2008 LSU Tigers Season

2008 LSU Tigers Season, Game Recaps, Scores and Reviews

2008 LSU Tigers

Dec. 31
2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl
LSU 38 … Georgia Tech 3
LSU marched on the opening drive finishing with a two-yard Charles Scott touchdown run. Georgia Tech cut the margin to 7-3 on a 24-yard Scott Blair field goal late in the first quarter, and then the rout was on. That field goal was the only fun the Yellow Jackets would have as the Tigers scored 28 second quarter points, and scored the final 31 points of the game, with two short Scott scoring runs, a 25-yard Richard Dickson touchdown catch, and a 17-yard run from Keiland Williams. The Tigers defense didn’t let the Tech running game get going, allowing just 164 yards while forcing three turnovers.
Player of the Game: LSU LB Perry Riley made 11 tackles and a tackle for loss.
Stat Leaders: Georgia Tech - Passing: Josh Nesbitt, 8-24, 150 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Jonathan Dwyer, 10-67. Receiving: Jonathan Dwyer, 3-66
LSU - Passing: Jordan Jefferson, 16-25, 142 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Charles Scott, 15-65, 3 TD. Receiving: Richard Dickson, 4-50, 1 TD
Inside The Box Score ... 5 Thoughts on the Chick-fil-A Bowl …Georgia Tech’s Morgan Burnett led all tacklers with 14 with 1.5 tackles for loss … Total offense: LSU 324 yards – GT 314 … Passing: LSU 17-of-27 – GT 8-of-25 … Average yards per punt return: LSU 18 – GT 5.5 … Second quarter: LSU 143 yards – GT 45. Time of possession: LSU 10:07 – GT 4:53.

- 2008 LSU Preview
- 2007 LSU Season

2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 9-3
2008 Record: 8-5

Aug. 30 Appalachian St W 41-13
Sept. 6  POSTPONED vs. Troy
Sept. 13 North Texas W 41-3
Sept. 20 at Auburn W 26-21
Sept. 27 Mississippi St W 34-24
Oct. 4 OPEN DATE 
Oct. 11 at Florida L 51-21
Oct. 18 at So. Carolina W 24-17
Oct. 25 Georgia L 52-38
Nov. 1 Tulane W 35-10
Nov. 8 Alabama L 27-21 OT
Nov. 15 Troy W 41-30
Nov. 22 Ole Miss L 31-13
Nov. 28 at Arkansas L 31-30
Chick-fil-A Bowl
Dec. 31 Georgia Tech W 38-3

2007 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 11-1
2007 Record: 12-2

Aug. 30 at Mississippi St W 45-0
Sept. 8 Virginia Tech W 48-7
Sept. 15 Middle Tenn W 44-0
Sept. 22 South Carolina W 28-16
Sept. 29 at Tulane W 34-9
Oct. 6 Florida W 28-24
Oct. 13 at Kentucky L 45-37 3OT
Oct. 20 Auburn W 30-24
Nov. 3 at Alabama W 41-34
Nov. 10 Louisiana Tech W 58-10
Nov. 17 at Ole Miss W 41-24
Nov. 24 Arkansas L 50-48 3OT
SEC Championship
Dec. 1 Tennessee W 21-14
BCS Championship
Jan. 7 Ohio State W 38-24

