LSU practiced Friday on Skip Bertman Drive.
The Tigers wore shells (shoulder pads and helmets) in preparation for Saturday’s scrimmage that we’re told will involve tackling to a degree LSU hasn’t allowed to this point in camp.
WIDE OUTS BACK IN
Winnie Watkins returned to action on Friday. He wore a gold “no contact” jersey and sprinted through all the drills at full speed. He also dropped a deep corner route, but it was good to see him out there.
Jayce Brown was still in gold. As was Jabari Mack.
Lane Kiffin is not going to divulge injury information until the league mandates it on game week. It’s worth noting that all three appear to be full speed and don’t have any noticeable protective gear on.
RESERVE REPS
It’s becoming more and more obvious that Husan Longstreet is the backup. We’re just counting reps, not watching actual snaps, but on Friday Longstreet’s reps must have been 3-to-1 over Landen Clark. Sam Leavitt would take his three or four reps. Longstreet would take his two. Then Leavitt would hop back in for three. Longstreet for three. Then Clark would take two.
Longstreet was a higher profile recruit and signee, but Clark did some good things in extended reps without Leavitt in the spring. The USC transfer is likely the next man up.
GRACE BEHIND GREEN
Trey’Dez Green is obviously LSU’s starting tight end. He’s also not going to spend a lot of time in a three-point stance next to the tackle. LSU added Malachi Thomas from Pittsburgh and brought back JD LaFluer for more of that role. Don’t discount Zach Grace, though. The Oregon transfer didn’t register a statistic last year but is always running second behind Green in the route tree they open practice with.
Grace is 6-foot-2 and 236 pounds, and he moves ok. I think Grace is carving out a role as a blocking tight end.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
President Dr. Wade Rousse and Athletic Director Verge Ausberry attended practice on Friday. Lane Kiffin left the quarterbacks to job over and embrace both. The looked on from the shade of the football facility.
