Six LSU Tiger underclassmen opting for 2014 NFL draft

LSU Tiger junior receivers Jarvis Landry (80) and Odell Beckham, Jr (3) have declared for the upcoming 2014 NFL draft. Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images.

The LSU Tiger football team fresh off its school record fourth consecutive 10-win season after posting a 10-3 mark, capped off the season with a 21-14 Outback Bowl victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes. LSU is now faced with the challenge of replacing six key team members on both sides of the ball, who have opted for the upcoming 2014 NFL draft. Those players include junior receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, Jr, sophomore running back Jeremy Hill along with junior defensive linemen Ego Ferguson and junior Anthony Johnson and sophomore offensive lineman Trai Turner out of St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. With those players announcing they are entering the draft, LSU will lose the bulk of its offensive production with Hill, Beckham Jr and Landry vying for the draft. They take with them 348 of 523 rushing attempts, 296 of 326 pass attempts, 170 of 205 receptions and 32 of 36 kickoff returns and 19 of 23 punt returns. LSU had 10 underclassmen declare last season and the number would have been 11 if you included Arizona Cardinal safety Tyrann Mathieu, who didn't play during the 2012 season.  

Nine LSU Tigers named to AP ALL-SEC football teams

 

The 9-3 LSU Tigers have their sights set on competing in the Outback Bowl Dec. 21 in Tampa, squaring off with the 8-4 Iowa Hawkeyes. Nine  Tigers have been named to the Associated Press All-SEC Football teams led by junior receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. and sophomore running back Jeremy Hill, who both earned first-team honors.  Beckham Jr. earned All-SEC First team honors as an all-purpose player, while Hill made the squad at running back. Wide receiver Jarvis Landry, offensive guard Trai turner, defensive tackle Anthony Johnson and linebacker Lamin Barrow all were voted to Second-Team All-SEC honors. LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger, defensive tackle Ego Ferguson and safety Craig Loston  received Honorable Mention closing out the Tigers who made the list. Beckham, Jr., who starred at Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans, leads the SEC and is ranked second nationally in all-purpose yards, averaging 185.2 yards per game. Beckham set the LSU single season record with 2,222 all-purpose yards and ranks third in SEC single-season history. Beckham is also a fixture in the Tigers' passing game with 57 receptions totaling 1,117 yards and eight touchdowns. Hill finished the regular season ranked second in the SEC in rushing at 107.7 yards per contest, second in total rushing yards at 1,185. Hill is also second in rushing touchdowns with 14 and fifth in all-purpose yards at 124.2 per game. Landry, who helped form a dynamic receiving duo with Beckham, became the first receiving duo in school history and only the third in SEC history to record 1,000-plus receiving yards in the same season.         

LSU hosting Furman

The 6-2 LSU Tigers, 3-2 in SEC play, host the Furman Paladins tomorrow. Furman 3-4 is coming off a 27-10 victory over Appalachian State.
LSU enters the game with the nation's longest regular season non-conference winning streak, having won 44 consecutive games. The Tigers haven't lost a non-conference game since falling to Virgina Tech 26-8 to open the 2002 season.
LSU enters the Furman game ranked No. 13 in the major polls and the Bowl Championship Series.
The Tigers' offense is averaging 39.2 points per game and 456 total yards, which includes 271 yards passing and 184 rushing.
The LSU defense had a sub-par game last week, giving up 525 yards of total offense to Ole Miss in the Tigers' 27-24 loss to the Rebels.

LSU's Jeremy Hill shines against Auburn

No. 6 ranked LSU continued to roll Saturday  night in Death Valley, knocking off the Auburn Tigers 35-21. LSU moved to 4-0 with running back Jeremy Hill turning in a career night with three touchdowns and 184 yards rushing, averaging 7.4 yards per carry in the SEC opener.
Zach Mettenberger was on target again finishing 14-of-22 for 229 yards and a touchdown. Jarvis Landry continued to put up big numbers, catching seven passes for 118 yards and a touchdown. Odell Beckham, Jr., hauled in five receptions for 59 yards as the tandem came through again for the Tigers.
LSU gained 457 yards of offense, but the defense allowed 437 yards to Auburn, most coming
in the second half after LSU raced out to a 21-0 halftime advantage. LSU travels to the Georgia Bulldogs this week.