LSU has 13 named to SEC Coaches Preseason Teams
LSU Has 13 Named to SEC Coaches’ Preseason Teams
BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU football tied for the most selections on the 2016 Preseason Coaches All-Southeastern Conference Football Team with 13 players on the list the league office announced on Thursday morning.
The voting was done by the league coaches during the first two weeks of August. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players. The University of Alabama also had 13 picks preseason all-conference selections, with Tennessee being the only other institution with double-digit selections with 10.
Making the cut on the first team is Leonard Fournette at running back, with center Ethan Pocic up front on the offensive side. On defense, Kendell Beckwith slots in at linebacker, while Tre’Davious White lands at defensive back.
On the second team, William Clapp earns a spot along the offensive line, with Malachi Dupre landing as one of two wide receivers. Davon Godchaux is up front on the defensive line, while Arden Key was slotted in at linebacker and Jamal Adams at defensive back.
Quarterback Brandon Harris leads the third-team offense, which also includes Derrius Guice and Travin Dural. The last LSU selection is Lewis Neal on the defensive line.
The Tigers open the 2016 regular season against Wisconsin at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, September 3 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The game will air live on ABC.
2016 Preseason Coaches All-SEC Football Team (* – ties)
First Team Preseason All-SEC
OFFENSE
TE O.J. Howard, Alabama
OL Cam Robinson, Alabama
Dan Skipper, Arkansas
Greg Pyke, Georgia
Alex Kozan, Auburn
C Ethan Pocic, LSU
WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama
Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
QB Chad Kelly, Ole Miss
RB Leonard Fournette, LSU
Nick Chubb, Georgia
AP Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
DEFENSE
DL Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
Jonathan Allen, Alabama
Derek Barnett, Tennessee
Carl Lawson, Auburn
LB Reuben Foster, Alabama
Kendell Beckwith, LSU
Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Tennessee*
Jarrad Davis, Florida*
DB Eddie Jackson, Alabama
Jalen Tabor, Florida
Cameron Sutton, Tennessee
Tre’Davious White, LSU
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Daniel Carlson, Auburn
P JK Scott, Alabama
RS Christian Kirk, Tennessee*
Evan Berry, Tennessee*
Second Team Preseason All-SEC
OFFENSE
TE Evan Engram, Ole Miss
OL William Clapp, LSU
Avery Gennesy, Texas A&M
Martez Ivey, Florida
Alphonse Taylor, Alabama*
Braden Smith, Auburn*
C Brandon Kublanow, Georgia
WR Fred Ross, Mississippi State
Malachi Dupre, LSU
QB Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee
RB Jalen Hurd, Tennessee
Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt
AP Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia
DEFENSE
DL Montravius Adams, Auburn
Charles Harris, Missouri
Bryan Cox, Florida
Davon Godchaux, LSU
LB Tim Williams, Alabama
Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
Brooks Ellis, Arkansas*
Arden Key, LSU*
DB Jamal Adams, LSU
Dominick Sanders, Georgia
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
Tony Conner, Ole Miss
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Adam Griffith, Alabama*
Elliott Fry, South Carolina*
P Johnny Townsend, Florida
RS Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia
Third Team Preseason All-SEC
OFFENSE
TE Jeremy Sprinkle, Arkansas
OL David Sharpe, Florida
Mason Zandi, South Carolina
Jashon Robertson, Tennessee
Frank Ragnow, Arkansas
C Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama*
Frank Ragnow, Arkansas*
Jon Toth, Kentucky*
WR Travin Dural, LSU
Drew Morgan, Arkansas
QB Brandon Harris, LSU
RB Stanley “Boom” Williams, Kentucky
Brandon Holloway, Mississippi State
AP Derrius Guice, LSU
DEFENSE
DL Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss
Lewis Neal, LSU
Deatrich Wise, Arkansas*
Daeshon Hall, Texas A&M*
A.J. Jefferson, Mississippi State*
LB Richie Brown, Mississippi State
Oren Burks, Vanderbilt
Lorenzo Carter, Georgia
DB Marcus Maye, Florida
Marlon Humphrey, Alabama
Johnathan Ford, Auburn
Quincy Wilson, Florida
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Gary Wunderlich, Ole Miss
P Trevor Daniel, Tennessee
RS Marcus Davis, Auburn*
Cameron Sutton, Tennessee*
Brandon Holloway, Mississippi State*
LSU Tigers ranked No.5 preseason AP Poll
LSU Ranked No. 5 in Preseason AP Poll
UBATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU Football team earned its highest preseason ranking since 2012, as the Tigers were voted No. 5 in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 Poll announced Sunday, earning a spot on the list for the 16th consecutive year.
