LSU's Redshirt Tracker: The 2023 Signing Class

The LSU football staff signed one of the nation’s top recruiting classes during the 2023 cycle, and more than half the group took a redshirt this season.

Meanwhile, six of the 24 signees made at least one start, and 22 made an appearance in every game.

With head coach Brian Kelly’s focus on roster management and the future, here’s a look at how the Tigers navigated the 2023 season en route to redshirting 13 true freshmen.

Also of note, the NCAA allows players to appear in a bowl game without it counting against the maximum of four games played that are needed to redshirt.

The True Freshmen Redshirt Tracker

The Tigers had nine true freshmen redshirt on offense and four on defense.

The list includes quarterback Rickie Collins, running back Trey Holly, offensive linemen DJ Chester, Tyree Adams and Paul Mubenga, JACK linebackers Jaxon Howard and Dylan Carpenter, linebacker Christian Brathwaite and safety Kylin Jackson.

QB: Rickie Collins (1 game played)

Collins appeared in just one game (Grambling), seeing time in the fourth quarter of a blowout win. With Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels gone to the NFL Draft, Collins will begin to see more practice reps in Year 2 as LSU hands over the baton to Garrett Nussmeier – while also bringing in Vanderbilt transfer AJ Swann.

RB: Trey Holly: (2 games played)

Even with fellow freshman Kaleb Jackson having a big season as a backup running back, Holly showed some immediate promise. In his lone two appearances, Holly managed to churn 100 yards and a touchdown out of just 10 carries. The 1-2 punch looks like a solid addition of Louisiana natives and former four-star recruits.

WR: Shelton Sampson Jr. (3 games played)

WR: Kyle Parker (3 games played)

WR: Jalen Brown (3 games played)

WR: Khai Prean (3 games played)

LSU only had five wide receivers catch a pass this season, and two of them – Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. – went over 1,000 yards receiving. Kyren Lacy went for nearly 500 yards on seven touchdowns, while Chris Hilton turned in 169 yards and a touchdown and Aaron Anderson went for 59 yards on 12 catches. After 12 games, all four true freshmen receivers took a redshirt. Lacy, Hilton and Anderson are expected back next season, but there’s expectations that the transition from freshman to sophomore seasons will see one or two players from the group emerge. The offseason will be huge for prospects like Sampson and Brown as they look to go from former Top 100 recruits to wide receivers that are relied upon in 2024.

OL: DJ Chester: (4 games played)

OT: Tyree Adams (1 game played)

OL: Paul Mubenga (0 games played)

It’s no surprise that Lance Heard, a former On3 five-star recruit, saw the most playing time among the four offensive line signees. He immediately won the second-team right tackle job, and he stepped in for his first collegiate start when Emery Jones was banged up in late-October. From there, LSU was able to redshirt the other three offensive line signees. The most action from the group went to Chester, the heir apparent to Charles Turner at center. Chester managed to get his feet wet with playing time while also taking a redshirt, and he could move into a starting role as soon as next season given Turner is eligible for the NFL Draft.

EDGE: Jaxon Howard (4 games)

EDGE: Dylan Carpenter (3 games played)

Freshman Da’Shawn Womack saw plenty of time on special teams, and he led the freshmen defensive linemen and JACK linebackers in snaps with 62 on defense while appearing in 11 games. With depth at the JACK linebacker spot, LSU was able to redshirt both Howard and Carpenter, who were both On3 four-star prospects. Kelly praised Howard for how he’s looked in bowl practice, while the Tigers are looking to develop players like Carpenter as the defensive line and EDGE rusher rooms get rebuilt in Baton Rouge.

LB: Christian Brathwaite (4 games played)

Brathwaite was able to take a redshirt while also seeing playing time in SEC games Alabama, Florida, Auburn and Missouri. The lone other freshman linebacker was Whit Weeks, who made a strong case for the most impactful true freshmen on roster after he finished the regular season tied for the most starts (3), tackles (41) and snaps played (260 on defense) among the 2023 signees. Expect Weeks to start alongside Greg Penn next season given Harold Perkins will still likely be used in other roles, while Brathwaite will have the chance to move up the depth chart in Year 2.

S: Kylin Jackson (4 games played)

Veterans Major Burns and Andre Sam combined for nearly 1,500 snaps at safety, and the defensive staff didn’t use many other safeties even with the absence of the room’s best player in Greg Brooks Jr. Freshman Ryan Yaites saw the third-most snap among the safeties (124) after appearing i 12 games. Jackson, a four-star out of Zachary, went without any playing time in the first half of the season to seeing action in four of the final six games. With Asthon Stamps and Javien Toviano both moving to cornerback after signing as high school safety prospects, it will be key that Yaites and Jackson develop into reliable options in a safety room that’s been patched up by transfer additions in recent years.