LSU players preview 2023 season, new mindset, at SEC Media Day

LSU was up first in the SEC Media Day slate, kicking off a busy week in Nashville, Tennessee, as the SEC sends its top players and head coaches to meet with the media. Head coach Brian Kelly, quarterback Jayden Daniels, running back Josh Williams, and defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo all met with various media entities and answered countless questions on their season ahead.

Here are the highlights from what the players had to say on Monday afternoon.

Jayden Daniels takes center stage

One of the Heisman favorites entering the college football season, Daniels had plenty to talk about in his media availability with the national and local media, as well as outlets like ESPN. Here were the major talking points for the day for the senior quarterback.

Being more aggressive down-field: “That was a major focal point. What we talked about was being more aggressive, taking more shots, because we’re very explosive with our receivers. It’s been a lot better this offseason, getting the timing with the receivers, the chemistry we have, we really took focus on building our timing. We want to accomplish things and it all starts with us.

Setting season goals: “Our goal is obviously to win a national championship, but our thing is we have to take it day by day and focus on the process because the process is what’s going to enable us to get there. We want to win the SEC West again. Win the SEC. It’s a day by day process.”

On coming back for one more season: “I knew what we had coming back with us being young. I didn’t know what everybody was going to do. I didn’t know what I was going to do at this time last year. As the season went on, guys like Will Campbell were recruiting me to come back. Everyone on the offense came back. We lost a great player in Kayshon, but a majority of the people came back. We had some areas on defense we had to fill and I’m confident in the [new guys]. I wanted to end my career with a championship and I looked at this team and I felt we could do it.”

The challenge of playing int the SEC: “It’s a grueling and tough league. you play the top competition week in and week out, so you have to be on your A game. You have to prepare like a pro and if not you’ll get exposed.

“The biggest difference from the PAC-12 to the SEC is big boys up front. With the O-Line, then you got guys like Maason Smith, just a massive human being that moves like that. You’re playing those guys every single week.”

Josh Williams provides experienced insight

A senior running back, Williams understands what it takes to win in the SEC, how much this team has improved, and how exciting the roster is heading into the 2023 season.

With so many guys, how do y’all split up reps?: “Ultimately it all comes down to Coach Kelly. We all understand we’re trying to win a game. It’s not about reps or who is trying to rush for more yards. We’re trying to win a national championship at the end of the day. He understands that and we understand that. He’ll tell us ‘Hey Josh, this is your opportunity. This is what I think you’ll do the best at. Let’s go get the reps in.’ We’re all OK with that because we’re all in it for the same cause.”

How important depth is at running back in the SEC: “Just seeing all the injuries over the years, how banged up guys are, and how physical the SEC is. It’s a rough game, so having a deep running back room just makes your team a lot more dangerous.”

Change in summer training this year: “This year we’ve done a lot more speed work – a lot of running. Coach flint last year couldn’t implement his full strength and conditioning program because it was his first year, but this year we’ve really picked it up. We’ve picked up our numbers and it’s exciting. We know we’ve put in the work.”

Mekhi Wingo talks new opportunity, more recognition

Wingo comes off of a breakout season where he started and played an incredibly high amount of snaps at defensive tackle. The former transfer from Missouri enters his junior year as one of the more established players in the SEC with back-to-back SEC honors in his first two years.

On making the All-SEC team last year: “I was a little bit surprised. I just wanted to come here and work hard and show the team they could trust me. It wasn’t about getting an award, just putting the best product on the field to help us win.”

Biggest improvement last year: “I would say I became a better run defender week after week and getting more comfortable understanding the scheme more. Going into year two with the scheme, we’ll improve even more.”

Where the defense can improve: “Naturally we’ve gotten better getting guys that have transferred in. We’ve had some great players leave, but I have full faith in guys that we’ve brought in. Guys like Jordan Jefferson, Paris Shand, and Omar Speights. Those guys have come in, put the work in and I think they’ll be phenomenal for us this year.”