Nov. 28
Arkansas 31 … LSU 30
Casey Dick came off the bench to lead Arkansas to 17 unanswered points with a 46-yard touchdown pass to Jarius Wright, a 17-play, 90-yard drive finishing with a 22-yard Alex Tejada field goal, and a with just 21 seconds to play, a 21-yard scoring toss for London Crawford. LSU went on a 27-point midgame run highlighted by nice throws for scores from Jordan Jefferson, who hit Richard Dickson on an 11-yard touchdown pass late in the second and Brandon LaFell for a 32-yard score in the third. LSU had one final chance to try to get into field goal range, but a couple of missed throws forced Colt David to try a 63-yard field goal that came up short.
Player of the game: Arkansas QB Casey Dick completed 18-of-29 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns
Stat Leaders: LSU - Passing: Jordan Jefferson, 9-21, 143 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Jordan Jefferson, 19-50. Receiving: Brandon LaFell, 2-49, 1 TD
Arkansas - Passing: Casey Dick, 18-29, 197 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Dennis Johnson, 18-127, 1 TD. Receiving: D.J. Williams, 8-51
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... From national champions to five losses the following year, and with a bowl game still to be played, isn’t quite as disastrous as it might seem. Okay, so the loss to Ole Miss wasn’t a prize, and now, after the late collapses in the last two games, the team has to come up with a big bowl win or else the pressure will be on at the start of 2009 to produce big right away. Jordan Jefferson had his moments, but it’s obvious that no one respects the passing game and will load up to take away the run. For the second game in a row, Charles Scott was erased.

Nov. 22
Ole Miss 31 …LSU 13
Ole Miss used the Wild Rebel formation to come up with some big plays, like a 13-yard Markeith Summers touchdown to put the game away in the third quarter, but it was Jevan Snead and his two touchdown passes to Mike Wallace that made the difference early on. Snead connected with Wallace from 34 yards out in the first quarter and floated a pass for a 25-yard score in the second. LSU showed some life late in the first half on a nine-yard Terrance Toliver catch, and Colt David hit a 52-yard field goal in the third quarter, but that would be as close as the Tigers would come.
Player of the game: Ole Miss QB Jevan Snead completed 16-of-25 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns.
Stat Leaders: LSU - Passing: Jordan Jefferson, 10-20, 129 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jordan Jefferson, 10-23. Receiving: Terrance Toliver, 5-35, 1 TD
Ole Miss - Passing: Jevan Snead, 16-25, 274 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Cordera Eason, 17-60. Receiving: Mike Wallace, 5-99, 2 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Now what does LSU do? The defense isn’t coming up with stops, getting picked apart by the Ole Miss passing game, along with having problems with the Wild Rebel formation, but it was the offense that was the big issue. Jarrett Lee completed just 4-of-12 passes for 49 yards before suffering an ankle injury. Jordan Jefferson was fine, but the rest of the team will have to pick up the slack if he’s the starter for an appreciable length of time. Charles Scott ran 10 times for 10 yards. Against Arkansas, he has to be a100-yard rusher again.

Nov. 8
Alabama 27 … LSU 21 OT
In overtime, Rashad Johnson intercepted his third pass of the game and Bama’s offense took advantage with John Parker Wilson barreling in for a one-yard score. The Tide had a shot to win at the end of regulation, but Leigh Tiffin’s field goal was blocked. Wilson started off the scoring with a one-yard run, but LSU answered with a 30-yard Demetrius Byrd catch and a 30-yard Charles Scott dash. But LSU QB Jarrett Lee struggled all game long with Johnson taking one of Lee’s four interceptions 54 yards for a touchdown. Glen Coffee ran for a three-yard touchdown to give the Tide the lead in the second half, but LSU went on its best march of the day going 74 yards in 14 plays finishing with a one-yard Scott run to tie it up before Bama’s ill-fated late march before OT.
Player of the game: Alabama S Rashad Johnson made four tackles and three interceptions taking one for a score
Stat Leaders: LSU - Passing: Jarrett Lee, 13-34, 181 yds, 1 TD, 4 INT
Rushing: Charles Scott, 24-92, 2 TD. Receiving: Brandon LaFell, 4-74
Alabama - Passing: John Parker Wilson, 15-31, 215 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Glen Coffee, 26-126, 1 TD. Receiving: Julio Jones, 7-128
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Is Jarrett Lee really that bad or is he just young and ineffective? That’s what the LSU coaching staff will have to figure out before the start of next year, because against Alabama, Lee had to be hidden. The Tigers would’ve won with mere competence at quarterback. The defense can’t be held blameless. It was fine, but it was hardly wall it needed to be to make up for the problems on offense. The Tigers are now out of the SEC title hunt, so now the goal is for a ten-win season with Troy, Ole Miss and Arkansas to close before the bowl game.

