One of the more interesting storylines this week is the fact that starting quarterback Feleipe Franks was a solid LSU commitment for more than a year before coach Jim McElwain and his staff were able to flip him late in the recruiting process two years ago.
Franks is not being made available to the media this week.
“He was obviously a target when we got here,” McElwain said. “He was one of the best players in the state of Florida. At the time, I think more than anything for him probably, opportunity-wise we didn’t have a lot on the roster, so it probably was a pretty good fit for him.”
McElwain was asked if he thought this game would be a little extra special for Franks, given his long-term commitment to the Tigers before making the switch.
“I haven’t really thought about that. He’s a Florida Gator,” McElwain said. “He gets a chance to get to go play in The Swamp against a really good team. Until you brought it up, I’d forgotten.”
Expecting plenty of Guice
Even though LSU coach Ed Orgeron said Monday that star tailback Derrius Guice is questionable for Saturday’s game, the Gators are anticipating him playing.
“I expect the running back (Guise) to play and play his tail off on national TV, as will all their guys,” McElwain said. “We’re going to have to show up and play big-boy football. It will be fun to see how our guys respond to that this week in practice.”
No taking Tiger lightly
McElwain did a quick double take when he was hit with this surprising question earlier this week: Is there any chance you’ll overlook LSU, which is coming off the loss to Troy?
“Us, overlook somebody? Wow,” he said. “No. We know what kind of players they have, and you probably have written about the guys they held out in that game, probably getting them ready to come here. No. Not at all.”
Tackling woes
The Gators continue to struggle with their tackling in the secondary. Sophomore safety Chauncey Gardner seems to be having the biggest issues.
“I think he was in position this week and didn’t grab cloth and drag to the ground,” McElwain said. “Now, it’s a matter of keeping your feet moving. That’s really where that is. And yet, I’m glad Chauncey is on our football team. He’s a good player.”
Somebody needs to tell Mac and Nuss that big boy football does not include regularly throwing the bubble screen against a 9 man front.
Where is Dre Massey? No reports of injury or highlights. Thought this was supposed to be his year?
After humiliating themselves last week in the Troy game, I’d expect LSU to be more fired up than ever. Thus, not at all the same team we saw go down last week. This will be a dangerous game, mark my words.
I’m not sure losing to troy means you are all that bad this year. they have been pretty good recently, maybe not boise state, but like Memphis and Houston, and the SEC is the overall weakest I can remember since the late 1980s. Imo that lsu athletic director got played by some coaches. jimbo knocked out a recruiting rival and got a raise for it, you gotta tip your hat to him. LSU’s best prayer is coach o at least recruits well as zook and the next coach, maybe the troy guy or something does an urban meyer. zook did win some tough games and lose some easy ones. who knows what is going to happen. franks must have gotten word lsu’s athletic director was a major risk to be near.