By Hunt Palmer
LSU’s talented offensive line of 2024 was prominently featured in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Four Tiger offensive linemen were drafted, and only D.J. Chester remains on the roster from the starting unit. As summer turns and heads toward its conclusion, and fall camp approaches, the offensive line may be the largest question mark on the roster.
Why not start our In-Depth Chart series with it?
WHO’S GONE: Garrett Dellinger (NFL Draft – 7th, #243 Baltimore)
WHO’S BACK: D.J. Chester (R-Soph, 6’6”, 320)
WHO’S NEW: Braelin Moore (R-Jr, 6’2”, 300, Virginia Tech)
WHAT WE KNOW
Chester started all 13 games for LSU last year and played every offensive series but one. That makes him the most experienced returning offensive lineman on the roster. He’s physically imposing at 6-foot-6 and 320 lbs., but he struggled at times in 2024 as a first-year starter.
He only graded higher than 60 three times (Nicholls, UCLA, Baylor) per Pro Football Focus, and his SEC average grade was 51.0. His grade in pass protection, 64.6, trumped his run blocking, 50.1.
Chester was a high school tackle in Georgia who Brad Davis moved inside to center as the next man in line after Charles Turner moved on. Even playing between two veteran guards in Miles Frazier and Garrett Dellinger, Chester took his lumps as a redshirt freshman.
Still, he was the first in his class to earn a starting role and has a full season of SEC football under his belt.
Braelin Moore transferred in from Virginia Tech in the spring. The 6-foot-3, 300 lbs., junior started 12 games at left guard for the Hokies in 2023 and 12 games at center in 2024.
Braelin Moore with a few solid reps at center in a live double team drill.
Moore continuing to contend for starting center reps along with returnee DJ Chester. #LSU pic.twitter.com/Nd1D9rLbQt
— John Eads WAFB-TV (@JohnEadsWAFB) March 25, 2025
He allowed a pair of sacks in the season-opener a year ago and only yielded one the rest of the way.
Moore’s Pro Football Focus grades are better than Chester’s. He graded 76.9 in pass protection last season and 65.5 in the running game. Three of his pass protection grades topped 80 (Old Dominion, Boston College and Georgia Tech).
In the spring, Chester worked as the first team center the majority of the reps the media saw. Moore ran with the second team and periodically joined the first unit as Chester moved over to right guard.
Brian Kelly said repeatedly that the spring was not to create a depth chart. Spring was to work on technical and tactical issues. Davis was working with a talented group very light on experience in the spring.
Summer discussions have centered around the depth chart, and with a heavy focus on the opener at Clemson, a starting group needs to step forward early in fall camp.
HUNT’S PROJECTION
I think Moore is the starting center for LSU at Clemson. Chester is a capable backup at the spot who has proven he can handle an SEC season at the position.
Moore is probably not a dominant player at the spot, but he’s also probably an upgrade for LSU.
The Tigers figure to lean heavily on the pass again in 2025, and Moore is an agile pass blocker. Two years of ACC starting experience is plenty to jump into the SEC. But for good measure he’ll start his LSU career against the best the ACC has to offer at Clemson. Last year, Moore graded out 66.4 for the game against Clemson. His run blocking was a 63.4, and his pass blocking was 70.4.
Chester is the second team center whether he starts the season as one of LSU’s guards or not. He’s still a young player that could play three more seasons of college football. Enduring ups and downs as a redshirt freshman starter on the offensive line is no crime. Most of his contemporaries were watching from the sidelines. Kelly and Davis really like Chester’s length and strength. Perhaps those are better utilized at guard.
As far as the third team center goes, I’m not afraid to write that I’m not very confident in identifying one on July 21. LSU will enter camp with 15 scholarship offensive linemen. One of them will be identified as the third team option. It might be Brett Bordelon or Paul Mubenga. But I’m not sure at this point.
LSU identified Moore early in the portal window and saw him as an opportunity to get better on the offensive interior. That should be the case in 2025.
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