DA BOOT SPORTS TAKES A LOOK AT THE 2025 LSU FIGHTING TIGERS

Photo By: Jonathan Mailhes

Da Boot Sports
7/28/2025
By: Terrill J. Weil


   LSU will kickoff the 2025 football season in less than five weeks on Saturday, August 30 on the road against Clemson. After finishing 9-4 last season, the Tigers should be ready to take the next step in Brian Kelly's fourth season in Baton Rouge. After three seasons on the bayou, Kelly is 29-11. The pressure is on as expectations are sky high heading into the 2025 campaign. 

    Here is a quick look at the 2025 Tigers, position by position.

   
    QUARTERBACK
   
   LSU returns one of the best quarterbacks in the nation with 5th year senior Garrett Nussmeier running the offense. Nussmeier goes into the season as a Heisman Trophy candidate.
   A big question heading into the season will be, who is the backup? Will it be Mississippi State transfer Michael Van Buren Jr. or Colin Hurley, who missed all of spring camp due to an injury while in a car accident.
   LSU decided to move Ju'Juan Johnson to quarterback in the spring. Will we see if Joe Sloan has developed a goal line/short yardage package to feature Johnson's blazing speed and explosiveness.  When Johnson arrived in Baton Rouge last season, he was practicing in the secondary. But after John Emery was lost for the season due to injury, Brian Kelly moved Johnson to the running back position to add depth.  


    

    RUNNING BACK

   The Tigers are loaded at running back. Expect Caden Durham (5-9, 205) to be the starter. Kaleb Jackson (6-0, 234) is a solid talent who is a great change of pace option, as he brings more power to the lineup. True freshman Harlem Berry (5-11, 190) is a phenomenal talent and will see the field. LSU is in great shape in the offensive backfield with these three young men carrying the ball. 



    WIDE RECEIVER

   LSU could very well have the best receiving corp in the nation. Veterans, Zavion Thomas (5-10, 192), Aaron Anderson (5-8, 188) and Chris Hilton Jr. (6-0, 190) all return.
   The depth behind them is amazing. Red shirt sophomore transfer from Florida State, Destyn Hill, (6-1, 197), transfer from Oklahoma, Nic Anderson (6-4, 208), senior transfer from Kentucky, Barion Brown (5-11, 185),  Kyle Parker (5-11, 195) and Kylan Billiot (6-3, 193) round out the position. No doubt Nussmeier has an arsenal of talented weapons at his disposal.




    TIGHT END

   When you talk LSU tight ends, you need to start with Trey'Dez Green (6-7, 240) who is entering his second season in the purple and gold. 
   Expect to see 5th year senior transfer from Oklahoma, Bauer Sharp (6-5, 250) on the field often. Donovan Green (6-4, 250), 
GiVanni Peterson (6-5, 260) and true freshman JD LaFluer (6-7, 263) round out the depth.



    OFFENSIVE LINE

   The offensive line is the biggest question mark on the offensive side of the ball for the 2025 season. LSU will be replacing four starters.
   Hopefully this new group will be better run blockers. Look for Tyree Adams (6-7, 313) to start at left tackle. DJ Chester (6-6, 320), should be the staring left guard. Newcomer transfer from Virginia Tech, Braelin Moore (6-2, 300) should be the starter at center. The left side of the line is still up for grabs. I would have to say that Josh Thompson (605, 301) should start at left guard and Weston Davis (6-6, 317) has a solid chance to start at right tackle.
   Soloman Thomas (6-4, 325) and Carvius Curne (6-5, 335) are two super talented, true freshman who will battle for playing time. The Tigers are also expecting big things from Coen Echols (6-3, 316) and Paul Mubenga (6-5, 316).  This unit must gel quickly and stay healthy if LSU has any chance of qualifying for the 12-team CFP.





    DEFENSIVE LINE

   This new-look defensive line should get LSU fans excited. Kyle Williams has talent and depth to coach and mold.
   Jacobian Guillory (6-2, 320) returns for his 6th season after suffering a season ending injury in week two against Nicholls last season. He will return in 2025 at full strength and will be a leader up front.
   Two exciting, prized transfer additions are Bernard Gooden (6-4, 250) transfer from South Florida and the massive, Sydir Mitchell
 (6-6, 355) from Texas. Both will make an immediate impact.
   Ahmad Breaux (6-3, 280) who played on the edge last season, bulked up and moved to the inside. Dominik McKinley (6-6, 306) has star potential written all over him.  Zion Williams (6-4, 355) is a great talent with loads of potential.
   The rest of the depth includes, Brandon Brown (6-1, 291) and Walter Mathis Jr. (6-2, 285). Expect this defensive front to be tough and nasty in 2025. 





