LSU cornerback injury concerns loom in Alabama matchup
Despite an attempt to shore up a major position of need via the transfer portal, LSU still finds itself in dire straits at cornerback heading into this week’s massively important SEC West clash with Alabama.
Injuries have absolutely decimated the depth chart, to the point that not even the offseason acquisitions are helping a whole lot at the moment.
“They took four transfer corners this offseason with the hope of all four of them contributing in a big way,” The Bengal Tiger’s Shea Dixon said on the Andy Staples On3 show. “They only returned one scholarship corner from last year’s team, who only played on special teams. He had no cornerback starts or reps a year ago.”
So with four transfers at the position, you’d figure the Tigers would be fine, right?
Not so fast. A combination of injuries and off-the-field issues have whittled the numbers down to where it’s possible none of the four even suit up against Alabama this week.
“They took JK Johnson out of Ohio State. In the fall he had season-ending surgery, so he was out from the start,” Dixon said. “Denver Harris, Texas A&M, a guy who had been suspended half the year with the Aggies, has already been in and out of what Brian Kelly calls availability in games this year. This past week, or two weeks ago, I should say, did not see playing time.
“And Duce Chestnut, from Syracuse, who was an All-ACC performer a year ago when they took him, also in the doghouse of sorts. Brian Kelly has not gone into too much detail but has said both of them are on the team, are on scholarship, but are not practicing and are not available.
“You get to the fourth guy in Zy Alexander, the one guy who’s been the consistent one, the eight starts and leading the team and every corner in rep snap count this year, in a meaningless game, which this happens, but against Army, you’re blowing them out, it’s halftime. He picks off a Hail Mary pass, basically, tries to return it and he gets injured. And now Brian Kelly has said he’s going to be out at least a few weeks. That means he’s probably not playing against Alabama.”
In other words: Disaster scenario for LSU at cornerback, potentially.
“I lay it out for you like that and it seems like they might not have any of the four against Alabama, which is a big issue for them,” Dixon said.
So what can LSU do with Alexander on the bench due to injury and the other two still in the doghouse? Well, there are a couple players who have cross-trained who could help.
Dixon laid out the possibilities, but suffice it to say it’s not exactly ideal.
“Sage Ryan is a guy that has obviously been around this program a few years,” Dixon said. “In fact, he picked LSU over Alabama in a very tight race a few years back. He’s a junior now, but he has started a good bit at corner, especially with those transfers in and out of the lineup. He’s a lock to start.
“But after that they’re turning probably to true freshmen. If not they’ll go to that one guy who I said was the only cornerback they return from a year ago, Laterrance Welsh. He’s yet to earn a start yet in his college career. Could it come in Tuscaloosa? Maybe so, because of the other options, only one of them has a start under their belt. That’s true freshman Ashton Stamps. I think it’ll be one of those two guys unless Denver Harris gets himself out of whatever doghouse he’s in, and then he would be the starter.”
LSU and Alabama are set to meet at 7:45 p.m. ET on Saturday in a game on CBS. The winner will become the overwhelming favorite to reach the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta as the SEC West’s representative.