Reacting to subscriber’s bold predictions for LSU’s Fall Camp

LSU’s fall camp is less than one week away and we continue to preview the upcoming month in creative ways. This time, I thought, why not let the fans contribute and get their bold predictions on record.

Here, we’re going to be reacting to the bold predictions of our Bengal Tiger On3 subscribers. Thank you to everyone who sent in questions.

Offensive line predictions

Marlon Martinez in action against Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Mikedatiger10: Martinez starts at center

Marlon Martinez is in direct competition with Charles Turner and perhaps Mason Lunsford this fall for the starting center job on this offensive line. Turner started a majority of the season in 2022, but Martinez showed some impressive potential in the games Turner missed late in the season. Martinez is 30 pounds heavier and just as experienced entering August. It’s going to be a fascinating battle and one that I wouldn’t be surprised to see Martinez win. This is a good prediction, but not too bold.

Boldness rating: 3/10

Hokomojo: Emery Jones gets supplanted by Heard at RT and Jones moves to RG

This is a scenario that I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about entering the fall. Freshman Zalance Heard was my top player in the 2024 class and it’s going to be hard to keep him off the field, but I don’t want to start assuming freshmen can step in and start on the offensive line. That’s not normal even though it happened last year. Heard is listed at 340 pounds, which is significantly more than Will Campbell (325) and Emery Jones (315) right now. It could take him a year to get to his ideal weight and conditioning, which is why I’ve been hesitant to make this prediction. I do think Jones likely moves to guard in 2024.

Boldness rating: 6/10

Who starts at Nickel?

Photo: On3 – Sam Spiegelman

CapitalCityTiger21: Sage Ryan locks down the NB position

The Nickel spot is something I really don’t have a great feel on entering fall camp. In the spring, Ryan and Javien Toviano worked a lot at corner, but Duce Chestnut transferred in from Syracuse and was an All-ACC caliber corner. Ryan got passed up last year by Greg Brooks and Jay Ward, so he’ll have to take a step forward to win the job this fall, but it’s certainly possible.

Boldness rating: 5/10

LSUminati: Toviano will emerge as a starting Nickel and first off the bench Safety.

This would be something. Toviano would have to beat out Ryan and likely Chestnut for this job as a true freshman. It helps that he had the spring to work and show the staff what he could do, but right now I feel like he’s going to be a valuable backup at both spots right now. If he emerges as the surefire starter this fall, I’ll be really impressed.

Boldness rating: 9/10

Underrated impact players?

Former 4-star WR Aaron Anderson. (On3)

Townsend11: TE transfer Connor Gilbreath will be the offensive unsung hero

Gilbreath is a junior college transfer tight end that could very well slide to tackle if the staff wanted to put 30 more pounds on him. He has ambitions as a blocker and will be a high-level player setting the edge for the Tigers throughout the season. I definitely think he’s going to be an underrated past of this offense and throughout this fall, he could set himself to be a great complement to Mason Taylor.

Boldness rating: 4/10

CapitalCityTiger21: Aaron Anderson will be a force to reckon with

When LSU initially added Anderson, I saw major potential for him to be a gadget weapon for the Tigers’ offense as a versatile piece in addition to what he provides as a return man. The fact he missed the spring made it harder to imaging him fitting into this offense because he is so unique, but there’s plenty of talent and quickness there to work with. I’m cautiously optimistic to see him this fall to see how much of a force he will be.

Boldness rating: 5/10

Conerback disagreements

Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Tigercycline: Denver Harris locks down a CB spot.

All three of these cornerback points tie in together, but I’m on record believing in Harris and Zy Alexander to win the two outside cornerback jobs in 2023. Therefore, this prediction is not as bold to me. Harris was very good in his six games at Texas A&M and would have been a full-time starter as a freshman if not for getting kicked off the team. If LSU can harness that talent, we’re looking at the best corner on the roster. I think this was also in response to all the people saying he wouldn’t start, though.

Boldness 2/10

Tysjens: Denver Harris does NOT lock up a starting CB spot by end of camp.

Here it is. All four of the cornerback candidates got work with the starting unit throughout the spring, leaving the door wide open for competition. Harris, Alexander, Laterrance Welch, and JK Johnson all are talented enough to start, but we’ll have to see who wins the jobs. Harris is still the most talented and the one I most expect to win a job, though.

Boldness: 8/10

LanTheBuilder: Zy will start opposite Welch

Not only does Harris not start, but neither does Johnson. The two players who have experience starting multiple games at Texas A&M and Ohio State both are on the second unit for an FCS transfer and a true sophomore who didn’t play last year? That is a BOLD take. I love it. There’s certainly no question of Alexander and Welch’s talent level, but taking the next step in their games to surpass both Harris and Johnson will be fascinating to watch. One of the two starting wouldn’t shock me, but both is a completely different take.

Boldness: 9/10

At running back

Photo: Sam Spiegelman -On3

IDontKneaux: A highlight will be the stable of running backs without one able to separate in the best way; the talk of fall camp!

There are currently eight running backs on the roster right now and the LSU fan base loves all eight of them. It’s certainly a deep room, but to me, there is a clear top two with Logan Diggs and Josh Williams and then John Emery and Noah Cain as the 3rd and 4th options. It wouldn’t surprise me if we went the entire fall and those top four split an even amount of carries, while Kaleb Jackson, Tre Bradford, and Trey Holly rotate in then Goodwin continues to make sure he’s 100 percent ready to go coming off of his knee injury. I have Diggs as the best back and Williams as a capable No. 2, a step ahead of the rest.

Boldness: 6/10

TigahRev: Trey Holly emerges as RB2

Yea this is sizzling. Scorching. Blazing. All of the synonyms apply here. This is a hot take. I’d currently have Holly 7th or 8th in the running back room pretty comfortably. Cain was much better than him in the spring and let’s not forget Holly is a true freshman. I’d be pretty shocked if Holly got more than 15 carries this year.

Boldness: 10/10

Otie: Kaleb Jackson emerges as one of the top running backs, will get significant playing time.

I like this prediction a lot as someone who is really high on Jackson. He dropped in the rankings his senior year after suffering a season-ending ankle injury, but he returned for the track season and posted incredible numbers. He has the potential to be the next elite running back at LSU and set the stage for what’s to come in the 2025 class and beyond. I don’t see him being in the top two, but I think he gets carries this year. Still, there are a lot of names to beat out.

Boldness: 7/10

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