The 2024 season in Baton Rouge was never going to be "normal." You don't just lose a Heisman-winning quarterback and two first-round wide receivers and expect things to stay the same. Honestly, looking back at the lsu depth chart 2024, it’s a miracle the Tigers finished 9-4.
Most people saw the names and thought "rebuild." But Brian Kelly doesn't really do rebuilds; he does reloads. The problem was that the reload on defense took a lot longer to click than the offensive transition. Basically, the story of this depth chart is a tale of two sides: a top-tier offensive line protecting a new star, and a secondary that was, well, a work in progress for most of the fall.
The Nussmeier Era Begins: The Offensive Breakdown
Garrett Nussmeier finally got the keys to the bus. We'd been hearing about the "Nuss Bus" for years, but 2024 was the first time he didn't have to look over his shoulder. He ended up throwing for over 4,000 yards, which is just wild when you realize how much pressure was on him to replace Jayden Daniels.
Behind him, the quarterback room was surprisingly thin on experience. Rickie Collins and AJ Swann were the primary backups, but Nussmeier was the iron man, starting all 13 games.
The Trench Warriors
If there was a "sure thing" on the roster, it was the offensive line. You’ve got Will Campbell at left tackle and Emery Jones Jr. at right tackle—both of whom are basically future NFL starters. They were joined by veterans Garrett Dellinger and Miles Frazier at the guard spots. The only real "new" face was DJ Chester at center, taking over for Charles Turner.
This unit was the heartbeat of the team. While the rushing attack was arguably the worst in the SEC for a good chunk of the year, these guys kept Nussmeier clean enough to lead the conference in completions.
The Playmakers
The receiver room felt different. No Malik Nabers. No Brian Thomas Jr. Instead, we saw Kyren Lacy step into that WR1 role. He was the veteran presence, but the real surprise was Aaron Anderson. After a quiet first year following his transfer from Alabama, Anderson exploded in 2024, leading the team in catches and yards.
CJ Daniels, the transfer from Liberty, was a solid piece, though maybe not the "home run" threat people expected. Chris Hilton Jr. battled some nagging injuries, which unfortunately became a bit of a theme for his season.
2024 Skill Position Leaders:
- RB: Caden Durham (The freshman breakout)
- RB: Josh Williams (The reliable veteran)
- WR1: Kyren Lacy
- WR2: Aaron Anderson
- TE: Mason Taylor (A security blanket for the ages)
Caden Durham is the name you really need to remember. He was a true freshman who eventually took over the lion's share of the carries because he just had more "pop" than the older guys. He finished with 753 yards and looked like the next great LSU back.
The Defensive Rebuild: A Tale of Two Tapes
Let's be real: the defense was the reason LSU fans were pulling their hair out in September. Blake Baker came in as the new defensive coordinator to fix the mess from 2023, but you can't fix a leaky roof in a rainstorm.
The Front Seven
Bradyn Swinson was the MVP of the defense. Period. He was a terror off the edge, constantly living in opposing backfields. Alongside him, Sai’vion Jones provided a steady veteran presence.
In the middle, the linebacker room was actually a strength. You had Greg Penn III, who’s basically a coach on the field, and Whit Weeks, who plays like his hair is on fire. Harold Perkins Jr. was the wildcard. The coaching staff spent a lot of time trying to figure out exactly where to put him—inside, outside, or just letting him hunt.
The Secondary Struggles
This is where the lsu depth chart 2024 got a bit shaky. The Tigers relied heavily on young guys and transfers.
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- Ashton Stamps: Held down one corner spot as a sophomore.
- Sage Ryan: Moved around a lot, eventually settling in where needed.
- Jardin Gilbert: The Texas A&M transfer who brought some much-needed SEC experience to the safety spot.
- Major Burns: Played the "Star" position (a hybrid LB/DB role) and was the emotional leader of the back end.
Early in the year, the secondary gave up way too many big plays. By the time they played Ole Miss in that thrilling overtime win, things had settled down a bit, but it was never a "shut down" unit.
Special Teams: The Hidden Edge
You don't talk about the long snapper often unless things go wrong. Luckily, Slade Roy was as consistent as they come.
Damian Ramos handled the kicking duties and was generally reliable, though the kickoff situation was a bit of a rotation between him and Nathan Dibert due to some injury issues. Blake Ochsendorf won the punting battle over Peyton Todd and did a decent job flipping the field.
Zavion Thomas was the primary return man. He didn't take many to the house, but he provided a floor of stability that was missing the year before.
What This Depth Chart Taught Us
The 2024 roster was a bridge. It bridged the gap between the explosive, offense-only teams of the early Brian Kelly era and what he's trying to build now—a more balanced, line-of-scrimmage focused program.
One thing that surprised people was how much LSU relied on true freshmen. Caden Durham (RB), PJ Woodland (CB), and Gabe Reliford (DE) all played significant snaps. In the era of the transfer portal, seeing that many "true" Tigers getting early burn was a bit of a shift in strategy.
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Takeaways for the Future
If you're looking back at this depth chart to understand where LSU is going, keep an eye on these three things:
- OL Continuity: LSU has established itself as "OLU." They will continue to build from the inside out.
- The "Star" Position: The use of Major Burns in that hybrid role showed that Blake Baker wants versatility over traditional positioning.
- Freshman Integration: Kelly is becoming more willing to play young talent early if the veterans aren't producing.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Trenches: When evaluating future LSU rosters, start at the tackles. If they have NFL-caliber tackles, the offense will always function.
- Track the Portal: LSU used the portal for specific "fix-it" roles (like CJ Daniels and Jardin Gilbert) rather than a total overhaul. This trend is likely to continue.
- Development Matters: Look at players like Aaron Anderson; sometimes a "bust" label in year one is just a slow start to a breakout year two.
The 2024 season might have felt like a rollercoaster, but the depth chart actually showed a team that was remarkably resilient despite losing world-class talent to the NFL. It wasn't perfect, but it was LSU football—loud, stressful, and occasionally brilliant.