Brian Kelly provides injury updates as LSU fall camp gets underway

First-year LSU head coach Brian Kelly filled reporters in on the Tigers’ latest injury report on the first day of fall camp Thursday.

The team is almost fully healthy, with the exception of sophomore receiver Jack Bech and freshman linebacker DeMario Tolan. Bech was the third-leading receiver for the Tigers in 2021 with 489 yards and three scores.

“Bech is limited. He’s making progress necessary from shin splints and he’ll be available in the coming days,” Kelly said. “He’s really the only one that has the limitations. DeMario Tolan had the discectomy, but he’s making great progress. Those would be the two guys who are on a pitch count if you will. They’re coming along.”

Kelly also delivered good news on veteran cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse. The former Pokes standout missed the spring with an injury but he’s healthy heading into the 2022 season. At Oklahoma State last year, he had 39 solo tackles with 1.5 sacks.

“Trying to gain some continuity at the cornerback position so getting him back, he’s been a great leader for us,” Kelly shared. “We’re anxious to see what he can do. Obviously had a great career at Oklahoma State, we expect that to continue here. He had a good summer, he’s healthy and he’s played a lot of football so the expectation is he’s gonna impact what we do.”

Along with Bernard-Converse, the Tigers also welcomed Ohio State transfer Sevyn Banks to the practice field. The defensive back practiced in a limited fashion.

Kevontre Bradford no longer with LSU program

Running back Kevontre Bradford has been “separated from the University” and is “no longer on the roster,” per LSU head coach Brian Kelly, via Jacques Doucet. He began his college football career with LSU before transferring to Oklahoma.

Bradford later decided to re-enter the transfer portal and came back to LSU. Earlier in the 2021 season, the Tigers were waiting on Bradford to receive an eligibility waiver to play. He ended up playing in one game in 2021 – rushing two times for 11 yards while dealing with a hamstring injury.

Brian Kelly passed along the news of Bradford’s dismissal following the Tigers’ first practice of fall camp on Thursday. He added that there were laws that prevented him from commenting any further on the situation, per Brody Miller of The Athletic.

Authorities arrested Bradford for shoplifting on Dec. 22, 2020. WBRZ reported that he later characterized the incident as a “misunderstanding”.

On3’s Wade Peery contributed to this report.