Spring Practive Preview: Tight-Ends

PRING PRACTICE PREVIEW:  TEs

LSU will be looking to replace three year starter and LSU's all-time leading receiver for tight-ends in Richard Dickson.  Dickson was effective as both a receiver and a blocker, and he will certainly be missed.  Here's a look at the guys who will be in the mix this spring.

Junior Deangelo Peterson (pictured) is a very unique talent, and he's a guy that could be a major weapon in the receiving game.  A former wide receiver, Peterson has a ton of athleticism and he showed some of that last year in limited duty.  He had a nice game against Alabama with 40 yards and a touchdown.   He also scored a touchdown against Arkansas.  There's no question that Peterson can be effective as a receiver, especially when matched up against a linebacker or a safety.  The question is whether Peterson can become an effective blocker so that he can stay on the field for every down.  His development as an every down player is the key thing to watch this spring at the tight-end position. 

Junior Mitch Joseph will continue to see the field as a blocking tight-end.  At nearly 280 pounds, Joseph practically serves as another offensive lineman.  While almost nothing was good about LSU's running game last year, Joseph did an adequate job as a blocker.  He'll be more experienced and a year stronger in 2010. 

Sophomore Tyler Edwards will continue to try and see the field.  Edwards may be LSU's most versatile tight-end.  Listed at 237 pounds, Edwards is mobile enough to be a good receiver.  He's a tough blocker on the line of scrimmage, and he can also line up in the backfield and play some fullback or some H-back. 

The big news this spring is that former defensive end Chase Clement is now listed as a tight-end on the LSU roster, so he has apparently made the move.  Clement has TONS of potential as a tight-end.  He is 6'5" 260 pounds and very athletic.  As a defensive end, he just didn't have the burst or strength to be a play maker.  But as a tight-end, he could be a handful.  Clement will be a sophomore in 2010 so he has plenty of time to develop, and he could be a difference maker for LSU at some point in his career.

Junior Alex Russian is also in the mix.  Russian has primarily been a deep snapper during his career, but he lost his job last year to Joey Crappell.  I don't expect Russian to make a major impact at tight-end. 

In the fall, freshmen Travis Dickson and Nick Jacobs will join the mix.  I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Dickson earn playing time in 2010. 

Depth Chart:
Peterson (Jr)
Joseph (Jr)
Edwards (So)
Clement (So)
Russian (Jr)
Dickson (Fr)

Jacobs (Fr)