The college football season came to a close last night with Georgia claiming back-to-back national championships with a 65-7 victory over TCU. As the college football season finished its last chapter, it is a perfect time to reflect on Brian Kelly’s first season with LSU. Kelly was able to rebuild an LSU roster that had just 39 scholarships players on it as he used the transfer portal and recruiting trail to his advantage. The Tigers were able to exceed expectations going into the year as they finished the season ranked No. 16 in the final AP poll that came out earlier today. Here are some key takeaways from Kelly’s first year in Baton Rouge:
Kelly Was Able to Rebuild the Tiger Defense:
People were having question marks on whether Kelly was the right culture fit for Baton Rouge as he has spent most of his career in the midwest. With stints at Grand Valley State, Central Michigan, Cincinnati and Notre Dame, Kelly had never been accustomed to life in the SEC. The long-term head coach was dealt with many challenges taking the job at LSU as the Tigers were coming off a 6-7 season.
LSU’s roster was depleted after the bowl game against Kansas State last season as the Tigers only had 39 scholarship players available. LSU’s defense were returning B.J. Ojulari, Maason Smith and Ali Gaye to the defensive line. The Tigers would lose Smith to a season-ending injury on the first drive and Mekhi Wingo was able to step up in a big way for LSU’s defensive front.
Tiger fans would quickly get the learn the name of Harold Perkins as throughout the season he showed what type of player he is and was a menace for the LSU linebacker room. Perkins would emerge as a star during his freshman season and there will be more to come from him going into the 2023 season.
The Tigers secondary had some concerns heading into the 2022 season with Derek Stingley Jr. declaring for the NFL Draft, Eli Ricks transferring to Alabama and Dwight McGlothern transferring to Arkansas. Depth would be the concern for LSU’s secondary and Kelly had to be able to patch it up through the transfer portal.
Kelly was able to get some much-needed additions through the transfer portal by landing Mekhi Garner, Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Greg Brooks Jr. and Joe Foucha to help rebuild the secondary for the LSU defense. All of these guys that Kelly got through the transfer portal was able to make a difference for the Tiger secondary. Each was able to make a timely play throughout the duration of the season to help aid LSU to a few more wins on the schedule.
LSU Exceeded Their Preseason Expectations:
LSU came into the season with many doubts about the makeup of their roster from the overhaul that Kelly had to accomplish through the transfer portal and the recruiting trail. The Tigers were picked to finish 5th in the SEC West and they were unranked heading into the 2022 regular season. Kelly got off a rough start to begin the regular season as LSU fell to Florida State on a missed extra point in New Orleans as the purple and gold began their season 0-1.
LSU was able to rebound with a non-conference win against Southern during the Tigers first home game in Tiger Stadium. The Bayou Bengals were able to win their first conference game on the season as they took down Mississippi State 31-16 to move to 2-1 on the season. LSU reeled off two more wins as they shutout New Mexico, 38-0 and edged out Auburn on the road, 21-17.
The Tigers winning streak would get stopped in their tracks as Tennessee flexed their muscles, 40-13 in Death Valley. LSU had to respond quick as they had an upcoming road trip to Gainesville. The Tigers were able to do just that as they took down Florida, 45-38. The Bayou Bengals would get their two biggest wins of the season by defeating No. 7 Ole Miss and No. 6 Alabama to take charge of the SEC West division.
LSU was able to clinch the SEC West crown with a narrow 13-10 win over Arkansas. The Tigers were able to win the SEC West with everyone doubting them that they couldn’t. The Tigers would cap off their home finale with win over UAB the next week as they took down the Blazers, 41-10. The purple and gold were left with a bad taste in their mouth to end the regular season with a 38-23 loss to Texas A&M on the road.
The Tigers would move to the SEC Championship, but Georgia proved to be an overmatch as LSU lost 50-30. LSU was able to end their 2022 season on a high-note with a 63-7 shellacking of Purdue to finish off the year with 10 wins. It would be the most wins that LSU has had in a season since they won the national championship in 2019.
Multiple Playmakers Stepped on for LSU’s Offense:
The quarterback battle going into the season wasn’t clear as Max Johnson decided to transfer to Texas A&M in the offseason. That left the quarterback room to three quarterbacks: Myles Brennan, Garrett Nussmeier and Walker Howard. Kelly would go into the transfer portal to add Arizona State transfer, Jayden Daniels, into the mix. Heading into fall camp, Brennan would decide that he would step away from football leaving the quarterback competition to two.
Daniels would end up being named the starter just before the start of the season and he would go on to have a successful first season with the LSU offense. Daniels did have his ups and downs throughout the season, especially down the stretch against Arkansas and Texas A&M. He would go on to throw for 2,913 yards and 17 touchdowns. On the ground, he finished the year with 885 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.
It was an offense that had the tools for Daniels to be successful as Kayshon Boutte was healthy coming off an injury. Malik Nabers, Jaray Jenkins, Brian Thomas Jr. and Jack Bech were all returning to the receiving core for the Tigers. Not only that you were able to add Mason Taylor as your top tight end target and Kyren Lacy into the wide receiver room.
Boutte and Bech would go on to have disappointing seasons. Boutte would finish the year with 538 yards and two touchdowns. On the other hand, Bech would only have 200 yards on the year with one touchdown. The guy that stepped up for LSU’s passing game was Nabers as he would be the Tigers leading receiver with 1,017 yards and three touchdowns.
Not only did LSU fans see surprises in the passing game, but you also had playmakers rise to the occasion in the running game. Josh Williams would lead the way for the running backs as he would cap off the year with 532 yards and six touchdowns. Outside of Williams, John Emery Jr., Noah Cain and Armoni Goodwin stepped up when they were needed.The running game was able to be effective all year with a retooled offensive lineman led by two true freshman: Will Campbell and Emery Jones.
What’s Next for the Tigers:
LSU fans will have to wait 237 days until the Tigers take in the field in Orlando to take on what will be a highly-ranked matchup against Florida State to open up the 2023 season.
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