Scouting LSU: Tigers Plan To Make Gators Miserable

Florida plays its first SEC competitor of the season in LSU on Saturday in Baton Rouge. Let’s take a look at the team from the Bayou ahead of the weekend.

Coach Brian Kelly‘s No. 3 Tigers began their season 2-0 with wins against Clemson and Louisiana Tech.

After going down 10-3 at the half at Clemson, the Tigers shut out the home Tigers the rest of the way, taking the victory 17-10. Against the LA Tech Bulldogs, LSU led the whole game, only allowing seven points in the fourth quarter. The final from Death Valley last week was 23-7.

The Gators (1-1) have not won in Death Valley since 2016, and ESPN has the spread at 7.5. This sold-out game will be a tiebreaker, as the all-time series record sits at 34-34-3.

Offensive Standouts

LSU has 721 yards of offense this year in 145 plays through two games.

The Tiger offense is led by fifth-year senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. He has tallied 469 pass yards with a 68% completion rate this season. Against the Gators last year, he threw 260 yards, completing 27-out-of-47 in the loss.

Sophomore running back Caden Durham is the man to look out for in the rush game. He has had 105 yards and one touchdown this season and recorded 95 yards in 21 carries in just the game against Florida last year.

Wide receiver Aaron Anderson leads the Tigers in receiving with 172 yards of offense and a long of 39. The 5-foot-8 redshirt junior had 72 yards on seven catches in last year’s game against the Gators.

The No. 2 man at wide receiver is senior Barion Brown. The Kentucky transfer has 13 receptions for 119 yards in his first two games in purple and gold.

In the first SEC injury report of the season is LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green. He sustained an MCL sprain in the fourth quarter against LA Tech and was seen on the sideline with crutches and knee brace. Kelly says the 6-foot-7 talent is now day-to-day.

He recorded two receptions, 17 yards and one touchdown in Week 1 versus Clemson. Last year, he picked up four touchdowns and 101 yards on 13 catches.

Fellow tight end Bauer Sharp is healthy and available to add to his six receptions for 26 yards this season.

Star Defense

LSU’s defense is strong against the rush game, having only allowed 89 yards on the ground to both Clemson and LA Tech. This will be a challenge for Florida’s Jadan Baugh and Ja’Kobi Jackson.

Linebacker West Weeks leads LSU’s defense with 13 total tackles this season. He has recorded one tackle for loss and half of a sack this season. He only appeared in five games last year, earning a redshirt for his graduate student year.

His brother Whit Weeks is also a top linebacker for the Tigers. This junior has five solo tackles and a total of seven with half a tackle for loss and half a sack.

Sophomore linebacker Davhon Keys is also up there with 11 total tackles and a quarterback hurry. He led the defense against Florida last year with five total tackles.

Redshirt sophomore Tamarcus Cooley leads the Tiger safety slot. He tallied five solo tackles and nine total in the first two games of the season.

Lineback Harold Perkins Jr. holds the most tackles for loss with two for 12 yards with one sack. Sophomore corner PJ Woodland is tied with Perkins for the most sacks this season as well.

Reunion After the Portal

Florida will see a few familiar faces on defense in Saturday’s contest: Jack Pyburn and Ja’Keem Jackson. Both former Gators transferred after the 2024 season.

In his three years in The Swamp, Pyburn, an end, played in 29 games and recorded 80 total tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one interception. This season, he has had six assisted tackles, half a sack and half a tackle for loss.

The Jacksonville native departed from his home state after his reported demands were not met by Florida. He wanted $45,000 per month and more snaps in the rotation in addition to a guaranteed start at linebacker and on third downs, according to reports.

Y’all ready for Saturday? pic.twitter.com/y4dYRsQ9I8

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) September 11, 2025

Jackson, a 6-foot redshirt sophomore, is a cornerback. After playing in Gainesville in two games in his second season last year, he suffered a season-ending ankle injury. While at Florida, he recorded 11 total tackles with five of them being solo. He has seen limited playing time at LSU.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC and 98.1-FM, 103.7-FM/AM-850 WRUF.

Category: College Football, Feature Sports News, Football, Gators Football, NCAA, SEC