LSU lost 10 players to NFL Draft early entry two years ago (11 if you count Tyrann Mathieu, who got kicked off the team that off season), and 6 or 7 a year ago. Even a team that reloads like LSU couldn't lose 17 or so juniors and RS sophomores in 2 years and compete for a top 10 finish. This year, they only lost 3 to early entry. As you point out, LSU was very young last year at a lot of positions, and QB play was quite bad as well. LSU's very young and inexperienced WRs didn't help what was a struggling QB group either. Quick synopsis of what you're likely to see this year: On offense, LSU should be good on the OL although maybe not quite as good as last year. All of LSU's young WRs return and this spring they appear to be running crisper routes, and they've put on muscle, which should help in breaking free from aggressive man coverage (something they struggled with in SEC play last year as true freshmen). The TEs had a number of catches in the spring game, carrying over from the bowl game, so hopefully that will continue this year and take some pressure off the QB in the short to intermediate passing game. LSU will be loaded at RB...more on Fournette in a bit. QBs seem to be playing better in the spring but it's tough to take anything meaningful away from the spring game. If Harris is starting this fall, that's a good thing for LSU, as his upside is much higher than last year's starter...TBD in the fall. QB play will determine how LSU's year goes more than any other single factor, by a wide margin. On D, LSU will be very stout up the middle, with two young DTs that played last year (and played pretty well) now entering their second year, and some quality depth behind them. Middle linebacker will be a strength as long as Kendall Beckwith stays healthy. The DBs will probably be as good a group as anyone in the country has, especially at Safety, although CB is very strong also, with quality depth. The questions are largely at DE, where new guys will be breaking in, and OLB to a lesser extent. Oh and a new Defensive Coordinator, who was last seen as the DC for Clemson in their 70 point debacle against WVU in the Orange Bowl, Kevin Steele. Likely to bring much more pressure than Chavis did, but some LSU fans are nervous about how sound his defense will be (had a reputation in the past for an overly complicated D for the college level...hopefully he has learned from his mistakes). Fournette - hard to believe, but he's getting universal praise as the most improved player this offseason. Cam Cameron the OC has said it...and just yesterday the S&C coach said Fournette is the most improved in the off-season conditioning program. He's dropped about 10 pounds from last year, is about 225 now. Not too often you hear the best returning player is also the most improved. LSU plays a couple of tough games before Syracuse (@Missisippi State and Auburn), so you'll have a pretty good idea if LSU is bouncing back or is having another down year before kickoff in the Dome.