     DEFENSIVE END/EDGE

   The 2025 ends and edge rushers is another position of strength. They should cause havoc in the backfield every Saturday. LSU  landed some transfer gems to this group that makes them a dangerous one.
   Patrick Payton (6-5, 250) comes to the Bayou from Florida State where he was a force in the ACC.  Jimari Butler (6-5, 260) brings his productive talents from Nebraska.  Former Gator, Jack Pyburn (6-5, 265) who should be a major contributor, comes to the Bayou Bengals from Florida. 
   Quality depth begins with Dylan Carpenter (6-4, 260) who has shown flashes.  CJ Jackson is talented but young. Gabriel Reliford
 (6-5, 250) is expected to show improvement in his second season.  Kolaj Cobbins (6-2, 233) is a talented red-shirt freshman and true freshman Damien Shanklin (6-4, 245)  is a 4-star recruit with impressive talent.






     LINEBACKER

​    When you talk about this crew, it begins with Whit Weeks (6-2, 225) and Harold Perkins (6-1, 220).  Perkins decided to return after a terrible knee injury ended his 2024 season. He is expected to play the 'Star' position in 2025.  Weeks is returning from an ankle injury that occurred in the Texas Bowl. He has made a nice recovery and has developed into a team leader. Weeks has a nose for the football and making big plays. 
   Devhon Keys (6-0, 230) and West Weeks (6-3, 233) will see playing time.  True freshman Charles Ross II (6-1, 212) is someone to watch for. Talented depth includes Zach Weeks (6-2, 218), Keylan Moses (6-2, 208), Tylen Singleton (6-1, 220) and Jaiden Braker (6-3, 217).





     CORNERBACK

    Could this 2025 group return LSU back to DBU status?  Ashton Stamps (6-0, 190) is CB1. Mansoor Delane (6-0, 191), a transfer from Virginia Tech will compete with true freshman DJ Pickett (6-4, 190) for the other starting spot.
   Talented Ja'Keem Jackson (6-0, 195)  transferred in from Florida and will see the field. Depth rounds out with PJ Woodland (5-11, 165) who had a solid freshman season in 2024, Michael Turner Jr. (6-1, 158), Aidan Anding (5-11, 167), Justin Echols (6-1, 200), Craig Walton Jr. (5-11, 175) and Walace Foster IV (5-10, 175). 






      SAFETY

   Once again, the safety position will be the question mark of the secondary. Tamarcus Cooley (6-0, 195) a transfer from NC State should start, while Jardin Gilbert (6-3, 205) and Dashawn Spears (6-3, 205) will compete for the other starting position.
   The versatile Javien Toviano will see the field. The depth rounds out with Austin Ausberry (6-0, 195), Joel Rogers (6-0, 198), CJ Jimcoily (6-3, 212), Jacob Bradford (5-11, 190), Jhase Thomas (6-1, 162), AJ Haulcy (6-0, 222) and Tyson Short (6-2, 198).






      SPECIAL TEAMS

   Place kicker Damian Ramos (6-2, 190) returns for final season. Ramos is as solid as it gets. The young man kicks with ice running through his veins. Very dependable in the clutch. 
   The punting game had its struggles last season, but the addition of Middle Tennessee transfer, Grant Chadwick (6-5, 205) could address the inconsistency issues. Punter Peyton Todd (6-5, 230) also returns for his junior season.
   Kickoff specialist Aeron Burrell (6-2, 195), who has one of the strongest legs in college football returns. He won All-SEC honors in 2024. 

    Zavion Thomas, Aaron Anderson and Barion Brown are all in the running to return kicks. While at Kentucky, Brown had a history of explosive returns , including multiple touchdowns and leading the SEC in return average. Thomas did an exceptional job of returning kicks for the Tigers in 2024. 



     2025 OUTLOOK

   Brian Kelly has said this is the best roster he's had since arriving in Baton Rouge. Anything less of qualifying for the CFP will be a huge disappointment. The roster is loaded with talent and depth, but the Tigers will face one of the toughest schedules in the country. 

   For the Tigers to return to the top of the SEC, Garrett Nussmeier must stay healthy and play at a high level. He must shine in the big games.  The rebuilt offensive line must gel quickly and stay healthy, showing major improvement in run blocking abilities. LSU must be able to run the football effectively and continue to provide outstanding pass protection.

   Blake Baker's defense must continue to show improvement and return to old style, super physical and suffocating LSU defense. They must avoid any and all mental break downs. Know and do your job on every play.

   They must get off to a fast start. LSU is 0-3 in season openers under Brian Kelly. They need to win the season opener on the road at Clemson, then take care of business against Florida at home in week 3. The Tigers must be 4-0 when they travel to Oxford on Saturday, September 27 to take on Ole Miss. The Tigers have finish 10-2 or better to earn a trip to Atlanta and a spot in the 12-team CFP.
   I feel like this program is ready to take the next big step under Brian Kelly, a very solid coaching staff and an abundance of talent and depth. If LSU can stay healthy and have the ball bounce their way with the blessings of the football gods in big games, I see them finishing 11-1 or 10-2. 

   It's almost that time Tigers Fans!!!   GEAUX TIGERS!!!

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