By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
LSU’s defense may receive a significant green light on Saturday when the No. 21 Tigers host No. 6 Texas in Tiger Stadium (6:30 p.m., ABC).
Senior linebacker and team captain Whit Weeks was upgraded to questionable for the game on the Southeastern Conference’s availability report released on Wednesday night. He was doubtful last week before being ruled out of the game against Alabama as he recovered from a broken fibula and surgery. Weeks had surgery after breaking the bone between his knee and ankle against Texas A&M on Sept. 26 and missed the Tigers’ last five games.
Weeks is LSU’s best defender at reading offenses and calling plays with the designated green dot on his helmet, representing radio communication to assistant coaches from his helmet. Linebacker TJ Dottery replaced Weeks with the green dot on his helmet after Weeks’ injury, but has had trouble with the role at times.
Former LSU linebacker Darry Beckwith said on Tiger Rag Radio Tuesday night that the loss of Weeks has been very significant in the Tigers’ two losses without him – at Kentucky, 35-34 in overtime, on Oct. 10 and 31-13 to Alabama on Saturday. Sophomore Davhon Keys has replaced Weeks at linebacker.
“Losing Whit Weeks has been huge,” Beckwith said. “Davhon Keys is a thumper and can run from tackle to tackle, but he’s unable to diagnose and read the way Whit Weeks can. That’s the issue. Not so much a scheme issue.”
There is more good news regarding LSU’s defense. Sophomore defensive tackle Gabriel Reliford, who has missed the entire season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee last spring, suddenly appeared on Wednesday’s availability report as probable. LSU coach Lane Kiffin said at the time of the injury that he didn’t think Reliford could return this season.
Reliford missed most of last season before a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder early last season ended his season. He made 10 tackles in 13 games as a backup freshman in 2024 out of Evangel Christian in Shreveport.
Starting offensive right tackle Weston Davis, who left Saturday’s loss to Alabama with an ankle injury, was also listed as probable on Wednesday.
Texas defensive end Colin Simmons, who leads the nation with 10.5 sacks, is expected to play Saturday after missing two games before returning for limited use in the win over Missouri last week. Simmons missed the Ole Miss and Mississippi State wins with a high ankle sprain. Simmons has 25 tackles on the season and four quarterback hurries.
Texas defensive tackle Hero Kann is questionable for LSU with a torn bicep and expected to play. He has 26 tackles with four for loss and four quarterback hurries.
Be the first to comment