On August 4th freshman and current tiger football players will arrive in Baton Rouge to begin the 2013 Season.  On August 5th the tigers will begin fall practice for the 2013 season.  There will be a full list of questions to be answered this fall.

Will any of the incoming wide recievers be able to make a difference this year?  The veteran recievers include Odell Beckam Jr., Jarvis Landry, James Wright, and Kadron Boone.  Those four had 143 catches but just 11 touchdowns.  Travin Dural was a red shirt freshman a year ago and could add some help on the outside.  John Diarse is a freshman who looked good in the spring.  Quantavius Leslie was the top junior college reciever and should add another threat to the offensive arsenal.

Can Kenny Hilliard or Alfred Blue provide the rushing you know they are capable of?  The Jeremy Hill situation is unknown but its hard to see him as an option until at best 4 or 5 games into the season.  Again that is just tough to predict.  With the departure of Spencer Ware and Michael Ford this may be one of the more questionable positions on the team.

Will the Tight End position become more a part of the offense under Cam Cameron’s offense?  In spring practice reports indicated that the tight ends would be more involved in the passing game.  Freshman DeSean Smith steps in to assist current tiger ends Travis Dickson and Dillon Gordon.  Gordon is considered more of a blocker than reciever.   If Smith can contribute this year it will give the position a major boost.

Zach Mettenberger is the starting QB but Cam Cameron is the new Quarterbacks coach and should be able to help Zach achieve more efficiency in his second year.  What maybe interesting as well is to see who the back up is.  Stephen Rivers and Anthony Jennings seem to be the two battling it out.  Could Jennings be the change of pace quarterback the tigers are looking for.  Remember we benefitted from Jordan Jefferson in the same maner.

Last year’s offensive line suffered big because Chris Faulk and Josh Williford suffered significant injuries.  Alex Hurst left the team.  The tigers enter the fall with 4 players playing serious minutes.  Josh Williford, Trai Turner, La’el Collins, and Vadal Alexander.  Ethan Pocic and Elliott Porter will compete for the starting center position.  Josh Boutte and Fehoko Fanaika are two freshman who could help add depth at the guard positions.  Red-shirt freshman Derrek Edinburgh and Jerald Hawkins are two that will help add depth at the tackle positions.

Perhaps the largest question regarding the defense begins up front with the defensive line.  Can Ego Ferguson and Anthony Johnson manage the middle of the line.  With the loss of Bennie Logan the two must step in front and center.  Freshman Greg Gilmore, Christian Lacoutre, and Maquedious Bain will need to learn fast in order to provide quality depth.  Sophomores Mickey Johnson and Quinn Thomas will be looked at as well.

The starting defensive ends will be Jermauria Rasco and Daniel Hunter.  They will look for depth from junior Jordan Allen, junior Justin Maclin, and freshman Frank Herron.

The starting middle linebacker is still one of the main positions up for debate as junior D.J. Welter, senior Lamin Barrow, sophomores Ronnie Fiest and Lamar Louis will all vie for the spot.  Senior Tahj Jones will lead the rest of the young linebackers including Deion Jones, Kwon Alexander, Lorenzo Phillips, and Kendal Beckwith.

Five players who contributed significant minutes in the secondary are back.  Craig Loston and Ronald Martin are expected to be the starting safeties while Micah Eugene, Corey Thompson, and Jerqwinick Sandolph are the back ups.

Starters Jalen Mills and Jalen Collins battle newcomers Rashard Robinson and Tre’davious White for playing time.  Also providing depth will be red-shirt freshman Kavahra Holmes and Dwayne Thomas.