Report: LSU defensive end requires season-ending surgery

LSU defensive end Ali Gaye requires season-ending surgery, according to The Athletic’s Brody Miller. The report does not provide specifics on the injury but speculates that it could be a shoulder or neck issue resulting from the “stinger” sustained against Kentucky.

Gaye is the fifth LSU defensive starter ruled out for the team’s upcoming game against the Florida Gators and the third high-profile prospect to undergo season-ending surgery this year.

Prior to 2020, Gaye spent two season in junior college. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound defensive end from Gambia broke out with 32 tackles, two sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble last season. Despite missing two games, Gaye started the season with 19 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a pass deflection.

Over his two seasons at LSU, Ali Gaye has developed into an NFL draft prospect, but the surgery presents a setback. With Gaye out, senior defensive end Soni Fonua will compete with freshmen Savion Jones and Phillip Webb for snaps on the opposite side of BJ Ojulari.

More LSU injuries

LSU head coach Ed Orgeron announced Wednesday morning that starting cornerback Eli Ricks will miss the remainder of the season. Orgeron did not specify the exact injury but shed some light on why the decision was made now.

The news comes just a week after the announcement that his counterpart and first-round draft pick cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. will miss the remainder of the year with a foot injury.

In addition to Ricks and Stingley, both sides of the ball have lost impactful starters. Defensive end Andre Anthony, one of LSU’s best pass rushers, is out for the season. Safety Major Burns and defensive tackle Joseph Evans missed last week’s loss at Kentucky and will sit out this weekend against Florida as well. There is not a timetable for their return.

On the offensive side of the ball, top wide receiver Kayshon Boutte will miss the remainder of the season due to a leg injury. Coupled with eligibility issues for running back John Emery Jr. and offseason departure of tight end Arik Gilbert, LSU has an inexperience group of skill position players.

This offseason, quarterback Myles Brennan suffered a compound fracture in his left arm in a freak fishing accident. Orgeron previously hoped they would get him back ahead of a Nov. 6 date with Alabama, but that timeline seems to be in jeopardy. Although it remains unclear whether Brennan would take over the offense, given the recent play of sophomore Max Johnson.