Nov. 1
LSU 35 … Tulane 10
Charles Scott ran for a seven-yard touchdown and Brandon LaFell caught a 14-yard pass on the way to a 14-3 LSU lead. Chris Hawkins and the defense stretched the lead with a 24-yard fumble return for a touchdown, and Keiland Williams all but put the game away on a three-yard run. LSU’s passing game wasn’t sharp with Jarrett Lee throwing an interception return for a touchdown to Travis Burks. The Green Wave came up with a mere 163 yards of total offense while LSU ran for 231 yards.
Player of the game: LSU RB Charles Scott ran 12 times for 114 yards and a touchdown.
Stat Leaders: Tulane - Passing: Kevin Moore, 6-11, 44 yds
Rushing: Matt Harding, 16-53. Receiving: Matt Harding, 3-23
LSU - Passing: Jarrett Lee, 8-20, 99 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Charles Scott, 12-114, 1 TD. Receiving: Brandon LaFell, 3-48, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... LSU did what it was supposed to do in an easy win over Tulane, but there are problems, Jarrett Lee continued to have problems, completing 8-of-20 passes with 99 yards and an interception return for a score. He’s getting help from the running game with Charles Scott running extremely well, and the team ran for 231 yards, but he’s not clicking. Lee will have to play much, much better to handle Alabama next week.

Oct. 25
Georgia 52 … LSU 38
Georgia started the game with an interception return for a touchdown, with Darryl Gamble taking a Jarrett Lee pass 40 yards for a score on the first play from scrimmage, and all but ended the fun with another pick six from Gamble coming from 53 yards away. In between the two offense roared up and down the field with Charles Scott, who ran for 144 yards, scoring twice for LSU and Lee throwing three touchdown passes, but Georgia never trailed as Matt Stafford hit Kenneth Harris for a five-yard touchdown pass, ran for a seven-yard score on a QB draw, and connected with A.J. Green for a 49-yard touchdown. Knowshon Moreno’s 68-yard touchdown dash late in the third quarter gave the Bulldogs a 38-17 lead. LSU wouldn’t go away, making things interesting late until the second Gamble pick.
Player of the game: Georgia LB Darryl Gamble made 13 tackles, a tackle for loss and took two interceptions for touchdowns
Stat Leaders: Georgia - Passing: Matthew Stafford, 17-26, 249 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Knowshon Moreno, 21-163, 1 TD. Receiving: A.J. Green, 3-89, 1 TD
LSU - Passing: Jarrett Lee, 14-28, 287 yds, 3 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: Charles Scott, 21-144, 2 TD. Receiving: Demetrius Byrd, 4-62
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... What happened to the defense? To be fair, two touchdowns were on the offense with interceptions thrown for scores against Georgia, but the defense continues to have problems trying to force turnovers, and it isn’t generating any pass rush. Jarrett Lee made a few young mistakes, but he also made some good reads and throws to keep the offense.

Oct. 18
LSU 24 … South Carolina 17
LSU got up 10-3 in the first half on the first of two Charles Scott touchdown runs, but South Carolina came up with a big late run before going into the locker room with a 26-yard Weslye Saunders touchdown catch and following an interception, got a one-yard Mike Davis scoring run with 22 seconds to play. But the second half was all LSU as the defense put the clamps down and while the offense came up with a seven-yard Richard Dickson touchdown catch in the third quarter to tie it and a two-yard Scott run to win. South Carolina had one last shot, but Curtis Taylor picked off a Stephen Garcia and LSU ran out the clock.
Player of the game: LSU RBs Keiland Williams and Charles Scott combined for 133 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries.
Stat Leaders: South Carolina - Passing: Stephen Garcia, 14-26, 215 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Mike Davis, 10-23, 1 TD. Receiving: Jared Cook, 5-74
LSU - Passing: Jarrett Lee, 16-26, 189 yds
Rushing: Keiland Williams, 15-72. Receiving: Brandon LaFell, 4-55
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... The defense struggled a bit in the first half against South Carolina, but helped by a fearsome pass rush, it was a brick wall in the second half. Jarrett Lee had a great game, outside of one interception, but in crunch time, the coaching staff had no problems turning to Andrew Hatch. No, this isn’t going to be the juggernaut of last year, but the overall record might turn out to be just as good. The Georgia game would prove telling and will make-or-break the season.

