LSU football schedule, roster, recruiting and what to watch in 2018

Bill Bender

LSU football schedule, roster, recruiting and what to watch in 2018 image

LSU used to be the SEC program that posed the biggest challenge for Alabama on a year-by-year basis. Will that still be the case in 2018?

The Tigers enter the second full season under Ed Orgeron trying to answer that question. LSU finished 9-4 and played in the Citrus Bowl for the second consecutive season. Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda was retained with a $2.5 million annual contract, and the Tigers promoted tight ends coach Steve Ensminger to offensive coordinator to replace Matt Canada.

MORE: 2018 SEC conference primer

The Tigers fell back to No. 18 in Sporting News' updated way-too-early top 25 — and it doesn't help that they have a brutal schedule. Here's an early look at LSU heading into 2018:

LSU football schedule 2018

DateOpponentLocation
April 21National L Club Spring GameBaton Rouge, La.
Sept. 2No. 7 Miami (Sunday)Arlington, Texas
Sept. 8Southeastern LouisianaBaton Rouge. La.
Sept. 15at No. 8 AuburnAuburn, Ala.
Sept. 22Louisiana TechBaton Rouge, La.
Sept. 29Ole MissBaton Rouge, La.
Oct. 6at FloridaGainesville, Fla.
Oct. 13No. 3 GeorgiaBaton Rouge, La.
Oct. 20Mississippi StateBaton Rouge, La.
Oct. 27ByeOff
Nov. 3No. 1 AlabamaBaton Rouge, La.
Nov. 10at ArkansasFayetteville, Ark.
Nov. 17RiceBaton Rouge, La.
Nov. 24at No. 25 Texas A&MCollege Station, Texas
Dec. 1SEC championshipAtlanta
Games in bold denote SEC games.

LSU football recruiting 2018

LSU had the No. 15 recruiting class according to 247Sports' Composite team rankings. Five-star receiver and early enrollee Terrace Marshall (Parkway, Bossier City, La.) is the top recruit in the class. National Signing Day yielded an impressive haul, including four-star safety Kelvin Joseph (Scotlandville Magnet, Baton Rouge, La.), receiver JaMarr Chase (Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, La.) and defensive end Jarell Cherry (Carter, Dallas).

MORE: Ranking first-year coaches for 2018

LSU roster 2018

LSU's roster will be updated in the spring and fall here.

