LSU Football has been a twentieth century dynasty, becoming the first team to win multiple BCS Championships (2004, 2008) until Florida matched their win total, as well as competing in last year’s championship game against Alabama. Though they lost to their SEC rival, the Tigers are looking to bounce back in a strong way. Returning such stars as Heisman Finalist “The Honey Badger” Tyrann Mathieu as well as Odell Beckham who is coming off a strong true freshman season asserting himself as the most reliable receiver on last year’s squad have coach Les Miles and his staff feeling very confident about the 2012 season. Coach Miles has stayed predominantly in state in his 2013 recruiting class having his first nine verbal commitments coming from Louisiana natives. However, the last two commitments have been out of state and recently joining them is wide receiver Quantavious Leslie from Hinds (Miss.) Community College with big potential standing at 6 foot 4 and with great speed at a 4.44 forty yard dash time. Though LSU has not landed any recruits from the ESPNU top 150, they feel very optimistic with a team that just a few months ago was competing for the national championship.
The Tigers are looking to rebound after last year’s 21-0 loss to Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game, though they defeated Alabama earlier that year in an overtime thriller 9-6. Although the Tigers lost stand-outs such as Maurice Claiborne and Jordan Jefferson to the NFL Draft, the LSU coaching staff is not expecting to miss a beat come this fall. The Tigers are returning a lot of fire power as shown by the Pre-season All SEC team which named offensive tackle Alex Hurst, defensive end Sam Montgomery, safety Eric Reid, punter Brad Wing and Tyrann Mathieu as both a cornerback and a punt returner. Quarterback Zach Mettenberger looks to lead the LSU offense this year and things look promising with wide outs such as Odell Beckham Jr. and new recruit Chuck Baker who will be a deep threat all year for Coach Miles.
The 2012 schedule opens up with three straight non-conference home games. The toughest opponent in these three games will be September 8th against Washington who is led by Junior Quarterback Keith Price. Price is in the pre-season Heisman discussion after his performance in last year’s shootout with the Baylor Bears in the Alamo Bowl. The Tigers then go on to play division foe Auburn on the road that is coming off of a disappointing season defending their 2011 BCS National Championship victory. Conference games at Florida and the championship game rematch against Alabama will prove to be the true indicators of who will control the SEC this upcoming season.
Ultimately, LSU should control their own destiny this season with what looks to be undoubtedly the most complete team competing in the SEC this year.
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