LSU is known for producing top safeties, including recent first-
round picks Jamal Adams and Eric Reid. The next star at that
position will be Grant Delpit, an All-America in 2018 who was
a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy as the best defensive player in
the country. The junior is as much of a force against the running
game as he is in pass coverage. He finished the season with
91/2 tackles for loss, five sacks, and five interceptions.
Delpit is joined in the defensive backfield by Kristian Fulton,
who allowed the fewest first downs and touchdowns of any
cornerback in the SEC. Don’t mistake his one career interception
for lack of skill—he seldom picks off passes because opponents
rarely throw the ball near him. The rest of the defense will be
strong as well. Eight starters return, and K’Lavon Chaisson, a
linebacker who was just the eighth true freshman since 2000 to
start a season opener for LSU, will be back from a knee injury he
suffered in his first game.
LSU ranked a modest 59th in the country in total offense
last year. But QB Joe Burrow showed significant improvement
as the season ended, throwing for 300 yards in two of the final
three games. Coach Ed Orgeron brought in a new passing game
coordinator, Joe Brady, a former assistant with the New Orleans
Saints. He’ll incorporate a run-pass option look into the Tigers’
offense, giving Burrow the chance to become just the fourth
LSU passer to have a 3,000-yard season—and giving the Tigers
the means to contend for a spot in the SEC title game.
After going 12–0 during the regular season and earning a
berth in the College Football Playoff, Notre Dame had a rude
awakening in the Cotton Bowl against Clemson. The eventual
national champions routed the Fighting Irish 30–3. It was the
most points Notre Dame’s defense gave up all season and the
fewest the offense scored.
Among the players who struggled against the Tigers
was WR Chase Claypool, who was second on the team in
receptions during the regular season but caught just two
passes for eight yards. The senior bounced back with an
impressive spring, coming up with several big plays in the
Blue-Gold intrasquad game and—coach Brian Kelly hopes—
setting the table for a breakout season. Claypool will be the
top target of QB Ian Book, who took over as the starter in
the fourth game of the season. Book was steady (290.6
yards passing per game and 18 TDs in nine starts) but not
spectacular last year as a sophomore. He’ll need to improve,
especially when it comes to throwing deep downfield—but
Claypool should help with that.
On defense, the bad news is that three members
of last year’s unit were taken in the NFL draft. The good news is
that the number wasn’t five. Pass-rushing ends Julian Okwara
and Khalid Kareem both flirted with entering the draft before
deciding to return. They combined for 121/2 sacks and will lead
a D that—after last year’s bowl performance—has a lot to prove.
2018 RECORD: 10– 3 2018 RECORD: 12–1
JOH
N^ K
OR
DUN
ER/
ICO
N^ S
PO
RTS
WIR
E/G
ETT
Y^ IM
AG
ES^
(DE
LPI
T);
RO
BIN
AL
AM
/IC
ON
SP
ORT
SW
IRE
/GE
TT
Y^ IM
AG
ES^
(CL
AYP
OO
L)
SIKIDS.COM / 19
