LSU football is dealing with a major setback as starting defensive tackle has been sidelined for the season after tearing his Achilles tendon in a 44-21 win over Nicholls State. Guillory, a dedicated fifth-year senior and key player on the Tigers’ defensive line, will miss the rest of the 2024 season. Head coach Brian Kelly’s defense must now adjust, as weaknesses were exposed by both Nicholls State and USC. Guillory’s absence leaves a big gap in the lineup, especially with a significant SEC matchup against South Carolina approaching. ESPN’s College Gameday will be in Columbus, SC, where fans are expected to be in a frenzy over Kelly’s decisions. Kelly acknowledged the loss as a significant blow for a team striving to regain its form, saying, “With College Gameday, it’s going to be a great environment. A great opportunity for us to take a step in the development of our football team, and continue to work to get better.”
The Tigers need to quickly find replacements, as their defense allowed a 13-play, 84-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter and another long, clock-controlling drive in the first half, despite playing without a key starter. Nicholls State also managed a 67-yard touchdown run to start the second half.
Kelly has stressed adaptability in response to Guillory’s injury. Despite the setback, LSU’s roster boasts numerous five-star recruits and highly touted transfers ready to fill the gap. The team’s ability to adapt will be crucial in maintaining their pursuit of a College Football Playoff spot. LSU fans will be closely watching Kelly’s response and expecting wins regardless of roster changes. Kelly mentioned that multiple players will need to step up, bringing varied skill sets to compensate for Guillory’s absence.
“(Guillory) was a stalwart for us,” Kelly stated on Monday. “Big, physical, point-of-attack guy…Jacobian was a very technically sound, physically strong football player. You know what you’re losing from that standpoint, but we know what he wasn’t as well. He wasn’t a dynamic pass rusher, and he would be the first to tell you.” He added, “We’ve got some ideas about how we can do things with our front that can make up for his loss.”
Key candidates to step in include Ahmad Breaux, Jay’viar Suggs, and Jalen Lee, all of whom saw action in the recent loss to USC. Junior college transfer Shone Washington also played against Nicholls State. Dominick McKinley and Paris Shand could be rotated along the defensive line to provide SEC opponents with a different look.
Currently, LSU’s chances of winning the SEC West look slim, especially with upcoming games against top-five teams Alabama and Ole Miss, both of which will pose much tougher challenges than Nicholls State, who managed to keep the game competitive longer than expected.
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