Da Boot Sports
1/21/2022
LSU Sports Information
By: Michael Bonnette


   ​BATON ROUGE – Twenty former LSU football players will look to move a step closer to the Super Bowl this weekend when the NFL holds its divisional playoff round.
 
Play starts with two games on Saturday followed by a pair of games on Sunday. Saturday’s early game has Joe Burrow and the Bengals traveling to face the Titans at 3:30 p.m. on CBS. Last week, Burrow and fellow Tiger Ja’Marr Chase led the Bengals to their first playoff win in 31 years when Cincinnati beat the Raiders.
 
The Bengals-Titans game will feature seven former Tigers – all members of LSU’s 2019 national championship team. The list includes: Burrow, Chase, Tyler Shelvin and Thaddeus Moss for the Bengals along with Racey McMath, Kristian Fulton and Tory Carter on the Titans. 
 
On Saturday night, Arden Key and the 49ers face the Packers at 7:15 on FOX. The Packers are the only NFL playoff team without an LSU player on their roster.
 
Sunday’s two games feature 12 former Tigers with the Rams-Buccaneers game at 2 p.m. CT on NBC showcasing seven LSU players. The defending Super Bowl Champion Buccaneers have five Tigers on their roster – Leonard Fournette, Devin White, Kevin Minter, Rashard Robinson and Cyril Grayson. The Rams feature 2003 LSU national champion Andrew Whitworth and Odell Beckham Jr.
 
The final game on Sunday has the Chiefs hosting the Bills at 5:30 p.m. on CBS. Five former Tigers will be in action in that game - Tyrann Mathieu, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Darrel Williams for the Chiefs and
Reid Ferguson and Tre’Davious White for the Bills. New LSU defensive coordinator Matt House is the linebackers coach for the Chiefs.
 
Divisional Playoffs
Saturday, Jan. 22
Bengals at Titans * 3:30 p.m. CT on CBS
Bengals
Active: QB Joe Burrow, WR Ja’Marr Chase, DT Tyler Shelvin
IR: TE Thaddeus Moss
Titans
Active: WR Racey McMath, CB Kristian Fulton
IR: FB Tory Carter
 
49ers at Packers * 7:15 p.m. CT on FOX
49ers
Active: DE Arden Key
Packers – None
 
Sunday, Jan. 23
Rams at Buccaneers * 2 p.m. CT on NBC
Rams
Active: OT Andrew Whitworth, WR Odell Beckham Jr.
Buccaneers
Active: RB Leonard Fournette, LB Devin White, LB Kevin Minter, CB Rashard Robinson, WR Cyril Grayson, Jr.
 
Bills at Chiefs * 5:30 p.m. CT on CBS
Chiefs
Active: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB Darrel Williams, DB Tyrann Mathieu
Bills
Active: SNP Reid Ferguson
IR: CB Tre’Davious White
 

Da Boot Sports
1/5/2022
By: Terrill J. Weil


   HOUSTON, TX: A decimated LSU football team took it on the chin Tuesday night, falling to the Kansas State Wildcats, 42-20 in the TaxAct Texas Bowl in Houston, Texas. 
   With the loss LSU will finish the 2021 season with a 6-7 record, the first losing season for the Tigers since 1999. 

   Kansas State started driving the nails into the coffin early as they would score touchdowns on their first three possessions  showing LSU no mercy on either side of the ball. 
   
   Defensively, Kansas State loaded the box all night long, daring the quarterbackless Tigers to throw the football. With Jontre Kirklin being forced into the starting quarterback role, the offense sputtered throughout the night. 
   
   Offensively, the Wildcats basically did whatever they wanted against an outmanned LSU defense. K-State running back Deuce Vaughn had a big night, running through the Tigers' defense for 146 yards and three touchdowns while adding another on a two yard touchdown catch. Quarterback Skylar Thompson found receivers running free through the LSU secondary throughout the contest, completing passes to ten different players as he finished 21-28 for 259 yards and three touchdowns. The Wildcats scored touchdowns on six of their nine possessions. 

   Even though LSU only had 38 scholarship players dressed out for the contest, the Tigers battled hard until the final play of the game. 
   
   Jontre Kirklin gave his all, finishing 7-11 for 138 yards passing with three touchdown passes and two interceptions
while leading the team in rushing with 61 yards on 11 carries. 
   Brad Davis praised Kirklin after the game. "He is the epitome of a selfless kid. He probably didn't have the career he expected to coming out of high school, but he never complained or wavered or thought of transferring or quit. In fact, he was the opposite."

   With not much room to run, Corey Kiner (53 yards on 14 carries) and Josh Williams (32 yards on 7 carries) both ran hard, fighting for every inch.

