The best in the country
I try to stay away from speaking in absolutes because I don’t want to be a prisoner of the moment, but I don’t think it’s at all controversial to say the following: this 2024 Tiger offensive line is the best in LSU history.
Just along the starting five I count at least four future pros highlighted by a pair of first round picks who have manned the tackle positions for the past two years. There’s also ton of potential waiting in the wings, as Brad Davis and Brian Kelly have stockpiled talent.
I don’t know who all is on the Joe Moore Award committee, but I hope they’re tuning in to watch LSU this fall because, in my opinion, there’s not a better group in the whole country.
I said it three years ago when he was an incoming freshman, and I’ll say it again now that he’s going into his last season as a Tiger before turning into a top-10 pick next spring: everything starts and stops with Will Campbell. Campbell’s been manning the left tackle spot since day one and in a few months he’s going to become paid handsomely by an NFL team to protect their franchise quarterback.
In the two years Campbell’s been at left tackle, LSU’s averaged 39.8 points a game and 496.6 yards. He hasn’t given up a sack since his freshman season and is currently riding a 15-game streak of not allowing one. He’ll once again wear his No. 7 patch since offensive linemen still aren’t allowed numbers besides 50-79, he’ll certainly be a team captain this year and he’ll be Garrett Nussmeier’s best friend.
Emery Jones, Campbell’s running mate at right tackle, is also projected to go in the first round of next April’s draft. LSU hasn’t had an offensive linemen go in the first round since Alan Faneca went 26th in 1998, but come April they’ll likely have two. We’ve been told for years that actually Jones’s natural position is as a guard instead of a tackle. Well if he’s an awesome tackle, I can only assume he’s going to be the greatest guard in football history if and when he ends up playing there.
LSU’s two other returning starters aren’t pushovers by any means. Garrett Dellinger and Miles Frazier could have turned pro at season’s end but both elected to come back for one final season in Baton Rouge. When I think of Dellinger and Frazier, the first word that comes to mind is “versatile.” Dellinger has started 21 games with 17 coming at left guard, three at left tackle, and one at center; Frazier, meanwhile, has started 26 games as a Tiger with 16 at right guard, 9 at left guard, and one at right tackle. Frazier and Dellinger may not go as high as Campbell and Jones, but if they help LSU bring home the Joe Moore Award then they ought to be top-100 picks come April.
The good news is LSU brings back four of five starters from last season’s offensive line. The bad news is the one starter they’re losing is at arguably the most important spot: center. Gone is Charles Turner, in comes redshirt freshman DJ Chester. Is it possible LSU ends up being better with Chester instead of Turner? If you’re going off just physical attributes alone then it certainly seems likely. Chester is two inches taller and about 40 pounds heavier than Turner. If the whole point of being an offensive lineman is to move giants, then the bigger the better. What it’s going to come down to for Chester is the mental side of being the center. Can he make the calls up front? Can he handle snapping the ball? He certainly looked like he could when he filled in for an injured Turner at Mizzou last year. Here’s hoping that was a sign of things to come.
You’d better enjoy this offensive line while you can because this time next year the line will go from “unquestioned strength” to “biggest question mark.” LSU gets back four of five starters in 2024, but in 2025 they’re going to lose four of five starters. That’s why these fall camp practices are going to be paramount for this upcoming season and the years to come.
Jobs for 2025 and beyond may not be won during fall camp, but don’t think for a second Davis and Kelly aren’t keeping mental notes on who gets the first shot at the spots that will open up in spring.
As mentioned above, Davis and Kelly has done wonders stocking the offensive line cupboard, now they need to develop that talent. Recruiting rankings aren’t 100 percent accurate 100 percent of the time, but you’re likely going to hit when your second and third stringers are basically nothing but four-stars. Paul Mubenga, Bo Bordelon, and Tyree Adams have all been with the program for multiple years now, while true freshmen Khayree Lee, Weston Davis, Ethan Calloway, Ory Williams, and Coen Echols are all adjusting to the college game. Davis and Echols in particular could both end up being significant contributors in the near future if they live up to their recruiting rankings. Davis was the No. 70 overall player in the 2024 cycle, and On3 viewed him as a five-star prospect, while Echols was a consensus four-star and 247 ranked him as a top-five interior offensive lineman.