LSU was ranked 13th in the US LBM preseason coaches poll. Ohio State was ranked number one, followed by Oregon, Georgia, Texas and Notre Dame. There are nine SEC teams in the top 25. Texas A-and-M is eighth with Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Alabama directly behind them. Tennessee is number 18, and Missouri landed at 25.
LSU players report for coach Lane Kiffin’s first fall camp in Baton Rouge today. Tiger Rag Editor Glenn Guilbeau says LSU’s roster is as talented as any on paper, and Kiffin is a genius. But Tiger fans can’t expect a perfect season with how difficult LSU’s schedule is. The Tigers have back-to-back matchups with Ole Miss and Texas A-and-M in September, and Alabama and Texas in November.
Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt was named to the Maxwell Award Preseason Watchlist. The honor goes to the college football player of the year each season. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza won the award last year, and Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels both won at LSU.
Linebacker Whit Weeks and defensive end Princewill Umanmielen were named to the Nagurski Trophy preseason watchlist for the top defensive player. Offensive tackle Jordan Seaton made the Outland Trophy preseason watchlist for the best interior lineman.
The Atlanta Falcons have made two-time Pro Bowl running back Bijan Robinson the highest-paid running back in NFL history. Robinson signed a three-year extension worth up to 75-million-dollars, with 51-million of that guaranteed. His new 22.5-million-dollar-per-year mark surpasses Eagles running back Saquon Barkley’s 20.6-million-dollar-per-year contract.
Former McNeese and Louisiana Tech Athletic Director Tommy McClelland is being hired to take the same job at Purdue. McClelland has spent the last three years at Rice and served six years in Lake Charles and eight in Ruston, where he infamously asserted that the Bulldogs’ Conference USA was superior to the Sun Belt Conference.