Delahoussaye (5-10, 174, Fr.-RS) to handle placekicks in 2013. LSU goes into the season with no one on the roster who has attempted either a field goal or extra-point at the collegiate level although the three players contending for the starting job are more than capable of handling the responsibility. Hairston will serve as LSU’s kickoff specialist for the third straight year as he features a strong leg with pinpoint accuracy, something that helped contribute to LSU’s top 10 national ranking in kickoff return defense.
Punter Jamie Keehn (6-4, 222, So.-1L) will replace fellow Australian Brad Wing as LSU’s punter this year. Keehn played in two games last year and averaged 43.7 yards on 12 punts. Of Keehn’s 12 punts, six traveled 50 yards or more and three were downed inside the 20-yard line.
Return Specialist Odell Beckham Jr. (6-0, 187, Jr.-2L) established himself as one of the best return men in college football last year. Beckham Jr. returned two punts for touchdowns and averaged 9.1 yards on 35 punt returns. He also returned five kickoffs for 79 yards. Jarvis Landry (6-1, 195, Jr.-2L) will likely team with Beckham Jr. on kickoff returns this year.
Snapper Reid Ferguson (6-2, 235, So.-1L) handled just about every snap – both placekicks and punts – as a true freshman for LSU in 2012 and he will be counted on to do the same this year. Listed as a pre-season All-America at his position, Ferguson is a placekicker and punters dream as his snaps are right on the mark every time. Ferguson came to LSU after a high school career that saw him develop into the premier snapper by his senior season.
Team Breakdown BASIC OFFENSE: Multiple BASIC DEFENSE: 4-3
Letterwinners Returning: Offense: Defense: Special Teams
37 18 16 3
Starters
Lost: Offense: Defense: Special Teams
25 9 14 2
Returning: Offense: Defense: Special Teams:
14 8 4 2
Lost: Offense: Defense: Specialty:
13 3 7 3
Starters Returning (14)
Starters Lost (13)
Offense (8) WR Odell Beckham Jr. (6-0, 187, Jr.-2L) QB Zach Mettenberger (6-5, 230, Sr-2L) RB Jeremy Hill (6-2, 235, So.-1L) FB J.C. Copeland (6-1, 272, Sr.-2L) OL La’el Collins (6-5, 321, Jr.-1L) OG Trai Turner (6-3, 306, So.-1L) OT Vadal Alexander (6-6, 350, So.-1L) WR Jarvis Landry (6-0, 195, Jr.-2L)
Offense (3) OT Josh Dworaczyk (6-6, 300, Sr.-4L) C P.J. Lonergan (6-4, 305, Sr.-4L) TE Chase Clement (6-5, 265, Sr.-4L) Defense (7) DE Barkevious Mingo (6-5, 240, Jr.-3L) DT Josh Downs (6-1, 287, Sr.-4L) DT Bennie Logan (6-3, 295, Jr.-3L) DE Sam Montgomery (6-5, 260, Jr.-3L) LB Kevin Minter (6-2, 245, Jr.-3L) S Eric Reid (6-2, 212, Jr.-3L) CB Tharold Simon (6-3, 187, Jr.-3L)
Defense (4) LB Lamin Barrow (6-2, 229, Sr.-3L) LB Tahj Jones (6-2, 205, Sr.-2L) CB Jalen Mills (6-0, 185, So.-1L) S Craig Loston (6-2, 205, Sr.-3L)
Special Teams (3) PK Drew Alleman (5-11, 183, Sr.-3L) P Brad Wing (6-3, 185, So.-2L) KOR Michael Ford (5-10, 215, Jr.-2L)
Special Teams (2) PR Odell Beckham Jr. (6-0, 187, Jr.-2L) KO James Hairston (6-1, 220, Jr.-2L)
Returning Statistical Leaders RUSHING
G-GS
ATT
YDS
AVG
TDS
YPG
Jeremy Hill Kenny Hilliard
11-5 12-1
142 82
755 464
5.3 5.7
12 6
68.6 38.7
PASSING:
G-GS
A-C-INT
PCT.
YARDS
TDS
YPG
352-207-7
58.8
2,609
12
200.7
Zach Mettenberger 13-13 RECEIVING:
G-GS
REC.
YARDS
AVG.
TDS
Jarvis Landry Odell Beckham Jr. Kadron Boone James Wright
13-1 13-12 13-7 12-4
56 43 26 18
573 713 348 242
10.2 16.6 13.4 13.4
5 2 4 0
TACKLES
G-GS
TOTAL
TFL
SACKS
INT
PBU
FC-FR
Lamin Barrow Jalen Mills Craig Loston
13-13 13-13 13-13
104 (52-52) 57 (38-19) 55 (29-26)
7.5-10 0 3.0-8
0 0 0
0 2-18 3-103
5 5 1
0-1 0-0 1-0
2013 FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE
LSU
9 9