LSU’s Game Night Depth Chart Has A Few Interesting Names In The 2-Deep

By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor

Junior transfer wide receiver Malik Elzy of Illinois was listed as one of three No. 1 wide receivers on the depth chart released by LSU before the No. 11 Tigers opened the season against No. 23 Clemson at Tiger Stadium Saturday night in the LSU debut of new head coach Lane Kiffin.

Elzy (6-foot-2, 214 pounds) was usually running with the second team during most of the media viewing portions of practice last month during preseason camp. But he was listed ahead of Kansas State senior transfer Jayce Brown, who was usually with the first team at practices and mentioned as one of the top Tigers all pre-season.

LSU Football Depth Chart Before Opener Vs. Clemson – Battle At Defensive Tackle, Says Lane Kiffin

Elzy played in only four games last season at Kansas State so he could get a redshirt season. He caught seven passes for 84 yards. In 2024, Elzy played in 10 games, but caught only four passes for 77 yards with a touchdown. In 2023, the freshman from Simeon High in the Chicago area caught five passes for 52 yards and a touchdown in nine games.

LSU and Clemson scheduled to start at 8:40 pm – weather permitting, and fingers crossed. @kacehk https://t.co/QW9edQvQZw

— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) September 6, 2026

Brown caught 41 passes for 712 yards and five touchdowns last season in 10 games. In 13 games in 2024, he caught 47 passes for 823 yards and five TDs. As a freshman out of Choctawhatchee High in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, in 2023, he had 27 receptions for 437 yards and three touchdowns.

In another bit of a surprise on the depth chart, sophomore transfer Stacy Gage of Central Florida was listed as the No. 2 back behind starter Dilin Jones, a sophomore transfer from Wisconsin who has been with the first team since the spring. Gage was ahead of returning LSU backs Caden Durham and Harlem Berry in that order.

But this is just a depth chart. At times, head coaches do not take them seriously. Kiffin could have completely different starters by the time kicks off, which is expected to be at 8:40 p.m. on ABC after a lightning delay pushed the game from its 6:49 p.m. start.

A surprise on defense was junior transfer Stephiylan Green of Clemson at first team tackle ahead of returning junior Dominick McKinley. Malik Blocton, a junior transfer from Auburn, was often with the first team during practice. He is at second team tackle behind true freshman Deuce Geralds, who was with the first team all camp. Fellow true freshman tackle Richard Anderson, who had been contending for a starting job was listed as third team tackle behind Geralds and Blocton.

At free safety, returner Tamarcus Cooley was No. 1 over redshirt freshman Jhase Thomas, who was often with the first team.