It’s the eighth time since 2001 that the Tigers have been ranked in the top 10 to open the season, while being the third time in the last six seasons that the squad has been ranked in the top five as in 2012 LSU was ranked third overall that year.
Under head coach Les Miles LSU has now been ranked in the top 10 to open the season seven times as he enters his 12th season at the helm of the program. In 11 of those 12 seasons, Miles has led a group that has started the year ranked in the top 15, with seven starts in the top five.
Three of LSU’s 2016 opponents are also featured in the preseason poll, with Alabama at No. 1, Ole Miss at No. 11 and Florida at No. 25. Just outside of the poll and receiving votes includes Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Auburn and Arkansas.
LSU also received a first-place vote in preseason poll.
LSU wrapped up its preseason camp last week, as the Tigers transition into regular season work in preparation for the opener on September 3 against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT and will air on ABC.
AP Preseason Top 25
Rank, Team (First-Place Votes), Points
1, Alabama (33), 1469
2, Clemson (16), 1443
3, Oklahoma (4), 1352
4, Florida State (5), 1325
5, LSU (1), 1269
6, Ohio State (1), 1224
7, Michigan (1), 1147
8, Stanford, 1029
9, Tennessee, 1021
10, Notre Dame, 1006
11, Ole Miss, 718
12, Michigan State, 710
13, TCU, 707
14, Washington, 651
15, Houston, 644
16, UCLA, 496
17, Iowa, 484
18, Georgia, 448
19, Louisville, 447
20, USC, 344
21, Oklahoma State, 316
22, North Carolina, 283
23, Baylor, 280
24, Oregon, 218
25, Florida, 180
Others receiving votes: Miami 159, Texas A&M 81, Utah 74, Washington State 68, Boise State 49, San Diego State 46, Wisconsin 42, Auburn 22, Pittsburgh 15, Arkansas 14, Texas 12, Nebraska 11, Navy 8, Northwestern 5, Western Kentucky 4, South Florida 2, Toledo 2.
LSU Football reports on Wednesday, 1st practice on Thursday.
- LSU FOOTBALL REPORTS TO CAMPUS ON WEDNESDAY; FIRST PRACTICE ON THURSDAY
BATON ROUGE – LSU is expected to welcome 105 players to campus on Wednesday as the Tigers begin preparations for their 12th season under head coach Les Miles.
Miles and the Tigers open the 2016 season on Saturday, Sept. 3 against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. It will be the first major college game contested at legendary Lambeau Field.
Wednesday’s opening day of training camp will consist of a series of organizational, academic and team meetings for the Tigers as they prepare for the first day of practice the following day. The players will also be fitted for equipment as well as undergoing physicals and other screenings with the medical staff.
LSU returns 16 starters on offense and defense, include consensus All-America running back Leonard Fournette along with two other preseason All-America selections in center Ethan Pocic and safety Jamal Adams.
LSU will spend the first four days of practice with split-squad workouts. The veterans will practice in the morning for the first four days, while the newcomers along with some selected veterans will work out in the afternoon. LSU will practice as a full squad for the first time on Monday, Aug. 8.
LSU will have its first scrimmage of camp on Saturday, Aug. 13 and then the Tigers will take part in Media Day and Fan Day on Sunday, Aug. 14. The fall semester at LSU starts on Monday, Aug. 22.
LSU ADDS TWO FOOTBALL GAMES WITH RICE IN 2020 AND 2024
LSU ADDS TWO FOOTBALL GAMES WITH RICE IN 2020 AND 2024
BATON ROUGE – LSU has added two football games with Rice in the coming years as the Tigers will face the Owls in NRG Stadium in 2020 followed by a return trip to Tiger Stadium in 2024, the schools announced on Tuesday.
