Early 2023 LSU Defensive Starting Lineup Projection

LSU will return to the field on March 21st, when it will resume its spring practices that will lead up to the annual spring game that will be held on April 22nd. Brian Kelly and his staff are coming off a successful first season in Baton Rouge as they were able to lead the Tigers to a ten-win season. They were able to hit the ten-win mark for the first time since the 2019 season when LSU won the national championship.

There is room for optimism that this year’s LSU team has a chance to reclaim their SEC Western division crown with the talent they have on both sides of the ball. With the 2023 season months away, it is still early to tell who will get the starting gig at each position. Here are the early projections for what the starting lineup will look like for the purple and gold on the defensive side of the ball:

JACK: Ovie Oghoufo

 

Ovie Oghoufo started his collegiate career at Notre Dame before transferring to Texas before the start of the 2021 season. Oghoufo decided to take his talents to LSU after his senior season in 2022 with the Longhorns. During his senior season, Oghoufo played in 13 games for Texas. Oghoufo totaled 54 tackles (20 solo tackles), 8.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, four quarterback hurries, and three pass breakups. He has proven to be a dominant edge rusher as he compiled 16.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks during his career.

Defensive End: Sai’vion Jones

 

Sai’vion Jones was a key contributor to the Tiger defense during the 2022 season and he continues to develop into a superstar. In 2022, Jones racked up 23 total tackles (11 solo), 4.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. He is able to explode off the ball with a quick first step and he has tremendous upside at the defensive end position. The LSU defensive line is set to be filled with talent once again and Jones will be one of the leaders heading into his junior season in 2023.

Defensive End: Paris Shand

Paris Shand spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Arizona before transferring to LSU in the offseason. During his three years at Arizona, Shand appeared in 24 games with ten starts. During the 2022 season, Shand appeared in nine games with seven starts on the defensive line. The former Arizona product totaled 24 tackles, two tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and two quarterback hurries. He is a tremendous all-around athlete that will be ready to step in and contribute on the Tiger defensive line.

Nose Tackle: Mekhi Wingo

Mekhi Wingo was a standout defensive lineman for LSU during the 2022 season and served a key role with Maason Smith going down with an injury early in the season. Wingo was able to fill Smith’s shoes during his absence and was able to have a breakout sophomore campaign. In 2022, Wingo recorded 43 total tackles (24 solo), three sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and four passes defended. He was able to come to Baton Rouge with SEC experience and for his performance on the field, Wingo was named an AP All-American.

Defensive Tackle: Maason Smith

Maason Smith’s 2022 season was cut short due to a torn ACL injury that he suffered in the first quarter against Florida State in the season opener. Despite the injury, Smith was able to stay involved with the team by being active on the sidelines. Smith was able to serve as a mentor for his fellow teammates. When Smith steps on the field, he is regarded as one of the top defensive linemen in the country. He is strong off the ball and it isn’t often that he gets beat one-on-one. During his freshman season in 2021, Smith had six tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in his debut with the Tigers.

Weakside Linebacker: Omar Speights

Omar Speights will be able to bring experience to a young linebacking core that is led by freshman phenom Harold Perkins. Speights spent four seasons at Oregon State before deciding to transfer to LSU this offseason. During the 2022 season, Speights would have his best year with the Beavers. He led Oregon State with 83 tackles, while adding eight tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries, and one pass breakup. Speights was named to All-Pac-12 First Team and was listed on the Associated Press All-Pac-12 First Team.

Middle Linebacker: Greg Penn III

Greg Penn III was able to continue the momentum from a strong end to the 2021 season and carry that over to the 2022 season. Penn III played as a key contributor as he was an every-down linebacker for the Tigers. In the 2022 season, Penn III recorded 77 total tackles (44 solo), one fumble recovery, and two passes defended.

Strong-side Linebacker: Harold Perkins

Harold Perkins stepped onto the scene during his freshman campaign at LSU in 2022. Perkins is an all-around outstanding linebacker that saw plenty of action during his debut season in Baton Rouge. The New Orleans native registered 72 total tackles (39 solo), 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception. Perkins’s best game of the season came against Arkansas, where he had eight tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He would earn Freshman All-American honors for his performance during the 2022 season.

Left Cornerback: Denver Harris

Denver Harris was a highly-touted prospect in the Class of 2022 and he decided to take his talents to Texas A&M. During his first year at Texas A&M, Harris collected 14 tackles and three pass breakups during his debut season. Harris decided to enter his name into the transfer portal after the 2022 season and ended up pledging his commitment to LSU. Harris will look to provide a key role to a cornerback room that is filled with new talent.

Right Cornerback: Zy Alexander

Zy Alexander spent his first three collegiate seasons at Southeastern Louisiana before transferring to LSU this offseason. In his sophomore season in 2022, Alexander earned first-team All-Southland Conference honors for the second straight year. Alexander finished the season with 27 tackles, three interceptions, and four pass breakups. He would also have two interceptions for touchdowns on the year.

Nickelback: Duce Chestnut

Duce Chestnut joins a few others as a transfer cornerback that will join the Tigers heading into the 2023 season. Chestnut spent two seasons with Syracuse before taking his talents to LSU. He was named an Honorable Mention All-ACC for his performance on the field during the 2022 season. Chestnut allowed just four touchdowns on the year in coverage on 356 snaps in pass coverage and was only penalized once during the year. He was able to be a key piece in a Syracuse defense that ranked 14th in passing defense and 21st in total defense.

Strong Safety: Major Burns

Major Burns has been able to bring his veteran presence to a talented secondary for the Tigers. Burns plays with tremendous confidence and he has a knack for finding the football. During the 2022 season, Burns recorded 37 total tackles (24 solo) and four passes defended.

Free Safety: Greg Brooks Jr.

Greg Brooks Jr. was able to make a difference immediately during his first year at LSU after spending the first three years of his collegiate career at Arkansas. During his career with the Razorbacks, Brooks Jr. racked up 112 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. In his debut season with the Tigers, Brooks Jr. recorded 63 total tackles (36 solo), one sack, one forced fumble, two interceptions, and three passes defended. He had the opportunity to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft but decided that he was going to come back for a final season in Baton Rouge.