Coach O Addresses QB Transfers, Does Not Name Starter

LSU coach Ed Orgeron finally addressed the Tigers’ quarterback situation on Wednesday after redshirt freshman Lowell Narcisse transferred on Tuesday and junior Justin McMillan followed suit Wednesday morning.

Their departures leave LSU with two scholarship quarterbacks in sophomore Myles Brennan and Ohio State transfer Joe Burrow. Behind them are walk-ons Andre Sale, a transfer from Tennessee Tech, and Jordan Loving.

Orgeron wished the two former quarterbacks the best of luck and called them “two Tigers that gave it their all,” and added that he had great talks with both before they left the program.

McMillan was a part of former LSU coach Les Miles’ recruiting class in 2015 as a three-star dual-threat quarterback out of Cedar Hill, Texas, and he thanked both Miles and former offensive coordinator Cam Cameron for bringing him to LSU in a message via Twitter. McMillan only saw a few snaps in his four years at LSU with most of those coming against Jacksonville State in 2016 where he completed one pass for 19 yards.

Narcisse on the other hand was a coveted recruit in 2017 from St. James, Louisiana, that had five-star potential but had his high school career derailed by knee injuries in his junior and senior seasons. After redshirting last season, Narcisse had wildcat and goal line packages installed for his skills to be utilized for the upcoming season.

However, when Burrow was brought in from Ohio State, the writing on the wall seemed to be there for McMillan, who failed to lock up the starting spot in the spring. Narcisse’s announcement was a bit unexpected, and Orgeron knew there was a possibility one quarterback would transfer but added he was surprised to lose both quarterbacks this early in camp.

Now the focus has shifted wholly to Burrow and Brennan for the battle to be the starting quarterback.

Orgeron said the job was not given to either quarterback before McMillan and Narcisse transferred, but that all four had been given grades and there was a pecking order established, neither of which were final, after Saturday’s scrimmage.

Without the logjam at quarterback, the offense is becoming more efficient in practice.

“I’ve seen a compete difference in our offense the past couple days,” Orgeron said. “There’s more consistency. Guys are playing with a lot of fire. There’s better completed balls, still a long way to go, but I see a pep in those guy’s step. Obviously, with four guys, nobody knew what was going on or who was going to be the starter, and now with two of them, obviously, one of those two guys are going to start.”

With less than three weeks to go till the season opener against Miami, the decision at quarterback is expected to come soon. And while Burrow is considered the favorite, don’t count out Brennan, who almost beat out Danny Etling in 2017 and has been having a much better fall after struggling in the spring.

Elsewhere in camp, Moran at Tiger Rag helpfully reports the following injury news:

-Potential center Garrett Brumfield missed Wednesday with a “slight injury”, also absent from the offensive line were Chasen Hines, Badara Traore, and Cam Wire.

-Justin Jefferson may return to practice before the end of the week

Also, there were Dippin Dots