The LSU-Rice game in 2020 will be played on Sept. 19, while the 2024 contest will take place on Sept. 7.
These two games are in addition to the 2018 contest between the teams in Baton Rouge that was announced in January.
The 2020 contest in Houston will mark LSU’s fourth appearance in the NFL venue that’s home to the Houston Texans. LSU beat Wisconsin, 28-24, at NRG Stadium to open the 2014 season and the Tigers closed last year with a 56-27 win over Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl. The Tigers are scheduled to open the 2017 season against BYU in NRG Stadium.
The 2018 game will be the first between the teams since 1995 when the Tigers posted a 52-7 win over the Owls in Baton Rouge. LSU has won the last five meetings with Rice and leads the overall series, 37-13-5. Rice’s last win over the Tigers came in 1980 in Houston by a 17-7 count.
LSU FOOTBALL TO HOST SATELLITE CAMPS IN SHREVEPORT AND NEW ORLEANS
BATON ROUGE — Les Miles and his coaching staff will be bringing LSU football to north and south Louisiana as the Tigers will hold “Satellite Camps” in Shreveport/Bossier City and New Orleans during the first week of June, Miles announced on Tuesday.
The first camp, which will be held on Thursday, June 2, will take place at Freedom Field in Bossier City and will cost only $20 to attend. After hosting a kicking and specialist camp on the LSU campus on Friday, June 3, Miles and his staff will conduct a camp at the New Orleans Saints Practice Facility in Metairie on Saturday, June 4. The price of the camp at the Saints Facility is $20.
LSU will also hold a free youth camp in conjunction with the New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD) on Tuesday, June 7 at Joe Brown Park.
“First of all, philosophically, we want to be in Louisiana first,” Miles said. “We want to make sure that the places that we turn to are people that play on our teams first. We will end and start our camps in Shreveport, New Orleans and certainly Baton Rouge. We are also going to partner with in-state colleges who are willing to participate, including Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana Tech, McNeese State, Southeastern, Southern, Grambling, Nicholls State, Northwestern State and Louisiana College.
“Our first nine days (of the allotted 15) will be in the state of Louisiana. We won’t leave the state until we have delivered a camp to the north, south and certainly on our campus.”
In addition to the three camps outside of Baton Rouge, Miles will host five camps on campus at the Charles McClendon Practice Facility in June and July. After the kicking camp on June 3, Miles and his staff will host a youth camp on June 5-6, high school camps on June 9-11 and July 21-23 as well as a 7-on-7 team camp and a lineman camp on July 16.
Information on LSU’s Satellite Camps as well as the camps taking place on the LSU campus can be found at www.LSUcamp.com.
Miles said he’s excited to partner with 10 other state universities at the Satellite Camps as well as the camps being conducted on the LSU campus.
“The schools that are partnering with us have a vested interest in the state of Louisiana,” Miles said. “Louisiana is where they get their players from. They (other coaching staffs) want to be at a place where there is going to be as many as 400-plus prospects and have the ability to watch and see them perform, instruct them and see how they learn. Being around and representing another college certainly is positive.”
Miles said that one big goal of the three camps located off of the LSU campus is developing relationships, while also introducing young football players to a certain level of football.
“What we intend to do with that commitment is we want to start and segment the pieces in youth football, but we really want to get around and raise the understanding of technique in football in the state,” Miles said. “We want to create relationships in New Orleans and in Northern Louisiana certainly as we serve them. You instruct, teach and raise the level of play. It’s a very positive thing for everyone involved.”
ABC to televise LSU season-opener against Wisconsin
ABC TO TELEVISE LSU SEASON-OPENER AGAINST WISCONSIN
BATON ROUGE – LSU’s 2016 season-opener against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin will be televised by ABC and carry a 2:30 p.m. kickoff, the network announced on Tuesday.
