LSU has two On3 Preseason True Freshman All-Americans
With college football season kicking off this month, the final preseason All-American teams are being revealed.
On Tuesday, On3’s Preseason True Freshman All-American list was released, and a pair of LSU players made the list.
Tight end Ka’Morreun Pimpton and offensive tackle Zalance Heard were both tabbed by On3 as Preseason True Freshman All-Americans, which is another vote of confidence in the future for the pair of Tigers.
Pimpton was ranked by On3 as a four-star and Top 100 prospect leaving high school, while Heard checked in as a five-star and Top 15 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle.
Can Zalance Heard take over as an LSU starter in Year 1?
Heard was ranked by On3 as the nation’s No. 2 offensive tackle prospect, so it’s no surprise to see him land on the Preseason True Freshman All-American team.
With LSU set to kick off the 2023 season against Florida State on September 3, the question now becomes how long it might take Heard to get onto the field.
In the final scrimmage of fall camp, Heard got first-team reps at right tackle, which moved the team’s returning starter at the position – Emery Jones – to right guard. Jones and Will Campbell both won starting jobs at offensive tackle as true freshmen a year ago, and now Heard hopes to follow in their footsteps.
It’s likely Jones starts at right tackle in the opener against the Seminoles, but a home matchup with Grambling in week two will certainly give Heard a chance to get live reps.
During the 2022 season, LSU tested out a new starting offensive line combination in each game across the first month of the season. The Tigers have more proven depth now at the position, so it’s unlikely there will be the same amount of shuffling. That said, one area of focus for offensive line coach Brad Davis will certainly be getting Heard onto the field to get a better sense for how big of a role the former five-star will play this fall.
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Ka’Morreun Pimpton has a chance to make an early splash
LSU offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Mike Denbrock revamped the tight end room in just one offseason.
The lone returning scholarship player is starter Mason Taylor, but Denbrock added three high school signees and a JUCO addition in Connor Gilbreath.
The highest-rated high school signee for the Tigers was Pimpton, who finished as a Top 100 prospect and the No. 4 tight end on On3.
Taylor is expected to be the team’s starter this fall, but Denbrock and head coach Brian Kelly want to utilize multiple tight ends on the field at once – something they weren’t able to do much of a year ago. Now, the pieces are in place.
Gilbreath and freshman Mac Markway will be used primarily as blockers, while Pimpton and Jackson McGohan will be leaned on more as pass catchers.
Pimpton made plenty of “wow” catches during his first fall camp at LSU, and his catch radius and athletic abilities are going to be too much to keep sidelined all season. Taylor will likely lead the tight ends in receiving yards, but don’t be surprised if Pimpton has multiple touchdown grabs as a true freshman. The upside is through the roof for the 6-foot-6, 245-pounder.
