First Look: Projecting LSUs 2020 offensive depth chart

LSU is replacing arguably the greatest offense in college football history. It’s replacing the most productive quarterback ever. It’s losing its record-breaking, 111-reception receiver and the best tight end in school history, at least statistically. Oh, and it’s replacing an All-SEC running back and four of five starters on the offensive line.

So, it’s safe to say things might look a little different next year.

LSU brings back plenty of talent at the skill positions and has finally built some depth on the line, but there’s no denying there will be question marks at some key positions. Here’s an early look at how LSU’s offense projects in 2020.

Editor’s note: LSU’s defensive/specialist depth charts can be found here.

Quarterback

Starter: Myles Brennan (R-Jr.)
Backups: Peter Parrish (R-Fr.), Max Johnson (Fr.), TJ Finley (Fr.)

Myles Brennan has waited in the wings for three seasons, at one point even in the mix for the starting quarterback job. He saw the field as a true freshman. Then he sat behind the best quarterback in school history in Joe Burrow for two years. Now, it appears, he’s next in line.

Brennan has a big arm and grew up playing in an RPO-spread offense at St. Stanislaus in Mississippi. He certainly fits with an aerial attack throwing to Ja’Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall. Offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger’s primary concern with him was weight and pocket presence. He’s gone from 183 pounds to 210, a massive jump, and Ensminger said last month his poise under pressure has dramatically improved. The next question is his processing ability. Burrow was one of the best processors and quick decision-makers around. Where does Brennan stand there?

We’ve seen him in small doses, completing 24-of-40 passes for 353 yards, one touchdown and interception, but it’s difficult to take too much out of garbage time offense. My big takeaway was Brennan taking off running against Utah State and putting his shoulder down on a linebacker. He couldn’t do that a year ago.

Myles Brennan also does not slide. Imagine Brennan doing this last season at 180 or so pounds. #LSU pic.twitter.com/yT8V1pc0B7

— Brody Miller (@BrodyAMiller) October 6, 2019

There will be questions of whether LSU will look at a graduate transfer here. It’s certainly possible, but as of now I don’t think there’s any clear candidate LSU likes, and Houston’s D’Eriq King is reportedly headed to Miami. Until proven otherwise, I’d expect Brennan to be the guy, and young backups like rising redshirt freshman Peter Parrish and 2020 signees Max Johnson and TJ Finley can develop.

Running back

Starter: John Emery (Soph.)
Backups: Tyrion Davis-Price (Soph.), Chris Curry (R-Soph.), incoming signee TBD

Okay, this one is wide open. I’m placing Emery as the starter purely because he’s a super-talented player with massive upside. He’d arguably be No. 3 on a depth chart if they played today, but I’m projecting that he could benefit the most from a full offseason. He’s truly a star talent.

This is a deep room that has several solid options. It’s just a matter of who steps up over the next eight months.

Chris Curry gained the most stock in the past month, going from the bottom of the depth chart to earning the start in the Peach Bowl when Clyde Edwards-Helaire was banged up. He ran for 89 yards on 16 carries against Georgia. Tyrion Davis-Price, another 226-pound physical back, had the most production in 2019 with 295 yards on 4.6 yards per carry.

I would guess all three of those backs — if they’re still here — see the field in 2020. Then it becomes a matter of who LSU signs. Top-150 back Kevontre Bradford (Lancaster, Tex.) has become a target for LSU, in addition to guys like Zachary Evans and Jahmyr Gibbs, who LSU has been connected to throughout the recruiting process.

Wide receiver

Starters: Ja’Marr Chase (Jr.), Terrace Marshall (Jr.), Kayshon Boutte (Fr.)
Backups: Racey McMath (Sr.), Trey Palmer (Soph.), Jontre Kirklin (Sr.), Koy Moore (Fr.), Jaray Jenkins (R-Soph.)

LSU’s receivers room returns two guys who broke the school touchdown record, combining for 33 touchdowns and 2,451 yards in 2019. Chase and Marshall, back for their junior seasons, may be the best duo in college football in 2020. Chase just won the Biletnikoff Award, and Marshall is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound freak athlete who, if healthy, can thrive in an even bigger role in 2020.

Who comes in after that? First, look to top-50 signee Kayshon Boutte (New Iberia, La.). He’s expected to be a key contributor and tore it up at All-American game practices. He could be the No. 3 guy in the room.