   Malik Nabers finished with two catches, with one coming on a 15 yard touchdown,..  Jaray Jenkins finished with one catch for a 23 yard touchdown,.. and Chris Hilton had one catch for an 81 yard touchdown on the final play of the game. 

   There weren't many defensive highlights, but even though Kansas State's offense had their way all night long, you never saw any quit from a Tiger on defense. They fought, scratched and clawed until the end. Todd Harris and Jay Ward both led the team with nine tackles each,..  B.J. Ojulari and Pig Cage each finished the game with six tackles and one sack each... 

  "The future at LSU is extremely bright." Brad Davis said. "The kids we have at LSU love LSU. Coach Kelly is going to take these kids to new heights. My message to the kids after the game was remember this feeling and let it drive you to be better."

Da Boot Sports
1/4/2022
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA:  Sources have reported that LSU freshman quarterback Garrett Nussmeier will not be available for the Texas Bowl on Tuesday night.  The NCAA has denied the waiver request by LSU that would have allowed him to play in the Texas Bowl without loosing his redshirt. It's was Nussmeier's decision not to play. 

   This leaves only two quarterbacks left on the LSU roster. Freshmen walk-on quarterbacks Tavion Faulk and Matt O'Dowd should expected to split time at quarterback against Kansas State. Faulk is the nephew of Kevin Faulk and led Carencro to a state championship last season.  O'Dowd chose to walk-on at LSU instead of accepting a scholarship offer from Davidson.

   It's been rumored that Jontre Kirklin has been taking several snaps at quarterback during LSU's Texas Bowl preparations. Kirklin who played quarterback in high school at Lutcher, converted to wide receiver after arriving at LSU.

   Interim head coach Brad Davis has not revealed any information on the Tigers' quarterback situation for the game on Tuesday.

   
​   Sources also report that junior defensive back Cordale Flott has decided to opt out of the Texas Bowl and forego his final season at LSU to enter the 2022 NFL Draft.  Flott now joins Neil Farrell, Damone Clark, Tyrion Davis-Price, and Glen Logan who have decided to opt out of the bowl game to begin preparations for the NFL Draft.

   Other players expected to miss the Texas Bowl for undisclosed reasons are; 
OL - Garrett Dellinger
RB - Tre Bradford
LB - Micah Baskerville
CB - Dwight McGlothern
CB - Cam Lewis
OL - Marcus Dumervil

   LSU will be majorly shorthanded in the Texas Bowl with nearly 30 players missing due to NFL Draft declarations, opt outs, academic issues, transfers, COVID and injuries.  Kansas State has reported no opt outs for the game. 

Below is LSU's Texas Bowl depth chart released on Monday

Da Boot Sports
1/2/2022
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA: Brian Kelly continues to add to his coaching staff in Baton Rouge.  Kelly's announced on Sunday that he has hired Mike Denbrock to be LSU's next offensive coordinator. Denbrock has spent the last five seasons as offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bearcats.

   Denbrock has worked under Kelly for 14 years, seven at Grand Valley State (1992-1998) then for seven seasons at Notre Dame (2010-2016).  He is known for being a great recruiter and has worked as both an offensive and defensive coordinator. Denbrock has coached every position on the offensive side of the ball.  

   “I’ve coached with Mike for many years. He’s one of the best offensive minds in the game, and we share an established trust, respect, and understanding that will help us maximize the talent of our players immediately,” Kelly said. “His offenses have maintained a consistent level of excellence throughout his entire career, and he understands how to develop players at every position. I’m excited for him to join our staff and elevate our program.”

   Mike Denbrock joins Matt House, the team's new defensive coordinator, ... Robert Steeples, a defensive assistant coach,...
former Oklahoma defensive line coach, Jamar Cain,... and Jacob Flint, new strength and conditioning coach on the new football staff...

Da Boot Sports
1/2/2022
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA: Another LSU starter has opted out of the Texas Bowl. Junior running back Ty Davis-Price announced on Friday that he will opt out of the Texas Bowl to prepare for the 2022 NFL Draft, foregoing his senior season with the Tigers. 

   “It’s been an honor to suit up and wear the purple and gold these past three years." Davis-Price announce on Twitter. "To be a part of a national championship team has been nothing short of amazing.  After prayerful consideration, my family and I decided that it is best for me to forego the bowl game and my senior year at LSU. I’m excited to embark on a new chapter of my life. I will be entering the 2022 NFL Draft.”


   Davis-Price led the Tigers in rushing in 2021, averaging 4.8 yards per carry while rushing for 1,003 yards on 211 carries and  six touchdowns.