LSU's Top 40 Players in 2024: No. 3-1

With just a few days from SEC Media Days and a few weeks from the start of fall camp, meaning football season is nearly underway and it’s time for my favorite series of the summer: Ranking the top 40 players on LSU’s roster. An exercise to inspire discussion, debate, and thought about the team entering the 2024 season.

Today is the final installment of this series and if you want to go back, we have over 10,000 words written on the Top 40 players. This list is an average of the Bengal Tiger staff’s individual lists. This list is based on talent, not necessarily importance, simply ranking the 40 best players this year on the roster.

Let us know what you think on our board. Let’s get started.

Previous installments: No. 40-36, No. 35-31, No. 30-26, No. 25-21, No. 20-16, No. 15-11, No. 10-7, No. 6-4

3. Emery Jones

Junior offensive lineman from Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Recruiting profile

Bengal Tiger Staff Rankings

Matthew: 4 / Shea: 3 / Billy: 3 

2023 recap

There were question marks surrounding Jones entering 2023. Would he move inside to guard? He was a cool story starting as a freshman, but he certainly took his lumps. Jones not only stayed at tackle, but took significant steps forward in his development and helped solidify LSU as one of the top offensive lines in the country. He was named to the second-team All-SEC and was named the SEC offensive lineman of the week for his game against Missouri. He ended the year with a 73-74 PFF grade in both run and pass blocking and consistently faced elite talent off the edge. 

2024 outlook

Jones still has room to grow at tackle as a pass protector with his quickness and balance, but for someone who could be playing guard in the NFL, the versatility and strength is awesome most of the time. The run blocking should take a step up with the tweaks to LSU’s run game this year, allowing him to pull more and be more creative. Jones has the potential to be a first round pick this year as he continues to grow under Brad Davis, but is his NFL potential best at guard or tackle? I think the answer is guard, so there’s always a chance he kicks inside if there is an injury to one of those interior offensive linemen this season. Regardless, the consistency from Jones is something to marvel at as he enters his third season.

2. Harold Perkins

Junior linebacker from New Oreleans, Louisiana

Recruiting profile

Bengal Tiger Staff Rankings

Matthew: 2 / Shea: 2 / Billy: 2 

2023 recap

Perkins was the focal point of a lot of the criticism of LSU’s defense in 2023. Coming off of the electric freshman season in 2022, the hope was that Perkins developed into a bonafide All-American in year two, but he was just really good again. He made second team All-SEC, ending the year with essentially the same statline he posted as a freshman, but with five more starts. He played a lot of Sam linebacker which doubled as a Nickel in several situations and he just never looked comfortable. Matt House tried him at inside linebacker for one game, but that backfired and from then on it was a constant mismanagement of Perkins’ skillset which furthered the struggles of the defense.

2024 outlook

With all of the questions this defense has in 2024, I would argue that the success of this defense starts with Harold Perkins. Maximizing the playmaking and ability of Perkins is the baseline for LSU to have a capable defense because this needs to be a trademark Blake Baker defense with an immense amount of aggression and pressure on opposing offenses. Perkins has to be taught the Will linebacker position, but also be on the frontfoot looking to make plays in the backfield. It’s going to be a more high-risk type of defense and Perkins will have to be the head of the snake. The expectations for Perkins is his best year statistically at LSU and to show that elite athleticism on an every down basis. In theory, Blake Baker is the perfect coach to pull the best out of him, but once the rubber meets the road, Perkins has to dig deep and show that he’s a first-round player who thinks and sees the game at a high level. I expect a monster year from Perkins, regardless of whether the defense around him raises its level or not.

1. Will Campbell

Junior offensive tackle from Monroe, Louisiana

Recruiting profile

Bengal Tiger Staff Rankings

Matthew: 1 / Shea: 1 / Billy: 1 

2023 recap

Campbell has gone from a can’t-miss prospect, to starting as a freshman, to receiving the coveted No. 7 and becoming a first-team All-SEC selection as a sophomore, to now being heralded as the best tackle in the country and likely top 10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Looking at last year specifically, he had a fascinating first game of the season against Jared Verse and the two went back and forth, each winning reps. From there, Campbell only got better, refining his game under Brad Davis and holding his own against the top edge rushers in the SEC. He was also an elite run blocker, ending with an 84.9 PFF grade, showing that explosion and pure power with his 6-foot-6 frame.

2024 outlook

Expectations could not possibly be higher for Campbell entering 2024. He’s tabbed as the best tackle in the country, he’s the second highest rated player in the nation on EA College Football 25, and he was excellent in the spring. LSU should be looking to run behind Campbell early and often, while also using him as a puller which they showed in the spring game. The pass protection is probably the one area you can nitpick since he did have his ups and downs last year, ending with a good but not elite pass blocking grade on PFF of 77.9. He doesn’t have a super long wingspan, so he has to be extremely solid technically to avoid rushers getting loose. Still, this is a player with loads of experience, confidence, and ability and it’s easy to see why he’s the best player on this roster. My advice to LSU fans is to enjoy this year with this offensive line and especially with Campbell and Jones together one last time. LSU has not had an offensive lineman drafted in the first round since 1998 (Alan Faneca), and this year, there’s a chance to potentially get two.