Oct. 11
Florida 51 … LSU 21
Florida got a 70-yard touchdown from Percy Harvin on the third play of the game to kick off a 20-0 run to start the game. Harvin added a seven-yard touchdown catch, and the route was on … sort of. LSU fought back within six on a six-yard Jarrett Lee to Chris Mitchell touchdown pass and a three-yard Andrew Hatch run, but the Gators answered with 21 straight points to open it up. Jeffrey Demps tore off a 42-yard touchdown run and Brandon Spikes intercepted two passes, taking one for a score. Florida outgained LSU 475 yards to 321.
Player of the game: Florida WR Percy Harvin caught six passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns and ran twice for 13 yards
Stat Leaders: LSU - Passing: Jarrett Lee, 23-38, 209 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Charles Scott, 12-35. Receiving: Brandon LaFell, 7-59
Florida - Passing: Tim Tebow, 14-21, 210 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Jeffrey Demps, 10-129, 1 TD. Receiving: Percy Harvin, 6-112, 2 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... The LSU quarterbacks need to be better. While it’s not Jarrett Lee and Andrew Hatch’s fault for the loss to Florida, they weren’t able to come up with the same types of big plays the Gators were able to when Charles Scott and the running game got bottled up. Lee is in a learning process. He spread the ball around, but he didn’t make anyone better by putting his targets in a position to do anything. Ricky Jean-Francois is great, but the defensive line couldn’t have missed him that badly. The supposedly rock-sold LSU D lost on the line.

Sept. 27
LSU 34 ... Mississippi State 24
LSU got up 17-3 helped by two one-yard Charles Scott touchdown runs, but Mississippi State made it a fight with short touchdown runs from Christian Ducre and Anthony Dixon. The Tigers finally put it away with a 43-yard Demetrius Byrd touchdown catch in the final five minutes. Ducre caught an 11-yard touchdown pass late, but the Bulldogs couldn't get any closer.
Player of the game: LSU RB Charles Scott ran 27 times for 141 yards and two touchdowns.
Stat Leaders: Mississippi State - Passing: Tyson Lee, 17-26, 175 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Anthony Dixon, 15-50, 1 TD. Receiving: Christian Ducre, 4-34, 1 TD
LSU - Passing: Jarrett Lee, 18-27, 261 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Charles Scott, 27-141, 2 TD. Receiving: Brandon LaFell, 7-100
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... LSU was able to sleepwalk against Mississippi State and survived, but that's do be expected a week after the war with Auburn. The offense was humming on all cylinders with Jarrett Lee throwing efficiently and Charles Scott coming up with yet another 100-yard game. Now the defense needs a week off before dealing with the road trip to Florida, and it has to play far better than it did against the Bulldogs. MSU committed penalties and couldn't come up with a big defensive stop, but LSU still had to battle into the fourth quarter. Again, call it an aberration after the Auburn game, but there won't be any margin for error in some of the upcoming showdowns.

