LSU Fall Camp: Day 7

8/11/2022

Photo By: LSUsports.net

Da Boot Sports
8/11/2022
By: Terrill J. Weil

BATON ROUGE, LA - It was practice seven of the 2022 fall football camp and the media was invited to view the entire session. Thursday's practice was originally scheduled to take place in Tiger Stadium but was relocated to the Charles McClendon practice facility at the last minute.

We basically got to witness all the typical drills and then a controlled scrimmage during the morning practice. What we saw has my mind starting to wonder about certain positions.

In the spring I found that Myles Brennan was head and shoulders above the other signal callers and I figured that he would begin to separate himself from the others in the fall, but that simply hasn't happened.
Garrett Nussmeier who has been taking snaps with the starting unit all fall camp was dressed but didn't run plays due to a mild sprain ankle, but did throw passes in individual drills. Brian Kelly said that he should be back to full practice in a couple of days.
Jayden Daniels took most of the first team snaps. He is still an inconsistent passer in my opinion, but has the type of mobility that Brian Kelly seems to like in a quarterback.
Myles Brennan took most of his snaps with the second team. He made some nice throws, including a long beautiful touchdown pass to Brian Thomas, but did struggle with accuracy when under pressure and occasionally is holding onto the football to long.
Walker Howard is very impressive, but you have to believe Brian Kelly plans on redshirting him this season.
I'm starting to get a gut feeling that Myles Brennan is falling out of the starting quarterback race. We are a week into fall camp and Nussmeier has apparently moved in the two man rotation with the first unit that Brennan occupied in the spring.
But who knows at this point. I'm simply just trying to read the writing on the wall.
We are only a week into the fall camp with a lot of work still to be done in a short period of time. Until this battle is decided, it will be interesting to see if there will be any changes in the practice rotation.
Kelly still says they aren't any closer to naming a starter after today's practice, but a decision needs to be made soon.

John Emery Jr. and Nolan Cain rotated with the first unit and Armoni Goodwin looked strong. All the running backs performed well.

The wide receivers all looked sharp. Kayshon Boutte is going to terrorize defensive backs. Jaray Jenkins, Malik Nabors,
Brian Thomas Jr. and Kyren Lacy all caught the ball well.
Chris Hilton Jr. and Jack Bech are still absent from practice with minor injuries.

The first unit offensive line was Will Campbell (tackle) and Tre'Mond Shorts (guard) on the left side. Miles Frazier (guard) and Anthony Bradford (tackle) on the right, with Garrett Dellinger at center. I believe this has been the starting unit all week long, so maybe a decision on the starting five is close to being penciled in.
Is Mike Denbrock and Brad Davis grooming Dellinger to start at center instead of Charles Turner who held that position for the entire spring camp? Starting to look that way.
Will Campbell is a specimen and continues to show that he's the real deal. He held his own against Maason Smith and Ali Gaye today while everyone is raving over the play and huge pancake block by true freshman Emery Jones on defensive lineman Jacobian Guillory.

Brian Kelly loves the tight end position and he had praise today for true freshman Mason Taylor. Taylor is the son of former NFL great Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas is his uncle. Football runs in his blood.
Kelly expects him to contribute this season.

The defensive front will be nasty with Smith, Roy and Gaye with a deep depth chart.

Kelly talked up the play of the linebackers today. Mike Jones Jr. is developing into the leader of the group. Greg Penn III looked a little hobbled in practice, but shouldn't be anything serious. Kelly mentioned that Micah Baskerville will be a huge contributor this season as he brings experience, smarts and talent to the linebacker position. Desmond Little, West Weeks and Harold Perkins continue to impress.

The cornerback position has been an early concern but seems to be shaping up. Brian Kelly said the position is, "an area where we were concerned has now begun to look like one of great depth."
Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Mekhi Garner, Colby Richardson, Laterrance Welch, Colby Richardson and Jaelyn Davis-Robinson are all stepping up with impressive play. Ohio State graduate transfer Sevyn Banks is also returning from injury which will add even more to the depth of the position.
We also found out during the day that junior defensive back Jordan Toles has announced he's entering the transfer portal.

Special teams is still an open race as far as place kicker and return specialist. Several are competing for those jobs.
Jay Bramblett has been penciled in as the punter.

Monday morning will be the next practice open to the media. It will be practice ten of the camp.

The team is looking good and is staying healthy thus far. Expect to see the depth chart begin to shape up by the end of
next week as the season opener is quickly upon us. 23 days and counting until kickoff.

Below is video of Brian Kelly's press conference from Thursday.