By Hunt Palmer
July’s annual circus that is SEC Media Days assembled and dispersed in Atlanta last week.
The final result was the All-SEC reveal. LSU had seven representatives on the three squads. Whit Weeks earned first team honors at linebacker. Garrett Nussmeier (QB), Aaron Anderson (WR), Caden Durham (RB) and Harold Perkins (LB) were named to the second team.
On special teams, Barion Brown (RS) and Zavion Thomas (AP) made the second team as returners.
In a 16-team league, that’s reasonable representation for a squad that looks deeper on paper than top-end loaded. LSU’s recipe in 2025 probably features fewer holes as opposed to more superstars.
If the Tigers are going to compete for championships, Nussmeier will get some accolades, but I think there are three other players who could emerge as all-conference picks despite not being mentioned much by media this week.
Patrick Payton – Edge
In 2022 and 2023, Payton was a star. He was the ACC’s Rookie of the Year in 2022 after registering five sacks and six tackles for loss. Those sacks led ACC rookies, and four of them came in conference play.
He followed up 2022 with a monster season for the 14-0 Seminoles that missed out on the playoff. He notched seven sacks and made 14.5 tackles for loss in addition to 10 pass breakups which was the best mark by an ACC defensive lineman since 2016.
He’s 6-foot-5 and has those long levers defensive line coaches dream of. With Kevin Peoples on the whistle, Payton could have a huge season. Both Sai’vion Jones and Brayden Swinson did last season, and neither has Payton’s toolbox.
DJ Pickett – Cornerback
This isn’t based on past production like Payton. It’s potential. And reactions. When asked about the toughest corners to face on the roster, Chris Hilton didn’t flinch on Monday– DJ Pickett.
Pickett’s height and length separate him from almost every corner in football. He’s a legitimate 6-foot-4. He needs to fill out a little bit, but his speed paired with that length make him hard to separate from. LSU receivers already know, but soon the rest of the country will. Brian Kelly told me last week that Pickett “will play for us”. The sooner he cracks the lineup, the more quickly he’ll get postseason recognition.
Trey’Dez Green – Tight End
When you combine history and talent, you can predict greatness for Green.
Kyle Rudolph, Tyler Eifert, Cole Kmet and Michael Mayer highlighted the nine drafted tight ends Kelly coached in 11 years at Notre Dame.
His first tight end at LSU was Mason Taylor who set every record they keep at the position in Baton Rouge. It stands to reason that some more tight ends will produce for Kelly before he steps away.
Bauer Sharp will have a huge role in LSU’s offense this year, but Green has to play based on matchups. Simply put, no defensive player in America possesses Green’s height, length and leaping ability. Six-foot-7 leapers don’t play defense. So, by that logic, he’s always a matchup problem. When Taylor opted out of the Texas Bowl, Green caught two touchdowns from Nussmeier. He’s going to catch more this season.
LSU has plenty of weapons at wide receiver. Green won’t be a 1,000-yard target. But if he catches enough red zone targets, he’ll be a strong candidate for the All-SEC team.
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