Link Gumbo: 10-30-19

The past nine weeks have been a blur. LSU is 8-0. The Tigers have big wins against Texas, Florida, and Auburn. Joe Burrow and the LSU offense seem to be at the center of the national discussion week in and week out. The Tigers are partying like it’s 2011. With the bye week before the big showdown vs Alabama, things are finally simmering down a bit. We are in the eye of the storm having weathered the first nine weeks of it. This week allows LSU and fans alike to take a breather before the deluge that is Alabama hits next week. So let’s get right to the news.

We will start with the Tigers 23-20 win over Auburn. The offense started slow in the first quarter as they have done a few times this season but they eventually rallied and made some big plays when it counted to take the lead. The defense continued to improve, giving their best performance of the year.

For an in-depth post game review from ATVS’ Billy Gomilla, click here.

To read Poseur’s weekly ‘Behind The Box Score’ piece, click here.

Perhaps the biggest story of the game may be the performance from senior RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Outside of Louisiana, Edwards-Helaire is not mentioned with the best backs in the country although that may begin to change after a big performance in the national spotlight on Saturday. Early in the broadcast, Gary Danielson called Edwards-Helaire “the best kept secret in the SEC.”

All year LSU has been known for their high-flying passing attack. The Auburn game was the first time we really saw the LSU offense pound their way to victory on the ground. Auburn has an elite front seven so it was a promising sign that LSU could bully a team like that in the trenches. That is not something we saw often from the Tigers OL in 2018.

LSU fans hearts stopped when star DB Grant Delpit went down late in the game with what looked to be a lower leg or ankle injury. Ed Orgeron assured fans early in the week that Delpit is ‘fine’ and should not be a concern going into Alabama.

LSU has been on fire lately on the recruiting trail. Their most recent commit is a four star 6-1 WR from Green Oaks High. His name is De’Coldest Crawford. Yes, you read that right. His name is De’Coldest. The name alone makes him a huge get for the Tigers although he will not be on campus until 2022.

LSU’s biggest get talent wise lately has been five star TE Arik Gilbert. Gilbert, who attends high school in the Atlanta area seemed to be a sure get for Kirby Smart and UGA. His commitment to LSU came as a welcome shock to many.

Over the weekend LSU also landed four star LB BJ Ojulari and four star DB Malcom Greene.

An interesting situation as we race to signing day is the size of the 2020 LSU recruiting class. It sits at 24 public commitments right now and there is always a chance that there are commits who have silently pledged. The problem is, and it is a first-world problem, no doubt, that LSU can only sign 25 of these recruits. ATVS’ Paul Crewe takes a look at where all the pieces fit and how LSU may handle this.

College basketball begins next week. Expectations are once again high for Will Wade’s team. LSU went to the Sweet 16 last year behind guys such as Tremont Water and Naz Reid. Waters and Reid are both in the NBA now but LSU still has a good amount of talent to compete in the SEC.

Click here to read Athlon Sports’ preview of the 2019 LSU basketball team

ATVS is also taking a look around the SEC to make sure you are prepared for the season. Click here to read Zach Junda’s check in on Mississippi State.