2013 Outlook - LSU

The 2012 LSU Tigers were a dominant force in the SEC, finishing the year as the second best team in the nation after losing to SEC rival Alabama in the National Championship game.  They have lost some talent this season, watching Thorpe Award winner Morris Claiborne, safety Brandon Taylor, DT Michael Brockers, and WR Ruben Randall all head for the NFL.  They will also have to replace their QBs as both Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee have both moved on.

Having said that, this team is still loaded on defense, and should be good enough on offense to be a very, very good team again in 2013.  The draft prospects we will watch closely fall mainly on the defensive side of the ball.  Jr DEs, Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery make the top DE pair in the nation, and will keep opposing OCs up at night trying to keep them off their QB.  Soph DT, Anthony Johnson is primed to become the next big name DL for the Tiger when the M&M boys make their jump to the NFL.

The secondary is equally as scary, boasting the return of Bednarik Award winner, Jr CB Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu, and stand-out Jr S, Eric Reid.  Both of these guys could hear their names called in the first two rounds of the 2013 draft.

UGA transfer Zach Mettenberger will take over signal calling duties, and although raw, he still has some good upside which could help the Tigers pass attack improve over last years unit.  The guy I am most enamored with at the QB position however is going to start the year on the bench.  Redshirt Freshman Stephen Rivers (little brother to SD QB Phillip Rivers) has a very similar skill set to his brother who as man remember set all kind of school and conference records at NC State because of his superb accuracy.