LSU’s 2021 class was thrust into the spotlight last season as true freshmen, with many starting multiple games in their first year on campus due to injuries, COVID, and other factors that plagued the Tigers in the midst of another middling season. There were mistakes, but there were also flashes of excellence from Maason Smith, the young receivers, and others in the heralded class.
Of the 23 signees, three are no longer with the team, 15 played significant snaps, and five redshirted and today, we’re going to be highlighting those five who kept their redshirt and, therefore, another year of eligibility. In order to do so, a player can only play in a maximum of four games in a season.
It’s easy to lose sight of some of these names, but with the Tigers in need of quality depth and new players stepping up, many of these players could be key pieces in the future.
Let’s take a closer look at the five redshirt freshmen, what they bring, and what to expect moving forward.
Chris Hilton, Wide Receiver
247 Recruit rating: 96, No. 5 WR
2021 Experience: In four games, he caught two passes for 81 yards and one touchdown, but really it was just the one 81-yard touchdown reception he had in the bowl game on the last play of the season. While playing in three other games, he remained on the fringes of the rotation, clearly talented, but needing work to break through. As other freshman receivers thrived, Hilton sat out early in the season with an injury, then opted to wait his turn and redshirted, but still projects as a playmaker in the future.
2022 Outlook: Can his breakthrough happen in 2022? We’ll have to see. It’s a loaded receiver room with the return of Kayshon Boutte, the emergence of Jack Bech, and the addition of Kyren Lacy on the outside, but Hilton by all accounts is on the same level as any other young receiver in the room. His high school rating is on par with Deion Smith and we saw how effective he was last year.
Garrett Nussmeier, Quarterback
247 Recruit rating: 94, No. 19 QB
2021 Experience: It was a journey to get here, but Nussmeier eventually redshirted his first year on campus, despite the opportunity to play in the bowl game and make his first career start at LSU. He played late against McNeese, Central Michigan, and Ole Miss, but against Arkansas he was handed the reins for over three quarters in place of Max Johnson. He finished the year with two touchdowns to two interceptions while completing 50.9 percent of his 57 passes, but his arm was electric and exciting nevertheless.
2022 Outlook: Now it’s time to harness that potential and turn it into consistent production. I believe Nussmeier will fiercely compete with Myles Brennan for the starting spot in fall camp. Even if he doesn’t, the hope is that his improvement is noticeable enough to set up for the coming years. We know there will continue to be quarterback talent added every offseason, though, so Nussmeier’s improvement isn’t only important for this year, but for every year following as well.
Peyton Todd, Punter
247 Recruit rating: 81, No. 1 Punter
2021 Experience: Todd did not appear in any games, but was heralded as a great young punter by Ed Orgeron. There’s an expectation that he’s going to be really good, but he didn’t get to show it last year behind Avery Atkins.
2022 Outlook: LSU added Notre Dame punter Jay Bramblett to presumably start at punter in 2022, but I assume Todd will be in competition early and often.
Kimo Makane'ole, Offensive Line
247 Recruit rating: 89, No. 28 IOL
2021 Experience: He appeared in zero games last year and was likely projected as more of a project in his first year.
2022 Outlook: The one spot Makane’ole is in contention for is the starting center spot. Offensive line coach Brad Davis said they are trying out six players for that spot with him being one of them. Could he carve out a niche role at center in his second year? We’ll have to see, but he can be a nice depth piece on the inside regardless as he begins to refine.
Bryce Langston, Defensive Line
247 Recruit ratings: 92, No. 29 DL
2021 Experience: Langston played in one game, retaining his redshirt status and getting valuable reps behind an experienced defensive line last year.
2022 Outlook: Clearly possessing the physical traits to excel, it might be nice for Langston to inherit a new coaching staff and step up with the departures of players like Glen Logan, Neil Farrell, and others on the defensive line. It’s hard to predict how involved he could be in the rotation since we haven’t even seen spring practice, but Langston is a player I’m interested to watch grow and get more reps.
Kolbe Fields, Linebacker
247 Recruit rating: 86, No. 98 LB
2021 Experience: In his first and only year at South Carolina, Fields played in a handful of games and rarely saw the field before transferring back to his home state. He is the lone transfer player on this list, but with still four years of eligibility, I understand the addition for Matt House.
2022 Outlook: LSU needed linebacker depth and it should be set on that with the portal additions as well as the two major 2022 signees. Fields will have to really fight his way onto the field, but House and company will have to see him work over the offseason before he begins to earn playing time.