Sept. 20
LSU 26 ... Auburn 21
In a terrific game, Jarrett Lee came off the bench in place of Andrew Hatch, who suffered a concussion, and threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Chris Mitchell in the third quarter and an 18-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell with just over a minute to play for the win. Auburn had one final shot, but Chris Todd's 4th and 25 pass came up just short. Auburn took a 14-3 lead, and the momentum, into halftime as Gabe McKenzie picked off a Lee pass for a 24-yard touchdown, but the LSU offense took over in the second half with the Mitchell touchdown catch and a halfback option pass from Keiland Williams to Demetrius Byrd from 22 yards out for a score. But Auburn came back with a 15-yard touchdown catch from Robert Dunn with 6:40 to play. LSU went 54 yards in 2:57 for the game-winning touchdown.
Player of the game: LSU QB Jarrett Lee completed 11-of-22 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.
Stat Leaders: Auburn - Passing: Chris Todd, 17-32, 250 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Ben Tate, 19-45, 1 TD. Receiving: Rodgeriqus Smith, 5-73
LSU - Passing: Jarrett Lee, 11-22, 182 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Charles Scott, 21-132. Receiving: Brandon LaFell, 4-92, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Was the win over Auburn the game that propelled the Jarrett Lee era? After he looked awful in the first half, and with Andrew Hatch playing well, Lee appeared to be destined for the No. 2 role in the big moments. Thrown into the fire, he came through big-time. His touchdown pass to Chris Mitchell showed off his arm as he connected on the 39-yarder while getting blasted. As always, Les Miles isn't afraid to gamble, going for the touchdown at the end when a field goal would do. This is a fearless team, and it plays like it.

Sept. 13
LSU 41 … North Texas 3
Charles Scott tore off touchdown runs from 39 and 43 yards out and Trindon Holliday ripped off a 92-yard punt return for a score as LSU rolled past North Texas. The Mean Green managed a 33-yard Jeremy Knott field goal, but that was it as the LSU defense allowed just 199 yards of total offense. LSU outrushed UNT 216 yards to 44.
Player of the game: Charles Scott ran seven times for 102 yards and two touchdowns
Stat Leaders: North Texas - Passing: Giovanni Vizza, 22-40, 149 yds
Rushing: Cam Montgomery, 8-33. Receiving: Casey Fitzgerald, 11-75
LSU - Passing: Andrew Hatch, 10-17, 125 yds
Rushing: Charles Scott, 7-102, 2 TD. Receiving: Brandon LaFell, 7-69
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... LSU had no problems with North Texas, as expected, but the win might have been extremely costly as star LB Darry Beckwith left with a knee injury. The quarterback situation remains solid, but Andrew Hatch threw an interception. It wasn’t a big deal. The offensive line is absolutely dominant. The running backs are getting ten-mile wide holes to run through.

Aug. 30
LSU 41 ... Appalachian State 13
LSU had no problem keeping Appalachian State from pulling off two straight opening day upsets getting out to a 31-0 lead helped by Charles Scott touchdown runs from eight and 29 yards out, a 17-yard Demetrius Byrd touchdown catch and a 31-yard Brandon LaFell scoring grab. ASU got on the board with a 44-yard Robert Welton touchdown catch, but that would be the only highlight as the Tigers dominated on both sides of the line.
Player of the game: LSU RB Charles Scott ran 16 times for 160 yards and two touchdowns and caught one pass for 14 yards
Stat Leaders: Appalachian State - Passing: Armanti Edwards, 13-31, 155 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Armanti Edwards, 12-23. Receiving: CoCo Hillary, 9-80
LSU - Passing: Jarrett Lee 6-10, 116 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Charles Scott, 16-160, 2 TD. Receiving: Brandon LaFell, 4-87, 2 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... LSU did exactly what a defending national champion is supposed to do against a potentially dangerous team like Appalachian State. RB Charles Scott might have been the star, but it was the offensive line that made everything so easy. It obliterated the ASU defensive front and allowed plenty of time for the quarterbacks to operate. There's still a bit of a controversy. Andrew Hatch did a good job making the crisp, safe throws, while Jarrett Lee showed he could run the offense as well. The defense was fantastic; ASU converted just two of 14 third down chances.

