How quickly LSU’s talented freshman defensive linemen can prove themselves impactful and consistent at this level was among the key storylines to watch entering fall camp last week.
That dynamic only gained significance Monday with coach Lane Kiffin’s latest update on a pair of absences of returning edge rushers: Gabriel Reliford (Evangel Christian), who is not expected to return this season from his spring injury, and Damien Shanklin, who is not currently practicing with the team.
But, fortunately, the early signs from the Tigers’ incoming trench prospects — including tackles Richard Anderson (Edna Karr) and Daverin “Deuce” Geralds II and end Lamar Brown (University Lab) — continue to be encouraging as the team puts on its pads, begins hitting and starts seeing some more meaningful takeaways for the development of the depth chart.
“I don’t think we have (had a group like this before), and there’s a fourth in there that’s doing a really good job in (Trenton) Henderson,” Kiffin said. “I don’t. I talked to (recruiting and defensive special assistant) Ed (Orgeron) about that. I was kinda thinking all the places over the years we’ve been, even when we’ve been together or separate, and neither of us has had that. It’s really — and really unique to have nowadays because they’re more spread out usually. Where before you could take more numbers and so then maybe you hit on some and got that.
“But it’s really exciting. All of ’em have a chance to play. Those three specifically are playing a lot. And it’s really exciting. In an age that a lot of people play older portal players, it’s kind of been lost a little bit of significant freshmen playing, too, because there’s challenging with playing ’em too. They make more mistakes. So with a challenging schedule and the way it’s set up now and more competitive than ever, it’s even harder to have some of those games early. So it’s really an awesome situation to be in.”
Seven of LSU’s eight defensive linemen or edge rushers to earn the most snaps in 2025 are no longer on the roster following departures for the NFL or the transfer portal or otherwise exhausted eligibility.
Defensive tackle Dominick McKinley (Acadiana) is the lone exception, followed by Dylan Carpenter (St. Amant) and Reliford with just over a combined 200 snaps according to PFF.
Shanklin only played 10 snaps in five appearances as a freshman in 2025, but enjoyed an exciting flash with a pair of sacks in his debut vs. Southeastern Louisiana.
But Reliford suffered a torn ACL during spring practice and, as Kiffin confirmed Monday, is not expected to return this season as he recovers from the injury and subsequent surgery.
Shanklin “is not practicing with the team right now, and that’s all I can comment on that,” Kiffin confirmed.
The coach cautioned entering fall camp against heaping too high of immediate expectations on freshmen in an era of college football in which major colleges have managed to fill more roster holes with older players via the transfer portal.
But Anderson, Brown, Geralds and Henderson have been been difficult to ignore early in camp, and their progression may be increasingly critical as the roster and depth chart continue to take shape.
Anderson and Geralds continue to battle for snaps in a rotation that includes McKinley, fellow returnee Shone Washington (Warren Easton) and notable transfers that include Malik Blocton (Auburn) and Stephiylan Green (Clemson).
Brown and Henderson are in an edge group headlined by transfers Prince Umanmielen (Ole Miss) and Jordan Ross (Tennessee) and with Carpenter and redshirt sophomore Kolaj Cobbins (Destrehan) among returners.
The Tigers have also worked redshirt freshman linebacker Jaiden Braker, a long, athletic former four-star prospect, with the edge rushers early in camp.
“Just really looking at him and his length, we wanted to try to see how he looked rushing and playing on the edge, and he’s done a really good job,” Kiffin said. “A lot of times how the players move size-wise, if you get that frame and can run like he does and you can continue to put on years, they put on weight and they grow into that spot, so it’s been a really good project so far.”
