By Hunt Palmer
Miles Frazier and Garrett Dellinger formed LSU’s guard duo for three seasons, and they have an opportunity to make two damn good football teams next month.
Frazier was a fifth-round pick of the Lions, and Dellinger was taken in the seventh by Baltimore.
Both guys excelled in pass protection and never quite lived up to that standard in the running game. LSU’s statistics showed that, finishing last in the SEC in rushing yards per game. Pro Football Focus’s grades showed that. Frazier graded an eye-popping 88.8 in pass protection and 63.9 in the running game. Dellinger graded 80.8 in pass pro and 69.3 paving the way on the ground.
Losing 80 starts between two players at one position group is a tough loss. Frazier’s versatility, leadership and performance will certainly be missed. He opted to play in LSU’s bowl game to help the younger players adjust. Hopefully that month of playing some right tackle helped his NFL future. Dellinger was considered by some of the offensive staff as one of LSU’s best players in 2024.
Now it’s time for some of the high-level recruits offensive line coach Brad Davis has signed over the years to step forward.
WHO’S GONE: Miles Frazier (NFL Draft – 5th, #171 Detroit), Garrett Dellinger (NFL Draft – 7th, #243 Baltimore)
WHO’S BACK: D.J. Chester (R-Soph, 6’6”, 320), Paul Mubenga (R-Soph, 6’5” 315), Ory Williams (R-Fr, 6’8”, 334), Coen Echols (R-Fr, 6’3”, 216), Bo Bordelon (R-Jr, 6’6”, 308)
WHO’S NEW: Josh Thompson (Grad, Northwestern, 6’5”, 301), Brett Bordelon (Fr, 6’4”, 295)
WHAT WE KNOW
Two spots are open. They were open the second the clock hit zeros in the Texas Bowl. They were open when spring workouts began, and they’re open now.
Paul Mubenga and Bo Bordelon started at the guards against Baylor. Frazier kicked out to tackle. LSU’s offense hummed along that night, scoring 30 of LSU 44 points, so their play wasn’t wholly detrimental. Pro Football Focus didn’t love it, grading both under 56 in the running game and Mubenga 43.4 in pass protection. Bordelon graded 81.9 in pass protection which is outstanding.
Mubenga started the final five games of the season last year when Dellinger went down. He played a total of 438 snaps and allowed 23 pressures on 268 dropbacks. That number has to improve.
In spring ball, Mubenga and Bordelon spent a lot of time as the first team guards, but DJ Chester also worked at right guard when he wasn’t playing center with the first unit. That change was due to Braelin Moore’s insertion into the starting lineup at center where he started 12 games for Virginia Tech last year.
Speaking of transfers, Josh Thompson comes over from Northwestern as a swing player. He started 11 games at right tackle in 2023 and 10 at right guard in 2024. He’s considered a strong pass blocker and a technician. He only allowed two sacks in 833 pass blocking attempts at Northwestern and played more than 650 snaps at both spots.
Ory Williams looks like a tackle. He’s 6-foot-8, but he’s cross-training at guard and tackle with an emphasis on guard. Coen Echols played 45 snaps at right guard last season and 19 at center. After that experience, he was still afforded a redshirt.
HUNT’S PROJECTION
I think Moore is the starting center at Clemson. Both guard spots are up for grabs right now. I think Thompson and Chester are the likely guards assuming Weston Davis holds down the right tackle spot as a redshirt freshman.
If Davis falters in camp or at Clemson, Thompson may have to go play right tackle which would likely force Mubenga into the action.
Chester had his issues at center, but he’s clearly got some serious ability. Brad Davis and Brian Kelly took Chester, a youth soccer player from The Congo, with a very short history, relatively speaking, playing football and made him the starting center on the most experienced and decorated offensive line LSU has produced in at least 13 years.
Perhaps taking the protections and snapping the ball off Chester’s plate unlocks some really strong play. Thompson has very, very high floor. He’s played a ton of football and knows multiple positions. He’s not going to be a first or second rounder, but he’s not going to get beat a bunch.
It’s not hyperbole to suggest that how LSU’s guards perform in the running game will play a major part in how this season goes. It’s unlikely that this set of interior players pass protects as well as their predecessors, but more push in the run game has to happen.
Thompson’s run blocking grades in Big Ten games (different than per snap, but that’s unavailable) last year averaged out to 54.6 which is underwhelming. Obviously, Chester’s were, too. That’s a concern, but it’s up to Brad Davis to develop the group and Joe Sloan to call plays to help.
Offensive line is among the biggest questions on a roster considered by many to have playoff aspirations. The guard play is a massive piece to that.
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