The LSU-Wisconsin game is one of six games that will be part of an ESPN and ABC tripleheader on the first full Saturday of college football season. The full lineup of games that is part of the Saturday ESPN and ABC tripleheader include:
· No. 5 Oklahoma vs. No. 18 Houston (AdvoCare Texas Kickoff – NRG Stadium) 11 a.m. CT on ABC
· Hawaii at No. 3 Michigan (Ann Arbor, Mich.) 11 a.m. CT on ESPN
· No. 6 LSU vs. Wisconsin (Lambeau Field – Green Bay, Wisc.) 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC
· No. 13 Georgia vs. No. 19 North Carolina (Chick-fil-a Kickoff – Georgia Dome) 4:30 p.m. on ESPN
· No. 12 Southern Cal vs. No. 1 Alabama (AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas) 7 p.m. on ABC
· No. 2 Clemson at Auburn (Auburn, Ala.) 8 p.m. CT on ESPN
ESPN/ABC is calling the first week of the 2016 season the “best college football opening weekend schedule ever”. The lineup also includes Notre Dame at Texas on Sunday, Sept. 4, followed by a Labor Day contest between Ole Miss and Florida State in Orlando, Fla.
The 2016 season marks LSU’s 12th year under head coach Les Miles, who has led the Tigers to a 112-32 mark in Baton Rouge. LSU is 11-0 in season-openers under Miles and the Tigers go into the Wisconsin game with the longest non-conference regular season winning streak in the history of college football at 52 consecutive victories.
The remainder of LSU’s early-season television lineup is expected to be announced at the SEC Spring Meetings later this month in Destin, Florida.
Austin Thomas returns to LSU Football Staff
BATON ROUGE – Austin Thomas has re-joined the LSU football staff as assistant athletic director/director of player personnel for the Tigers, head coach Les Miles announced on Monday.
Thomas spent nearly three years as LSU’s Director of Player Personnel before departing for a similar role at Southern Cal, where he had previously worked, in February of this year. After three months with the Trojans, Thomas opted to return to the LSU football staff.
“We are excited to have Austin back on the staff,” Miles said. “We hated to see him leave so we were thrilled when we were able to get him back. Austin is extremely talented and detail-oriented and he’s played a big role in our recruiting success over the last three years.”
LSU FOOTBALL SPRING GAME – LES MILES QUOTES
‘April 16, 2016
LSU FOOTBALL SPRING GAME – LES MILES QUOTES
HEAD COACH LES MILES
Opening statement…
“I certainly enjoyed the game. No one was injured, and there were some good plays made by a host of our guys. Leonard (Fournette) averaged six yards a carry. Malachi (Dupre), in my opinion, made something out of some very short passes. I like Dee Anderson’s reception for a touchdown. He’s a guy who really has the potential to make big plays in big games. I like Trent Domingue. Trent kicks a 42-yard field goal and our punter (Josh Growden) looks like he will be able to step into Tiger Stadium and kick it. We’ve given a lot of time to the passing game. I think we’re improved and I like where are quarterbacks are… We’re improving there, and I like the path we’re on. Defensively, we put in a nice base. I think our defense knows kind of what to expect out of the calls. We’re now in a position where we add some bells and whistles to the defense. Obviously, we moved a lot of things we do offensively, defensively and on special teams before the game, so we didn’t give a tremendous hint to our opponents. I like us; I like our spring practice as a whole, and even though the game is not a game, we got functional work with ones versus ones to start. That will be some film that we have not had in several years here, and I look forward to see how our first teams played against each other.”
On the new coaches and new schemes and how the team has settled in…
“I think we’re in a good position. I think you’ll see the scheme of the defense continue to take off. You had to put some time in 15 practices to get a real quality base, and I think we did that.”
On freshmen Michael Divinity and Devin White contributing at linebacker…
“It’s really nice to see young guys come in and play with some real skill and ability to give the coaching staff expectations that they can step on the field and help us in big games. Both of those guys have shown that throughout the spring.
On his biggest takeaway from the spring…
“I like how we improved as a group. I don’t take lightly that Trent Domingue steps in to Tiger Stadium and kicks a 42-yard field goal. Minus a game, the heat was on; the offense just had a nice drive, and I enjoyed that. I think our specialists are better and our kickers are better on kickoffs, punts and field goals. I think we’re improved there. Defensively, I like where the spot is with what we have in. We have a nice platform and foundation that should allow us to make change. We’ve given time to the passing game, and I think it shows. That’s kind of my thought process.
Pics from the National L Spring Game 2016
Photos from Jason Harry
Photos from Jason Harry
Photos from Jason Harry
Photos from Jason Harry
