PALMER: Four things to watch at Saturday’s LSU Spring Scrimmage
04/10/2025
(photo credit: Nate Bell)
By Hunt Palmer
LSU continues spring football workouts Saturday. Call it a spring game. Call it a practice. Call it a scrimmage.
Whatever.
The early version of the 2025 team will put on the pads and get some work done inside Tiger Stadium, and fans will be allowed in.
If spring football isn’t for you. Great.
If you’re locked in on LSU-Auburn baseball this weekend. Great.
If this is Masters weekend, and everything else takes a back seat. Great.
But, if you’re headed to Tiger Stadium on Saturday and would like a little bit of a primer on what to watch, this is for you.
One week from our open practice in Tiger Stadium! Fans are invited on the field after for autographs with the team and pictures with Coach Kelly. pic.twitter.com/bTJByieOd4
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) April 5, 2025
RISING ROOKIES
Nowadays, it seems half of any given signing class is going to enroll for the spring semester. That’s certainly the case at LSU where 12 of the 2025 signing class are already in school. Here are a few to keep an eye on.
DJ Pickett is trending toward being a starter at corner. You can watch the way he goes through reps and listen to his teammates talk about him. Pickett has all the makings of a star. You’ll immediately notice him physically. He’s significantly taller than the other corners and certainly has some room to fill out. He should run with the first group a little bit.
Harlem Berry is as exciting a playmaker as LSU has on the roster. He’s clearly behind Caden Durham, but it’s reasonable to suggest he’ll share some reps with Kaleb Jackson. Those two are wildly different backs which creates even more chances for Berry. They’ll use the five-star running back in both the running and the passing game. He’s fun to watch.
Carius Curne is working at left tackle behind Tyree Adams. On3 ranked the Marion, Ark., native as the No. 2 interior offensive lineman in the country, but Brad Davis is giving him a look at tackle for now. Curne is solidly built if not long like Adams. He’s held his own in the spring.
TWO TIGHTS
I’m not sure how much 11-on-11 LSU is going to run, but I’ve been a little surprised with the amount of two tight end sets the Tigers have shown throughout the spring. Bauer Sharp is an athletic player with a physical side. Trey’Dez Green is a freak of nature.
Watch how often LSU deploys both in the same formation and what they’re asked to do.
I wrote two weeks ago that I didn’t think LSU’ s tight end productivity would slip even though the most productive player in the program’s history was moving on. I still believe that.
SAFETY SHUFFLE
With Jardin Gilbert out recovering from shoulder surgery, LSU is a little light on numbers at safety. It’s also allowing some young/new players reps.
Watch Dashawn Spears. He’s had an excellent spring playing both the run and the pass. He’s got the highest upside of the safeties. Joel Rogers will also get some run, and then Tamarcus Cooley has played safety and nickel. I think Mansoor Delane is a corner, but they can certainly look at him at safety.
Brian Kelly has said repeatedly that the rotations don’t matter. And that’s fair in April. But all four have gotten a ton of reps with Gilbert out. I think it’s worth watching who plays where and what combinations LSU shows.
Either way, LSU has to play better at safety.
CENTER SWAP
I figured Braelin Moore was a lock to be the center. I still think he’s the favorite. But DJ Chester is playing a lot of center thus far.
It’s certainly worth monitoring who is working with Garrett Nussmeier and the first team more often.
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 12 – Timeline
9 a.m. Football team walks to Tiger Stadium from Football Operations Building
9:15 a.m. Football teams arrives at Tiger Stadium
9:30 a.m. Gates Open at Tiger Stadium (West side entrance only – Gates 1-6)
10:35 a.m. Individual Drills
11:10 a.m. First half scrimmage (2 15-minute quarters)
11:40 a.m. Halftime
11:50 a.m. Second half scrimmage (format TBD)
12:25 p.m. Spring scrimmage ends
12:55 p.m. Autograph Session on field in Tiger Stadium
1:40 p.m. Event ends