Spring Football Practice No. 1 News and Notes

Football is back...well football practice is back but still.

The 2021 LSU football team took the field for its first of 15 spring practices Tuesday. While the Tigers weren’t in pads, they did put on the helmets and went through a full practice.

“We did a lot of pursuit and effort drills, both offense and defense” Ed Orgeron told reporters via Zoom. “We focused on finishing.”

Orgeron opened his presser specifically praising the quarterbacks, and said true freshman Garrett Nussmeier showed off some mobility. He was also quick to mention the interior defensive line was able to get penetration.

Speaking of quarterbacks, Orgeron said that sophomore Max Johnson was the one getting reps with the first team.

“That was my call,” Orgeron said. “There is one quarterback that’s 2-0.”

While Johnson got the first reps on day one, he’s not the starting quarterback. The reps are being divided equally between Johnson, Nussmeier, senior Myles Brennan and sophomore TJ Finley.

“It’s an open competition, may the best man win,” Orgeron put it.

Myles Brennan looks “100 percent” according to Orgeron. Brennan participated in everything Tuesday and did not need surgery on his abdominal tear, it healed on its own with the help of rehab. Brennan has yet to miss a practice and was even running some bootleg action Tuesday.

There are some players who aren’t currently participating in spring practice however. Sophomore corner Elias Ricks is out due to injury but “he may come towards the end of spring,” as Orgeron put it. Orgeron also confirmed that Micah Baskerville will be out for the entirety of spring due to academics but the staff is hoping he’ll be back this summer.

Orgeron was asked about the safety position and there’s a pressing need for underclassmen like early enrollee Derrick Davis Jr., and incoming freshmen Sage Ryan and Matthew Langlois to be ready to play early.

“They’re gonna have to,” Orgeron said. “Todd Harris has played well. Jordan Toles is back there as a new player. Derrick Davis is out there, he’s doing a phenomenal job.”

“These freshman are gonna have to play, and we may have to move a corner to safety if that doesn’t work.”

After going 5-5 and posting one of the worst title defenses in recent memory, Orgeron seems to be fully aware of the expectations that surround the LSU program. In fact he embraces it.

“I was born in Louisiana. I understand LSU’s expectation. I said it when I was hired. Nobody has to tell me about LSU’s expectations. I know exactly what they are and I invite them,” Orgeron said. “Two years ago we had the best football team in the world. But it seems like some people have forgot that. And I understand it. 5-5 doesn’t cut it. There’s no excuse. We’ve got to get better.”

In other news, the 2021 football roster was released yesterday and it included the numbers of the nine early enrollees. They are as follows:

• Maason Smith: 0
• Garrett Nussmeier: 5 (note Koy Moore switched to No. 2)
• Deion Smith: 6
• Derrick Davis: 6
• Zavier Carter: 17
• Navonteque Strong: 22
• Peyton Todd: 38
• Landon Jackson: 40
• Garrett Dellinger: 72

LSU also had a special visitor talk to the 2021 Tigers on their first day of spring practice. Former running back and current Kansas City Chief Clyde Edwards-Helaire came home and spoke to the team. LSU’s digital team, once again, released an awesome video of it on Twitter. You can see it below: