Athlon's Way-Too-Early Top 25 College Football Rankings for 2019

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9. LSU

Low expectations surrounded LSU in 2018, but coach Ed Orgeron guided the program to a 10-3 record. After starting ’18 ranked near the bottom of the top 25, the Tigers will be a preseason top 10-15 team. The offense still has room to improve under coordinator Steve Ensminger, but the personnel losses are expected to be minimal on this side of the ball. Quarterback Joe Burrow and leading receiver Justin Jefferson are back, while the passing game could get a boost if Terrace Marshall and Ja’Marr Chase develop as sophomores. Clyde Edwards-Helaire and incoming freshman John Emery are likely to anchor the ground game with Nick Brossette departing Baton Rouge. Guard Garrett Brumfield is the only senior starter up front, so an offensive line that dealt with injuries and inconsistency at times should be even better in 2019. As usual under coordinator Dave Aranda, LSU’s defense will rank among the best in the SEC. Aranda does have some personnel voids to fill, as cornerback Greedy Williams left for the NFL, and linebacker Devin White could follow. If Kristian Fulton decides to return, he’ll join anchor a secondary that features All-America safety Grant Delpit and promising cornerbacks in Kelvin Joseph and five-star freshman Derek Stingley. Linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson returns after missing nearly all of 2018 due to injury. A road trip to Austin on Sept. 7 to take on Texas looms large, but Florida, Auburn and Texas A&M all visit Baton Rouge next fall.

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