By Hunt Palmer
The ball has dropped. Confetti fell. Hangovers were nursed, and now it’s time to go back to work in 2025.
The whole year sits in front of us with endless possibilities afoot.
Why not take the time to wildly toss out predictions for the next 364 days? It seems that the only responsible thing to do. I’ll tap dance around the various sports on LSU’s campus and give you five predictions for 2024.
- Jared Jones will climb to No. 3 on LSU’s all-time home run list
Jones has bashed baseballs since arriving at LSU for the 2023 season. He clubbed 14 homers in a part-time role as a freshman and followed that up with 28 last year. Those 41 longballs currently have him just outside the Top 10 on the all-time list. He needs 18 more to get into the Top 3. In doing so, he’d pass Gavin Dugas, Blair Barbier, Albert Belle, Ryan Patterson, Todd Walker, Blake Dean, Dylan Crews and Trey McClure. That’s a lot of jewelry. Jones, of course, has some of his own. If he’d like to add to that, he’ll need to once again be a force in the LSU lineup. I feel pretty good about those chances. Brad Cresse and Eddie Furniss are out of reach for Jones, but I think he moves into the third slot.
- The SEC will get 12 teams in the Men’s NCAA Tournament, and LSU will be the last one
This is a tough call, and it would result in LSU playing in Dayton. But I’ll take it. Beginning Saturday, LSU is going to play an 18-game conference slate unlike any in program history. The SEC set the college basketball world ablaze in November and December. Some tough nights are sure to come, but if the Tigers can find a way to win eight league games, they’ll be dancing. Seven might even do it. Matt McMahon has done more will less during his time at LSU. His talent level is less than many of the teams in the SEC. He’ll have to replicate last year’s success again.
- LSU will lead the SEC in passing in 2025
This was an unlikelihood, in my opinion, as of three weeks ago. But the additions of Nic Anderson and Barion Brown infused some much-needed veteran talent to the mix, and Chris Hilton flashed again in the bowl game. The offensive line is still a question, but the quarterback is not. Neither is the ideology of the offensive coordinator. Joe Sloan wants to throw the ball. LSU finished this season No. 2 in the SEC in passing. Ole Miss, the top passing offense in the league, loses Jaxson Dart and Tre Harris. Georgia, who finished 30 yards per game behind LSU for second, loses Carson Beck. DJ Lagway, Arch Manning and whoever Lane Kiffin tabs at Ole Miss will be threats, but I’ll take Garrett Nussmeier and LSU.
- Kim Mulkey’s Tigers will reach the Final Four
I’m not ready to call for a championship with this team. The frontcourt beyond Aneesa Morrow is a big question mark. However, the guard play is exceptional, and this group hasn’t dropped a game yet. I trust Mulkey to have her team playing great defense come March. Caitlin Clark isn’t lurking out there despite some of the star power at UCONN, USC and South Carolina. Not to mention top-ranked UCLA who LSU got a look at in last year’s NCAA Tournament.
- Glen Dorsey’s No. 72 will be retired
When you look up at the façade of Tiger Stadium, you see the names Billy Cannon, Jerry Stovall and Tommy Casanova. Assuredly Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels will have their day. I don’t think that’s coming in 2025. Glen Dorsey checks every box a defensive tackle can check. He won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for the best defensive player in the country. He won the Outland Trophy for the best interior lineman in the country. He won the Lombardi Award for his character. He was a unanimous All-Amercian, the SEC Defensive Player of the year. Then his Tigers finished the deal with a national title. He did everything he could do and is absolutely in the same breath as legends like Stovall and Casanova. Time to put No. 72 on the upper deck. Maybe in 2025?