No.NamePos.Year
2Lowell NarcisseQBFr.
3JaCoby StevensWRSo.
4Nick BrossetteRBSr.
4K'Lavon ChaissonLBSo.
5Kary Vincent Jr.CBSo.
6Terrace Marshall Jr.WRFr.
6Jacob PhillipsLBSo.
7Jonathan GilesWRJr.
8Patrick QueenLBSo.
9Grant DelpitSSo.
10Stephen SullivanWRJr.
11Dee AndersonWRJr.
12Justin McMillanQBJr.
13Jontre KirklinCBSo.
13Andre SaleQBSo.
14Drake DavisWRJr.
15Myles BrennanQBSo.
16Tiger ScheydWRSr.
17Racey McMathWRSo.
19Derrick DillonWRJr.
21Ed ParisDBSr.
22Clyde Edwards-HelaireRBSo.
22Kristian FultonCBJr.
23Micah BaskervilleLBFr.
24Colby BrunetWRSo.
24Tyler TaylorLBSo.
25Tae ProvensATHFr.
26John BattleSSr.
26Adam LewisWRFr.
27Lanard FournetteRBJr.
27Treven KatelyDBFr.
28Mannie NetherlyCBSo.
29Greedy WilliamsCBSo.
30Eric MonroeDBSo.
30Michael OstromWRJr.
31Justin JonesWRSo.
31Cameron LewisDBSo.
32Justin JeffersonWRSo.
33Trey GallmanFBSr.
33Todd Harris Jr.SSo.
34Connor CulpPKSo.
34Zach ShefferTEFr.
35Wesley McKoyWRJr.
38Keith FultonWRSo.
38Josh GrowdenPJr.
39Jack GonsoulinPKJr.
40Devin WhiteLBJr.
41Caleb BrownDBSo.
41David DucreRBSr.
42Aaron MoffittTEFr.
43Matt Brock FBJr.
43Ray ThorntonLBSo.
44Tory CarterFBSo.
45Michael Divinity Jr.LBJr.
46Andre AnthonyLBSo.
46Zach Von RosenbergPSo.
48Carlton SmithFBFr.
49Travez MooreDEJr.
50Blake FergusonSNPJr.
54Davin CottonDTFr.
54Rory LukeOLFr.
55Kody HallLBJr.
58Jared SmallLBFr.
59Seth NewsomeDESo.
61David-Michael CarrellSNPSo.
62Justin MikushOLSr.
65Jakori SavageOLSo.
67Cole SmithCFr.
68Damien LewisOGJr.
69Turner SimmersOLSr.
70Ed Ingram OGSo.
71Donavaughn CampbellOLSo.
72Tyler ShelvinNTFr.
73Adrian MageeOLJr.
74Badara TraoreOTJr.
75Michael SmithOLSo.
76Austin DeculusOLSo.
77Saahdiq CharlesOLSo.
78Garrett BrumfieldOGSo.
79Lloyd Cushenberry IIICSo.
80Jamal PettigrewTESo.
82Thaddeus MossTESo.
84Foster MoreauTESr.
85Jamil Abdul-AzizDLSo.
87Justin BeckwithWRSo.
88Jacory WashingtonTESr.
89Derian MooreWRSr.
90Rashard LawrenceDEJr.
91Breiden FehokoDEJr.
92Neil Farrell Jr.DESo.
93Justin ThomasDESo.
94Brandon McQuenPKFr.
97Glen LoganDESo.
99Ed AlexanderNTJr.
 Ja'Marr ChaseWRFr.
 Jarell CherryDEFr.
 Damone ClarkLBFr.
 Chris CurryRBFr.
 Chasen HinesDTFr.
 Jaray JenkinsWRFr.
 Nelson Jenkins IIIDTFr.
 Kenan JonesWRFr.
 Kelvin JosephCBFr.
 Dominic LivingstonDTFr.
 Dare RosenthalDTFr.
 Dantrieze ScottATHFr.
 Cole TracyPKSr.
 Cameron WireOTFr.

What to watch in 2018

1. Who will be the QB?

As usual, there's a quarterback question at LSU, and this year it's a three-way battle among Myles Brennan, Justin McMillan and Lowell Narcisse. Brennan attempted 14 of 24 passes with one touchdown and two interceptions last season, but the competition should be open heading into the spring. Which quarterback will mesh with Ensminger? Tigers quarterbacks combined for 17 touchdowns and just four interceptions last season.

2. Will Aranda be worth it?

The Tigers shelled out big time to keep Aranda away from Texas A&M with a deal that pays $2.5 million annually over the next four years. That's a monster contract for one of the game's best defensive minds, but it also puts this unit under the microscope. LSU ranked 16th in the FBS by allowing 18.8 points per game last season. Aranda will have to develop some new pass rushers, but this defense can build around Devin White, who led the Tigers with 133 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss last season.

3. What are fair expectations?

This is LSU, so "fair" doesn't always come into play. The Tigers play four top-10 teams next year, starting with the opener against Miami in Jerry World. A September trip to Auburn will be a good barometer for the SEC season, which features home games against Georgia and Alabama. LSU won't have to talk about what their place in the SEC contenders pecking order will be: They'll find out on the field.

Bill Bender

Bill Bender graduated from Ohio University in 2002 and started at The Sporting News as a fantasy football writer in 2007. He has covered the College Football Playoff, NBA Finals and World Series for SN. Bender enjoys story-telling, awesomely-bad 80s movies and coaching youth sports.