LSU offensive lineman Garrett Dellinger (72) and LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell (66) hold Grambling defensive lineman Jaden Hardy (98) back in the first half against Grambling, Saturday, September 9, 2023, at Tiger Stadium on the campus of LSU in Baton Rouge, La. LSU offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr. (50) blocks linebacker Bradyn Swinson (13) during the National L Club Spring Game on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Having an offensive line that can consistently open holes for the running game and keep the quarterback upright are two things that help college coaches sleep better in the fall. Having continuity from tackle to tackle is another key element for a productive offense, which LSU has proven in back-to-back 10-win seasons under Brian Kelly. When the Tigers line up in front of new starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier for the first snap of preseason camp Thursday, those essential components will be present in the form of four game-tested veterans.
Left tackle Will Campbell, left guard Garrett Dellinger, right guard Miles Frazier and right tackle Emery Jones will be in their spots for the third consecutive year. Center Charles Turner completed his eligibility, so the only newcomer is redshirt freshman DJ Chester. Campbell, Dellinger, Frazier and Jones have combined for 99 starts at LSU — 51 of them coming a year ago when the Tigers went 10-3 and led the FBS in scoring, total offense and passing efficiency.
They were part of a group that was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, which goes to the nation's top offensive line, while helping Jayden Daniels claim the Heisman Trophy. Daniels has moved on to the NFL, so now they'll try to put up big numbers with Nussmeier after averaging 39.8 points and 496.
6 total yards per game over the 2022 and '23 campaigns. With four of five starters returning, it'll be interesting to see if this group can be even more dominant than it was a year ago. The short answer is yes when you start with bookend tackles like Campbell and Jones — who have both been honored on the coaches' All-Southeastern Conference teams — and move inward.
Still, they might need some time to gel considering they have a new quarterback in Nussmeier and a new center in Chester, who could be the anchor of the line with his 6-foot-6, 318-pound frame, but they've done it before. As a result, while it was a huge question mark at this time two years ago, the offensive line just might be the strength of this year's team and possibly one of the best in the entire nation. Much of that has to do with playing together, especially after there was just one missed start a year ago.
Jones was held out of the Army game with a sprained ankle, but that foursome eventually started 51 of a possible 52 games. The O-line was impressive in 10 of 15 spring practices open to the media, and Kelly made it known after the spring game that the Tigers need to balance the run and pass better. LSU specialized in big plays last season with Daniels using his right arm and fellow NFL first-round draft picks Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas to time and again frustrate opposing defenses.
While his team may need to be more methodical this season with the use of running backs Josh Williams and Kaleb Jackson and others, Kelly knows where that has to start. “If you can't win the line of scrimmage with this offense, you will not be explosive,” he said. “We cannot be finesse five-wide (receivers), spread it out and do it that way.
"What's most satisfying is that we're gonna have to start with the offensive line controlling the line of scrimmage through the running game. If we do that, you'll get the explosive plays." The presence of four established starters will give offensive line coach Brad Davis a chance to develop some depth — particularly for the future — in preseason camp.
Coming out of the spring, the second-team line included left tackle Tyree Adams, left guard Paul Mubenga, center Coen Echols, right guard Christian Stamps and right tackle Bo Bordelon. Bordelon is a redshirt sophomore, while Adams, Mubenga and Stamps are all redshirt freshmen. Echols is a true freshman who impressed the coaches in the spring.
Snaps taken the past two seasons by LSU's four returning offensive line starters. Campbell leads the way with 1,687 snaps with Frazier (1,607) and Jones (1,594) close behind. Dellinger, who was limited by injuries to six games in 2022, has taken 1,194 snaps.
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