By Hunt Palmer
Lane Kiffin’s first spring is in the books.
The new head coach put his team through 15 practices over five weeks. Incumbent players were introduced to a new way of doing things. More than 40 new faces got acclimated to LSU, and a host of new staffers got to lay the foundation for their position groups.
The defense certainly led the way early in spring workouts. Blake Baker’s system was already in for players like Dominick McKinley, Dylan Carpenter, Davhon Keys, Dashawn Spears, DJ Pickett, PJ Woodland and others.
Aside from four or five offensive players, the entire side of the ball was overhauled. Even returning players like Trey’Dez Green, Weston Davis, Harlem Berry, Caden Durham and Braelin Moore had to learn an entirely new system.
The offense got its sea legs late in spring and held its own. In fact, the offense probably won the last three practices the media observed.
The depth chart is a long way from solidification, but impressions were made that win linger through the summer into August. Here are three players who made a move this spring.
BO BORDELON, SR., LG
Devin Harper began the spring as the left guard. Bo Bordelon took that job midway through and never relinquished it.
Bordelon has bided his time at LSU. Over four years, he’s started one game. That was the Texas Bowl that Will Campbell, Emery Jones and Garrett Dellinger opted out of. He’s been a special teamer and an extra tight end in jumbo sets.
That hasn’t run him off. Bordelon’s LSU blood runs very deep, and he’s competing like it’s his last year. Kiffin’s offense counts on athletic guards who can get into space and pull. Bordelon has played some tackle and fits that mold.
All the reports from inside the program suggest Bordelon is a likely starter in his final season. He’ll have to earn that in August, but he absolutely made an impression in April.
DILIN JONES, R-SOPH, RB
This one was obvious. But it would be an omission had I left him out. Jones is 10-to-20 pounds heavier than the other backs. Kevin Smith routinely complements his individual reps, and he has run more often with the ones than any other back.
Right now, I’d peg him the starter.
As a redshirt freshman, Jones started the first seven games for Wisconsin last season. He ran for 76 yards and a score on Michigan. He was a top six back in his high school class according to ESPN. He’s not some underdog story.
Tiger fans are more familiar with Durham and Berry, and those two will play. Right now, I think Jones is the lead back.
TY BENEFIELD, SR, S
Benefield plays at a little different speed than a lot of the players out there. He’s so fluid in his individual drills and has a knack for being around the ball.
Kiffin singled him out very early with Jordan Seaton and Trey’Dez Green as players with immense talent and a great work ethic.
Between Whit Weeks, Davhon Keys, TJ Dottery and Benefield, LSU has guys all over the field who could lead the SEC in tackles. Dottery and Weeks have done it, and Keys was second. Benefield may out-tackle them all. He’s also a threat to play the ball in the air.
If I had to pencil one LSU player for the All-SEC team come December, Benefield is my pick. He’s primed for a monster year.
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