Then, how much of a jump does speedster Trey Palmer make in year two? How much faith does LSU have in 6-foot-3, 221-pound special teams ace Racey McMath as an every-down receiver? Then don’t leave out names like Jontre Kirklin, Koy Moore and Jaray Jenkins. The bottom of the depth chart will be up in the air, but the top of this group is a sure thing.

Tight end

Starter: Arik Gilbert (Fr.)
Backups: Jamal Pettigrew (R-Sr.), Kole Taylor (Fr.), Aaron Moffitt (R-Jr.)

Though LSU loses Thaddeus Moss, the most productive tight end in school history, it gains 247Sports’ highest-rated tight end prospect ever in Arik Gilbert, so it’s a bit of a tradeoff. Obviously you never want to be too confident in a true freshman being ready from day one, but LSU expects Gilbert to be a key playmaker. He’s a 6-foot-5, 250-pound receiver in a tight end’s body, and he’s also a skilled blocker. His highlight film shows him taking screens the distance for a touchdown. Not your average tight end.

Behind Gilbert will likely be 6-foot-6 redshirt senior Jamal Pettigrew, a talented veteran who has struggled with injuries. There’s also rising junior Aaron Moffitt, who has only played special teams, and incoming three-star Kole Taylor, who the LSU staff is high on.

Left tackle

Starter: Dare Rosenthal (R-Soph.)
Backup: Marcus Dumervil (Fr.)

LSU will have to replace three-year starter Saahdiq Charles, but has high expectations for Rosenthal over the next two-to-three years. He’s a 6-foot-7 defensive lineman who didn’t move fulltime to offense until midseason 2018. He’s a bit of a project, but his size and athleticism give him great highs mixed with lows that show how raw he is. He started three games in 2019 and showed progress with each game.

Dumervil is the top-100 prospect from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The plan is likely for him to be the offensive tackle of the future, and he can mature and develop barring injury.

Left guard

Starter: Ed Ingram (Jr.)
Backup: Xavier Hill (Fr.)

Ingram wasn’t one of the five core starters in 2019, but Orgeron would tell you he was a co-starter with Adrian Magee at left guard. Ingram didn’t return to the team until September when — after being suspended for 14 months — sexual assault charges made against him in Texas were dismissed. This will be his first full offseason with the team since his return and he has the talent to be the best player of LSU’s offensive line.

Hill isn’t highly rated, but LSU is very high on the incoming three-star from Olive Branch, Miss. There’s certainly an opening at right guard he can compete for, but we’ll slot him behind Ingram for now.

Center

Starter: Chasen Hines (Jr.)
Backup: Charles Turner (R-Fr.)

Here is another truly open position battle. Hines moved from guard to center at the start of the season once he lost the guard job. We have no real sense of how his development has gone, and we won’t see it until spring ball. Regardless, LSU was at one point very high on him as an 18-year-old freshman. Then, he had offseason knee surgery and never won the guard spot like they expected in 2019. He’s the most likely option here.

Turner is a good athlete with potential. It’s just unclear how ready he will be to compete by 2020. This is an area LSU may look to bolster in the graduate transfer market.

Right guard

Starter: Anthony Bradford (R-Fr.)
Backup: Kardell Thomas (R-Fr.)

This, next to running back, may be the most fun position battle to watch. Thomas is the five-star prospect from Baton Rouge who fans have fallen in love with, but he also suffered a gruesome knee injury in August. Bradford is another rising redshirt freshman who LSU is truly high on. Weight is the concern with Bradford, but he has great upside.

One would imagine Bradford, Thomas and Hill will have an open competition for this spot. We’ll learn a great deal in the spring here.

Right tackle

Starter: Austin Deculus (Sr.)
Backup: Cameron Wire (R-Soph.), Thomas Perry (R-Fr.)

Deculus is the only core starter returning on the offensive line in 2020. He’s had an up and down career in Baton Rouge but stabilized this season and became a trusted piece. While he still has areas to improve like handling speed around the edges, Deculus gives LSU a veteran presence to help lead an inexperienced offensive line.

Behind him could be anyone from Dumervil to Cameron Wire, another high-upside 6-foot-6 tackle like Rosenthal who has a big learning curve. There’s also Thomas Perry, who missed the majority of 2019 with an injury. Spring ball will be his first substantial chance to prove himself.

(Photo: Wesley Hitt / Getty Images)

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