2013 Season Preview
INTRO
The LSU Offense First-year offensive coordinator Cam Cameron inherits a roster that features eight returning starters and 16 players with at least one career start heading into the 2013 season. Cameron joins the Tigers after spending the past 11 years in the NFL during which time he coached Drew Brees and Philip Rivers and oversaw the development of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco into a Super Bowl champion. At LSU, Cameron takes over a Tiger offense that averaged 374 yards and nearly 30 points a game last year. Cameron’s impact could be seen immediately as he brought a fast-paced style to the practice field during the spring that translated into tremendous offensive production during LSU’s three scrimmages. Cameron will continue with a multiple offensive scheme and he will use LSU’s experience at quarterback along with the return of its top four receivers and two leading rushers to give the Tigers an advantage on that side of the ball. Quarterback Zach Mettenberger returns to lead the Tigers on offense after guiding LSU to a 10-3 mark in his first season as a starter. Mettenberger is the first LSU player since Jeff Wickersham in 1984 to return as the Tigers starting quarterback after throwing for over 2,500 yards the year before. With a year under his belt, Mettenberger appeared to be more comfortable during the spring and was even given the opportunity to call his own plays during the spring game. While he won’t call his own plays once the season starts, Cameron gave Mettenberger the chance to call the shots during the spring game to get an idea as to what the senior was most comfortable with while also getting a chance to see how he managed the game.
Quarterback For the second straight year, Zach Mettenberger (6-5, 230, Sr.-2L) stands as the only quarterback on the roster with any significant game experience at LSU. In his first year as a starter last year, Mettenberger threw for 2,609 yards and 12 touchdowns while completing 58.8 percent of his passes (207-of352). In 2012, Mettenberger joined Matt Flynn (2007) and Warren Rabb (1958) as the only quarterbacks in LSU history to lead the Tigers to double-digit victories in their first seasons as a starter. Equipped with tremendous arm strength, Mettenberger has used the offseason to improve his footwork and quickness and is in position to have an outstanding senior season for the Tigers. Mettenberger will be backed up by Stephen Rivers (6-8, 225, So.-SQ), Rob Bolden (6-4, 208, Jr.-RS) and a pair of true freshmen in Anthony Jennings (6-2, 205, Fr.HS) and Hayden Rettig (6-2, 201, Fr.-HS). Rivers, the brother of NFL quarterback Philip Rivers, played in four games a year ago and gives the Tigers a quality backup with good skills and an understanding of the game. Bolden, a transfer who started 17 games in two years at Penn State, redshirted last year and goes into camp with a chance to compete for playing time. Jennings and Rettig both graduated high school early and enrolled at LSU during the spring.
Running Backs LSU returns its top two rushers from a year ago led by Jeremy Hill (6-2, 235, So.-1L), who burst onto the scene midway through the 2012 season and became one of the top freshmen in the country. Hill capped his rookie season with 755 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, making him one of the most productive freshmen in school history. Hill rushed for 100 or more yards four times, including 127 against Texas A&M, 124 vs. South Carolina and 107 against top-ranked Alabama. Kenny Hilliard (6-2, 235, Jr.-2L) and Alfred Blue (6-2, 220, Sr.-3L) return to give LSU one of the most talented backfields in college football. Hilliard has rushed for 800 yards and 14 TDs in two years with the Tigers, while Blue has 910 yards and 10 touchdowns during his career.
Blue will be back at full strength after missing the final 10 games of the 2012 season with a knee injury. At the time of his injury in week 3, Blue was averaging over 100 yards rushing per game. Terrence Magee (5-9, 212, Jr.-1L), a hybrid back who can also lineup at wide receiver, rounds out the backfield for the Tigers.
Fullbacks The fullback position will continue to play a prominent role in the LSU offense and the Tigers have the good fortune of having two of the best in the college game at the position in J.C. Copeland (6-1, 272, Sr.-2L) and Connor Neighbors (5-11, 236, Sr.-1L). Copeland is a wrecking ball who provides the Tigers with the perfect disposition for the spot. A converted defensive lineman, Copeland can be seen on film taking on defensive tackles or linebackers with ease, opening holes for the Tiger running game. Copeland started 12 games in 2012 and he will be counted on to handle the bulk of the snaps against in 2013. He will be backed up by fellow senior Neighbors who has good ball-skills along with being a punishing blocker.
Wide Receivers Odell Beckham Jr. (6-0, 187, Jr.-2L) and Jarvis Landry (6-1, 195, Jr.-2L) return to lead the wide receiving corps after combining for 99 catches, 1,286 yards and seven touchdowns in 2012. Beckham Jr. is a player with big-play capability, while Landry has developed as a sure-handed receiver who has a knack for coming up with the difficult grab. Beckham Jr. has 84 receptions in his career for 1,188 yards and four touchdowns, while Landry has accounted for 60 catches for 616 yards and five TDs. Kadron Boone (6-0, 207, Sr.-3L) and James Wright (6-2, 203, Sr.-3L) are both veterans who have made big plays in big games. Last year, Boone hauled in a spectacular 29-yard TD pass that gave the Tigers the lead for good in a road win over Texas A&M, while Wright caught a 48-yard pass that setup a score against Ole Miss. Travin Dural (6-2, 180, Fr.-RS), John Diarse (6-1, 205, Fr.-HS) and Quantavius Leslie (6-4, 190, Jr.-JC) will be counted on to provide depth at the receiver position.
Quarterback Zach Mettenberger
Tight End Travis Dickson (6-3, 230, Jr.-1L) and Dillon Gordon (6-5, 280, So.-1L) return as the only two tight ends on the roster with any game experience. Dickson and Gordon both saw significant snaps a year ago, but they will be counted on to become more involved with the offense in 2013. Dickson, the brother of former LSU starting tight end Richard Dickson, has good hands and will help in the passing game. Gordon has the size of an offensive tackle and is an asset in the running back. The addition of junior college transfer Logan Stokes (6-5, 253, Jr.-JC) and one of the nation’s top high school tight ends in DeSean Smith (6-4, 226, Fr.-HS) will help bolster the position.
Offensive Line Last year, injuries decimated the LSU offensive line during the first two months of the season forcing the Tigers to insert a pair of freshmen into the starting lineup. Those two players – guard Trai Turner (6-3, 306, So.-1L) and tackle Vadal Alexander (6-6, 350, So.-1L) – will anchor the right side of the line for the Tigers in 2013. They will be joined up front by senior guard Josh Williford (6-7, 332, Sr.-3L), who moves from the right side to the left side and tackle La’el Collins (6-5, 321, Jr.-2L), who is in position for a breakout year in 2013 after switching from guard to tackle during the spring. Williford leads all offensive linemen with 20 starts, while Collins has 13 to his credit. Collins has all the tools necessary to become a dominant left tackle. The departure of senior center P.J. Lonergan leaves the Tigers with only one player with any experience at that spot – junior Elliott Porter (6-4, 300, Jr.-1L). Porter and true freshman Ethan Pocic (6-7, 285, Fr.-HS) both split time with the No. 1 offense during the spring and they go into fall camp battling for the starting spot. The Tigers will rely on offensive line depth from Jerald Hawkins (6-6, 300, Fr.-RS), who can play either tackle position and junior college transfer Fehoko Fanaika (6-6, 340, Jr.-JC), who can play either guard spot.
2013 FOOTBALL MEDIA GUIDE
LSU
77