Four LSU players named to preseason All-SEC teams
Though the Tigers lost the third overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft this offseason in Derek Stingley Jr., they still return a lot of experienced talent. That was apparent when the preseason All-SEC teams were announced on Friday as a number of LSU players occupied the list.
The teams were determined by polling members of the media in attendance at SEC Media Days in Atlanta this week. They were also polled on preseason division standings, in which they had Alabama and Georgia facing off once again in the SEC Championship with the Tigers finishing fifth in the SEC West.
In total, four LSU players grace the preseason All-SEC teams. Here’s a rundown on where each of them landed.
Kayshon Boutte - First Team
AP Photo/Matthew Hinton
With [autotag]Kayshon Boutte[/autotag], the only real question is his bill of health. He was on pace for a very productive 2021 season before a broken ankle sidelined him, but if he can stay on the field this fall, he should be one of the best receivers in college football and perhaps the best in the SEC.
Boutte earned the prestigious No. 7 jersey this offseason, and he’s widely projected as an early first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
BJ Ojulari - First Team
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It’s hard not to be excited about what [autotag]BJ Ojulari[/autotag] brings to the table this fall. The junior edge rusher became a full-time starter in 2021, and he finished with a very respectable seven sacks and 12 tackles in the backfield.
He’s expected to take that production up a notch this season, as evidenced by his selection to the preseason first team. He has a chance to be one of the best defensive players in the country this year, and like Boutte, many see him as a potential first-round pick.
Ali Gaye - Second Team
AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis
Starting opposite Ojulari, [autotag]Ali Gaye[/autotag] has perhaps been a bit overshadowed this offseason. The fifth-year senior’s 2021 season was marred by injuries, which limited him to just four games. However, he started all 10 games the prior season and finished as a Second Team All-SEC selection.
LSU certainly missed his play coming off the edge last year, and assuming he can stay healthy, he and Ojulari constitute a formidable edge rushing duo that should be one of the nation’s best.
Maason Smith - Third Team
AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis
You’re probably going to hear a lot about LSU’s defensive line over the next few months, and for good reason. It has the potential to be the real deal.
[autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] was the third starter on the line selected to the preseason All-SEC teams, and he’ll play inside this fall. The former five-star recruit made an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2021, starting four of the nine games he appeared in while totaling 19 tackles (five for loss) and four sacks.
As a full-time starter, he should be able to build on that production quite a bit, and he could be poised for a breakout season.
