Brian Kelly shares how LSU is preparing for Purdue without key players

Brian Kelly and LSU are in a unique situation as they prepare for the Purdue Boilermakers in the Citrus Bowl.

The Tigers are preparing for a team with an interim coach that will also be missing multiple key players, like quarterback Aidan O’Connell. This won’t be the same Purdue squad that we saw in the regular season, and Kelly shared how LSU is getting ready for the showdown.

“We’ve watched their backup quarterback. He played six to eight snaps against Florida Atlantic, so we know who he is,” stated Kelly. “They’re playing LSU. They’re going to play hard. They’re going to play for four quarters. They’re a Big Ten team. They’ve got scholarship players. We’re not really that concerned about Purdue not showing up and playing really well. I think what we’re concerned about is what we do, and how we do it. You don’t tackle a lot during these bowl games. We have some guys that are not going to be playing.

“I think our focus has been much more on what we do and how we do it, and our preparation, more so than really concerning ourselves with what Purdue’s situation is.”

Alas, Purdue may look different during the Citrus Bowl, but they still present LSU and Brian Kelly the same opportunity — the opportunity to end their season on a high note.

Brian Kelly shares medical update on LSU QB Jayden Daniels

The last time we saw LSU‘s starting quarterback Jayden Daniels was on the sideline for the Tigers in the SEC championship game. Daniels was knocked out of the game with a leg injury and was replaced by quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. But with a month between the championship game and LSU’s Citrus Bowl matchup against Purdue on January 2, will the Tigers starter be healthy enough to play by then

According to LSU’s head coach Brian Kelly, if LSU had a game tomorrow, ‘he would be ready to play.’

“Yeah, he looked really good today. He’s been limited, but today was kind of his last test,” said Kelly. “One of the things we like to do is put the quarterback in direct snap (formations), so he’s pushing off and driving back. It’s hard; when you’re in shotgun, you shuffle your feet and do you throw it. And that’s how you can get them back quickly when you’re in shotgun. But you put them in direct snap, and he’s gotta drive and use his weight and transfer in a seven-step drop. And then step up and move. Today, he went through that progression.

“I would say if we were playing tomorrow, he would be ready to play.”

Moreover, Daniels excelled as a dual-threat quarterback for much of the season for LSU but struggled mightily against the vaunted Georgia defense in the SEC championship game. Before sitting out the second half of the game, the junior quarterback threw for 208 yards on 16 of 24 passing with one touchdown and one interception. 

On the ground, Daniels had six carries for -6 yards. With Jayden Daniels in line to play in the Citrus Bowl, it allows him and LSU the chance to end the season on a high note and wash away the bitter taste of their last game against the Bulldogs.

On3’s Justin Rudolph contributed to this article.