2008 Recruiting Class

Star of the Class

Patrick Johnson 6-1 175 DB/WR Pompano Beach, Fla.  Ely HS
Highly-touted physical athlete who is considered the best cornerback in the nation ... Should see time immediately in LSU’s secondary ... Possesses shutdown coverage abilities, as well as the speed to match up well with the nation’s fastest receivers ... A consensus five-star prospect by all major recruiting services ... Named to the prestigious Parade All-America team ... Also named the USA Today Defensive Player of the Year .. . First-team All-America by USA Today and SuperPrep ... A member of SuperPrep’s All-Dixie team ... Named the Class 6A-5A-4A Player of the Year by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel ... Earned a spot on the Mobile Press-Register’s Super Southeast 120 ... Also named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Super Southern 100 ... Participated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl ... Was one of six finalists for the U.S. Army Player of the Year Award ... Intercepted five passes as a senior in addition to making 21 tackles ... Considered a threat on the offensive side of the ball as a senior, rushing for 733 yards and 11 touchdowns ... Named the Defensive MVP at the 2007 U.S. Army Junior Combine ...Was a consensus selection as a junior to the All-Broward Country first-team ... Earned Class 5A all-state second team honors as a junior ... Picked off seven passes as a junior to compliment his 37 tackles ... Reached the endzone seven times during his junior campaign – three times on kickoffs, twice as a receiver and twice on the ground ... Rushed for 213 yards on just 10 carries ... Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds ... Relative of Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden, New York Giants wide receiver Sinorice Moss and Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss

Potential Instant Impact Players

DeAngelo Benton 6-3 205 WR Bastrop, La.  Hargrave Military/Bastrop HS
The top prep school player in the nation for 2008 after earning Parade All-America honors as a senior in high school in 2007 ... Signed with LSU again in 2008 after originally signing with the Tigers a year ago ... Used the past year at Hargrave Military Academy to qualify academically ... Polished receiver with superb all-around skills ... Has the speed to beat defenders vertically and excels in jump ball situations ... Named the 2006 Class 4A MVP after hauling in 40 catches for 947 yards and 15 touchdowns in leading Bastrop to its second straight state title ... Averaged 23.6 yards per catch his senior season ... ... Member of the Baton Rouge Advocate Super Dozen, New Orleans Times Picayune's Blue-Chip List and Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100 following senior season ... Caught 41 passes for 869 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior in 2005 ... Earned 4A all-state honors as a junior ... Timed at 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash with a 37-inch vertical leap

DeAngelo Peterson 6-3 190 WR New Orleans, La.  Desire Street Academy A
n extremely versatile and highly recruited wide receiver from Baton Rouge ... Will impact an already deep receiver corps early in his collegiate career ... A consensus four-star athlete by all major recruiting services ... A member of Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Super Southern 100 ...  Named to the Superprep All-Southwest team  ... Named Class 1A first-team as a senior ... Caught 38 passes for 647 yards and nine touchdowns during senior season at Desire Street Academy ... Also recorded 104 tackles, four interceptions, 3.5 sacks and one return for a touchdown as a defensive back ... As a junior, totaled 743 yards and six touchdowns on 43 receptions ... Also notched 76 tackles ... Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds ... A two-sport athlete at Desire Street Academy, staring for the basketball team ... Has only played organized football for four years

Rest of the Class

Chancey Aghayere	6-4	243	DL	Garland, Texas	Garland HS
Ryan Baker	6-0	210	LB	Grand Ridge, Fla.	Bountstown HS
Matt Branch	6-5	240	TE	Monroe, La.	Sterlington HS
Derrick Bryant	6-0	185	DB	Lawrenceville, Ga.	Peachtree Ridge HS
Chase Clement	6-6	245	DE	Thibodaux, La.	E.D. White HS
Rockey Duplessis	6-1	185	DB	Belle Chasse, La.	Belle Chasse HS
Lavar Edwards	6-4	280	DE	Gretna, La.	Desire Street Academy
Tyler Edwards	6-3	240	TE	Monroe, La.	Ouachita Parish HS
Cordian Hagans	6-5	290	DL	Snellville, Ga.	Northview HS
Karnell Hatcher	6-2	190	DB	Delray Beach, Fla.	Atlantic Community HS
Alex Hurst	6-5	290	OL	Bartlett, Tenn.	Arlington HS
Jordan Jefferson	6-4	210	QB	St. Rose, La.	Destrehan HS
P.J. Lonergan	6-4	290	OL	New Orleans, La.	Rummel HS
Tim Molton	6-3	190	WR	Montz, La.	Destrehan HS
Thomas Parsons	6-5	272	OL	Canyon Lake, Texas	Smithson Valley HS
Kyle Prater	6-1	210	LB	Kerrville, Texas	Tivy HS
Greg Shaw	6-5	285	OL	Hialeah, Fla.	Edward Pace HS
Clay Spencer	6-6	285	OL	Baton Rouge, La.	Parkview Baptist
Ryan St. Julien	6-1	170	DB	St. Martinville, La.	Catholic-New Iberia HS
Kellen Theriot	6-1	225	LB	Houston, Texas	Episcopal HS
Brandon Taylor	6-0	178	DB	Franklinton, La.	Franklinton HS
Jhyryn Taylor	6-1	180	WR	Franklinton, La.	Franklinton HS
Chris Tolliver	6-1	189	WR	Rayville, La.	Rayville HS

