By Hunt Palmer and Matt Moscona
LSU’s highly anticipated 2025 fall camp cranked up on Wednesday morning.
The veteran returners, massive transfer portal haul and highly-touted signing class were all brought together for a workout in helmets, no shoulder pads. The first half hour of practice was conducted indoors before finishing the day outside.
Practice began with the offense working down the field without a defense present.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
OL: (L-R) Tyree Adams, DJ Chester, Braelin Moore, Josh Thompson, Weston Davis
WR: Aaron Anderson, Chris Hilton, Zavion Thomas
TE: Trey’dez Green
RB: Caden Durham
QB: Garrett Nussmeier
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
OL: (L-R) Carius Curne, Paul Mubenga, Braden Augustus (walk on), Coen Echols, Bo Bordelon
WR: Barion Brown, Kyle Parker, Destyn Hill
TE: Bauer Sharp
RB: Kaleb Jackson
QB: Michael Van Buren
The shift to Moore at center was a foregone conclusion. Chester’s move to guard corresponds. Brian Kelly confirmed after practice that Moore will be the center. Mubenga will compete with Chester at guard.
It’s noteworthy that Nic Anderson was not with either unit. He was at practice with a sleeve on his left leg. He participated in individual drills and 1-on-1s and looked full speed doing so. But when the 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 broke out, Anderson was off to the side holding his gloves. That’s not the start to camp you’d hope for, but Zy Alexander was handled much the same way last season coming off injury.
A walk-on manning the second team center spot is just an indicator that Chester and Echols are the next two centers.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DE: Jack Pyburn and Gabriel Reliford
DT: Ahmad Breaux and Dominick McKinley
LB: Whit and West Weeks
STAR: Harold Perkins
CB: Mansoor Delane and Ashton Stamps
S: Tamarcus Cooley and Jardin Gilbert
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE:
DE: Patrick Payton and Jimari Butler
DT: Sydir Mitchell and Bernard Gooden
LB: Davhon Keys and Charles Ross
STAR: Tylen Singleton
CB: PJ Woodland and DJ Pickett
S: Javien Toviano and AJ Haulcy
Defensively, Dashawn Spears was the odd man out at safety in the first few periods. He did work some with the first team in 7-on-7. Jacobian Guillory did not go through those drills. He dressed out and was moving around, but the other four prominent tackles took the reps.
When the offense and defense got together for the first time, it was a tale of two sides of the depth chart.
The first team offense looked crisp and moved the ball down the field quickly.
- Caden Durham got three first three touches and a run and a screen and another run
- Zavion Thomas caught a 10-yard stop route on the left sideline
- Bauer Sharp caught a middle screen for a good gain
- Nussmeier got a free play on an offsides and dropped a gorgeous long throw in to a streaking Barion Brown who hauled it in over Ashton Stamps for a score. Perfect throw and catch
- Stamps got his revenge two plays later breaking up a fade route intended for Brown at the back pylon.
Then the second groups went out, and the defense had its way
- Tylen Singleton, who has put on good weight, and Patrick Payton had sacks on two of the first four plays
- Bernard Gooden got a pressure on the next play.
- TaRon Francis made a really nice catch on the left sideline over DJ Pickett
- Colin Hurley then took over for Van Buren and was nearly intercepted twice
Some of Hunt’s observation from the indoor period
- AJ Haulcy’s size is very obvious. He’s a physical presence even though he’s not overly long or tall. He’s put together.
- Harold Perkins appeared to be completely pain free. He participated in every drill and was moving very well.
- Kaleb Jackson has lost weight. Harlem Berry has gained weight.
The remainder of practice was outdoors.
In the 5-on-7 period, Nussmeier was exceptional. We know he can throw with no pressure in his face, but he was clinical.
- Nussmeier started 7-for-7 including a deep ball down the right side to Chris Hilton. He also found Destyn Hill on a few different routes. One was over the middle where Hill high pointed it behind the linebackers. Hill also caught one while being draped by Stamps. That was the first of three great Hill catches in traffic. The Florida State transfer capped the day with a leaping one-handed grab on the sideline that he held on to through a hit. Hill had a fantastic day.
The defensive front really showed up in the 11-on-11.
- Patrick Payton played with the first team during this period. He a “tackle” for loss on Durham and a sack to go with a pass break up. He was working on offensive left side against both Tyree Adams and Carus Curne.
- Gabriel Reliford notched a sack.
- Then Bernard Gooden took over the late portion of the 11-on-11. He made what would have been three tackles for loss and drew Kyle Williams’s praise between reps.
- Finally, Jimari Butler beat Adams for a sack.
The offensive linemen don’t have pads on, so everything is to be taken with a grain of salt, but the defensive line was incredibly disruptive late in practice.
LSU returns to the practice field Thursday on 9:45
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