In the portal era, freshmen have been devalued.
That’s true in terms of financial valuations as well as on-field playing time. It’s just as doable to find a 22-year-old veteran to plug a hole as it is to find the next four-star prospect. A look across the Tiger depth chart on report day suggests meaningful reps for freshmen could come few and far between.
That’s not to suggest Lane Kiffin’s first LSU signing class is low on talent. It’s not. It is light in numbers. That’s why more than 40 transfers were added in January.
As practice commences on Wednesday, 19 freshmen will begin their first fall on The Ponderosa. Here are three rookies I’ll have an eye on for various reasons.
DEUCE GERALDS, DT
I think Geralds is going to start the Clemson game. My confidence level in that prediction isn’t exactly off the charts, but his play in the spring at least opened the door to that possibility. Dominick McKinley, Malik Blocton and Stephiylan Green are older players, and they might get the nod. But I’m not sure they’re better players.
At 6-foot-1 and 278 pounds, Geralds is undersized. However, he’s extremely quick and disruptive. Throughout the spring he was taking reps with the first unit and finding his way into the offensive backfield. Perhaps he’s a better fit for third downs early on, but I’m not so sure of that. In a loaded defensive line class, Geralds might be the most ready to help.
LAMAR BROWN, DL
Speaking of that loaded defensive line class, Lamar Brown was the highest rated. He’s 6-foot-4 and 295 pounds, so he’s got the size to earn some early reps. He’s just behind the rest of the group as he didn’t enroll until the summer.
Geralds, Richard Anderson and the transfers got 15 spring practices to get a feel for this defense. Brown often watched from the sideline.
My sense is that Brown’s high rating came largely from his athleticism and versatility. He’s incredibly gifted, but he’s not specialized. At U-High, he played offensive line and defensive line. He did the same at various camps. That’s great for your understanding of the game and overall skillset, but it can stunt technical development to a degree. It’s a little easier to get by on physical ability when you’re a 300 pound high schooler who can move.
I’m curious to watch Brown’s first fall to see where he gets reps and how many. I think he’ll be behind the group of Princewill Umanmielen, Jordan Ross, Dylan Carpenter and Damien Shanklin early on. Can he crack the second unit early in camp and force his way to the field by mid-fall? It’s certainly possible. But it’s not a lock.
I’m watching Geralds as an early-impact player. I’m watching Brown as a depth chart mover.
HAVON FINNEY, CB
Prior to Aidan Anding’s Achilles injury, Havon Finney was a long way from the field. When Anding went down in a heap on the Tiger Stadium turf in April, Finney got closer.
LSU’s depth at cornerback is very, very light. DJ Pickett and PJ Woodland form a formidable duo on the corners. Veteran Ja’Keem Jackson is next up. Beyond that threesome, it’s anyone’s guess who is next. Michael Turner has experience in the program, but he hasn’t played much at all and still tips the scales at 160 pounds.
Finney is 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds. That’s not huge, but it’s bigger than Woodland or Turner. They’re also a lot older. Finney reclassified to the 2026 class, so he should be a high school senior. He was a four-star recruit that Corey Raymond identified early on as his primary target. Now, he joins thin unit and could be an injury away from being on the field. He’ll need to get up to speed in his first fall camp.