2008 Early Lookahead
Why to get excited: Coming off the national title season, Les Miles is bringing in a phenomenal haul of recruits to keep the program among the elite of the elite for years to come. For this year, the return of Ciron Black and Herman Johnson will make the left side of the line among the most dominant in college football, and two other starters are back up front. Jacob Hester might be gone, but all the other running backs return along QB Ryan Perrilloux, who has the show all to himself now. With Tyson Jackson coming back along with Marlon Favorite and Ricky Jean-Francois, the defensive line will go on without Glenn Dorsey.
Why to be grouchy: Can the team really count on Perrilloux to go through an entire season without being a knucklehead? Matt Flynn might not have been as talented, but he was the team's heart-and-soul offensive leader. LSU might be a factory, but you don't get better by losing Dorsey, LB Ali Highsmith, CB Chevis Jackson and SS Craig Steltz.
The number one thing to work on is: The return game. Considering LSU might have college football's fastest player, Trindon Holliday, and a slew of other speedsters, there should be more big returns. The Tigers averaged a mere 5.91 yards per punt return and 19.69 yards per kickoff return, both among the worst in the nation.
Biggest offensive loss: FB Jacob Hester
Biggest defensive loss: DT Glenn Dorsey & SS Craig Steltz
Best returning offensive player: OG Herman Johnson, Sr.
Best returning defensive player: DE Tyson Jackson, Sr. & LB Darry Beckwith, Sr.

2007 Recap
Recap: The Tigers won a second national championship in five years the hard way, losing twice in triple-overtime as the No. 1 team, and navigating a minefield of close games to get to New Orleans.  An enigma from the moment it lost to Kentucky on Oct. 13, LSU fancied itself a team of destiny, needing some divine intervention from Pittsburgh and Oklahoma on Dec. 1 in order to even get a crack at Ohio State for the BCS title.  Lacking offensive firepower when WR Early Doucet was injured, the Tigers leaned heavily on RB Jacob Hester, an icon in the region, who came through repeatedly when the team needed him most.            

Offensive Player of the Year: RB Jacob Hester

Defensive Player of the Year: DT Glenn Dorsey

Biggest Surprise: True to his word, head coach Les Miles will be coaching LSU, not Michigan, in 2008.  Once Lloyd Carr announced his resignation at the end of the regular season, it was a foregone conclusion that Miles would be headed back to his alma mater.  Rumors got so hot before the SEC Championship game, Miles was forced to call an impromptu press conference before kickoff, an odd turn of events with an even stranger outcome.        

Biggest Disappointment: In Dorsey’s final season in Baton Rouge, it was unfortunate for everyone that he wasn’t able to play it at full strength.  The country’s most disruptive defensive player basically played the second half of the year on one good leg, courtesy of a cheap shot from Auburn G Chaz Ramsey to Dorsey’s right knee.       

Looking Ahead: Although a lack of talent hasn’t been an issue at LSU in years, a lack of senior leadership could be as the program attempts to repeat in 2008.  At long last, the offense gets turned over to junior QB Ryan Perrilloux, who gets his first real chance to fulfill all of his high school hype.