LSU announces three players are out against No. 21 Missouri

LSU has ruled three players out for its contest against No. 21 Missouri.

The team announced on its social media accounts that receiver Chris Hilton, receiver Aaron Anderson and linebacker Omar Speights will all miss the contest due to injury. All were previously listed as doubtful.

The loss of Speights, in particular, could prove tricky for the Tigers in their matchup against the SEC East set of Tigers.

Speights has been a key part of the defense when healthy, and LSU is coming off its worst outing of the year against Ole Miss. The Tigers gave up more than 700 yards to the Rebels in a 55-49 loss.

A transfer, Speights has recorded 13 tackles so far this season for LSU.

In addition to Speights, Hilton has also provided some valuable production for the Tigers, on the offensive side of the ball. Through the first five games this season he has five catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.

He has proven to be a decent big-play threat when targeted.

LSU tasked with slowing Luther Burdern

LSU‘s secondary faces its toughest test of the season out wide with Missouri‘s Luther Burden.

The sophomore superstar provides some unique hurdles for LSU, and ahead of Saturday’s matchup, head coach Brian Kelly revealed the hurdle someone like Burden presents on his defense, and how he plans to combat his prowess out wide.

“I think there are times where you have to understand that there are some things that you have to do to minimize his effect on the game,” Kelly said on Thursday. “I said this to somebody today, last week we tried to defend everything. When you try to defend everything, you defend nothing. When you talk about a guy like [Burden], or you talk about a guy like Malik Nabers. Sometimes you don’t defend Theo Wease — who is an outstanding player.

“So, yeah, we’re going to have to be aware of him in certain situations, and do we have some things that address it? Absolutely. But you’ve got to play the other ten guys, too.”

Through five games, Burden is the SEC’s leading receiver with 644 yards on 43 receptions to go with five touchdowns. Wease might not be right behind him, but his 254 yards and three scoring receptions more than hold their own compared to the average SEC wideout.

LSU will get to take on both when the matchup begins at noon ET with a broadcast on ESPN.

On3’s Barkley Truax also contributed to this report.