Les Miles begins his 11th season at LSU hoping that the Tigers can bounce back from an 8-5 campaign a year ago.
The 2014 season was the first time since 2009 that the Tigers had not reached double digits in wins.
A key to success in 2015 begins with sophomore running back Leonard Fournette, who ran for 1,034 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first season in Baton Rouge.
Leonard Fournette
“He’s one of those guys that’s a hard worker,” Miles said at the recent Southeastern Conference media days. “He’s quiet, does not speak much.”
“He truly is a leader of our team,” Miles added. “He’s a guy that does the work in the classroom, does the work in the weight room. When we talk about our team goals and the direction of this team, he’s the guy that’s integral to those thoughts.”
The Tigers open the season at home on Saturday, Sept. 5.
“We open with McNeese State,” Miles said. “They will fight like hell. We’ll have to play well against them.”
LSU is at Mississippi State to begin its SEC slate on Saturday, Sept. 12.
“We start fast,” Miles said. “We get the speed execution where we want it, get a nice start, we’ll be right in it.”
In addition to Fournette, the Tigers have seven other offensive starters returning led by junior quarterback Anthony Jennings. Jennings completed 111 passes in 227 attempts last season with 11 touchdowns. Sophomore Brandon Harris is expected to challenge for some time at quarterback. He was 25-of-45 for 452 yards and six scores in 2015.
Travin Duval is the top receiver back after catching 37 passes for 758 yards and seven touchdowns.
Defensively, LSU has six returning starters to work under new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele.
Kendell Beckwith
Junior linebacker Kendell Beckwith, who had 77 tackles a year ago, is a leader for the Tigers.
“We’ve adjusted well to Coach Steele,” Beckwith said. “We’ve been doing a great job working with him and really just working with each other. He motivates us and really gets us going early on in practice.”
“As a player I feel there is always room for improvement,” Beckwith continued. “Some things I would like to improve on personally are making sure I am more of a vocal leader because I’m naturally just a quiet guy.”
“I try to lead by example as much as possible, but I really have to step into that role where I speak up more and I say more because I’ve become that leader now,” Beckwith said. “I have to do a better job of speaking up.”
According to Beckwith, the first two contests are critical.
“It’s going to be very important,” he said. “Those will be two big games for us. We’ve been working hard and really pushing each other and motivating each other and just trying to put everything together. I think we’ll do a great job of preparing and getting ourselves ready to play.”
Another defensive player back that is important for the Tigers is sophomore safety Jamal Adams, who was on the 2014 All-SEC Freshman Team. He had 10 tackles in LSU’s 31-28 loss to Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl last season.
After facing McNeese State and Mississippi State, the Tigers entertain Auburn at home on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Editor’s note: Quotes, photos and logos courtesy of CollegePressBox.com.