2008 LSU Tigers football team

The 2008 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Les Miles, who entered his fourth year at the helm. They played their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Tigers entered the season as defending national champions, having defeated Ohio State, 38–24, in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game.

Pre-season In February, the NCAA granted defensive end Kirston Pittman a sixth-year of eligibility. Pittman had missed the 2005 and 2006 seasons with foot and ankle injuries.

Coaching changes Defensive coordinator Bo Pelini left to become the head coach at Nebraska.Nebraska chooses LSU assistant Pelini as new coach

2008 recruiting class

Key losses Offense Matt Flynn, QBNationalChamps.net 2008 LSU Early Bird Preview Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round (209th overall) of the 2008 NFL draft. Jacob Hester, FB/RB Drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the third round (69th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. Early Doucet, WR Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round (81st overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. Ryan Perrilloux Dismissed from team February 18, 2008; team policy violations.

Defense Glenn Dorsey, DT Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs fifth overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. Craig Steltz, SS Drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round (120th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. Ali Highsmith, LB Signed with the Arizona Cardinals as a rookie free-agent for a two-year deal.

Schedule

Denotes the largest crowd to watch a football game at Tiger Stadium

Schedule Source: 2008 LSU Tigers football schedule

Rankings

Game summaries

Appalachian State

North Texas

Auburn

Mississippi State

Florida

South Carolina

Georgia

Tulane

Alabama

Troy Game delayed due to effects from Hurricane Gustav from originally scheduled date of September 6.

Trailing 31–3 midway through the third quarter, the Bengals staged one of the greatest comebacks in LSU history, scoring 37 consecutive points and rallying for a 40–31 win.

Ole Miss

Arkansas

Chick-fil-A Bowl

A 28-point 2nd quarter by LSU was too much for the Yellow Jackets to overcome in the 2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl rout. Georgia Tech gave up three turnovers and did not force any.

Statistics

Team Team Opp Scoring 402 314   Points per Game 30.92 24.15 First Downs 254 211   Rushing 122 76   Passing 114 114   Penalty 18 21 Rushing Yardage 2168 1432   Yards gained 2510 1751   Yards lost 342 319   Attempts 495 421   Average per rush 4.4 3.4   Average per Game 166.8 110.2   TDs Rushing 27 17 Passing yardage 2168 1432   Att-Comp-Int 391–206–18 391–206–18   Average Per Pass 6.7 6.6   Average Per Catch 12.7 12.3   Average per Game 201.3 215.4   TDs Passing 21 15 Team Opp Total Offense 4785 4232   Avg per Play 5.4 5.0   Avg per Game 368.1 325.5 Fumbles-Lost 16.2 26–11 Penalties-Yards 82–649 75–637   Avg per Game 49.9 49.0 Punts-Yards 63-2538 75-3124   Avg per Punt 40.3 41.7 Time of Possession/Game 30:13 29:47 3rd Down Conversions 70/183 57/183 4th Down Conversions 7/18 9/22 Touchdowns Scored 50 39 Field Goals-Attempts 18–23 14–19 PAT-Attempts 48–49 38–38 Attendance 739,065 315,937   Games/Avg per Game 8 / 92,383 4 / 78,984

Scores by quarter

Offense

Rushing Name GP-GS Att Gain Loss Net Avg TD Long Avg/G Charles Scott 13–13 217 1208 34 1174 5.4 18 56 90.3 Keiland Williams 13–0 83 444 27 417 5.0 2 25 32.1 Richard Murphy 13–0 44 202 16 186 4.2 0 12 14.3 Jordan Jefferson 7–2 49 211 77 134 2.7 1 20 19.1 Andrew Hatch 6–3 35 175 46 129 3.7 2 20 21.5 Trindon Holliday 13–0 21 131 17 114 5.4 0 39 8.8 Stevan Ridley 13–0 12 92 0 92 7.7 1 18 7.1 Quinn Johnson 13–10 14 30 2 28 2.0 3 5 2.2 Josh Jasper 13–0 1 7 0 7 7.0 0 7 0.5 Brandon LaFell 13–12 2 6 0 6 3.0 0 4 0.5 Jared Mitchell 12–0 1 0 4 −4 −4.0 0 0 −0.3 TEAM 7–0 5 0 18 −18 −3.6 0 0 −2.6 Jarrett Lee 11–8 11 4 101 −97 −8.8 0 4 −8.8 Total 13 495 2510 342 2168 4.4 27 56 166.8 Opponents 13 421 1751 319 1432 3.4 17 68 110.2

Passing Name GP-GS Effic Att-Cmp-Int Pct Yds TD Lng Avg/G Jarrett Lee 11–8 116.9 143–269–16 53.2 1873 14 66 170.3 Jordan Jefferson 7–2 112.9 36–73–1 49.3 419 4 41 59.9 Andrew Hatch 6–3 118.4 25–45–1 55.6 282 2 29 47.0 Brady Dalfrey 13–0 138.2 1–2–0 50.0 21 0 21 1.6 Keiland Williams 13–0 307.4 1–2–0 50.0 22 1 22 1.7 Total 13 117.4 206–391–18 52.7 2617 21 66 201.3 Opponents 13 116.6 227–425–8 53.4 2800 15 70 215.4

Receiving Name GP-GS No. Yds Avg TD Long Avg/GBrandon LaFell 13–12 63 929 14.7 8 43 71.5Demetrius Byrd 13–11 27 513 13.9 4 43 39.5Richard Dickson 13–13 31 324 10.5 5 25 24.9Terrance Toliver 13–2 22 257 11.7 1 33 19.8Keiland Williams 13–0 11 124 11.3 1 66 9.5Richard Murphy 13–0 10 92 9.2 0 28 7.1Jared Mitchell 12–0 9 106 11.8 0 21 8.8Chris Mitchell 13–4 8 67 8.4 0 14 5.2Charles Scott 13–0 10 92 9.2 0 28 7.1Quinn Johnson 13–10 2 33 16.5 0 15 2.5Trindon Holliday 13–0 2 33 16.5 0 21 2.5Chad Jones 13–6 1 21 21.0 0 21 1.6Ricky Dixon 10–0 1 4 4.0 0 4 0.4R.J Jackson 11–0 1 −1 −1.0 0 15 −0.1Total 13 206 2617 12.7 21 66 201.3Opponents 13 227 2800 12.3 15 70 215.4

Defense Name GP Tackles Sacks Pass defense Fumbles BlkdKick Solo Ast Total TFL-Yds No-Yds Int-Yds BU PD Qbh Rcv-Yds FF Total 13 441 480 921 75–293 28–172 8–51 61 69 44 11–57 14 2

Special teams Name Punting Kickoffs No. Yds Avg Long TB FC I20 Blkd No. Yds Avg TB OBBrady Dalfrey 59 2366 40.1 59 3 20 22 0 Josh Jasper 4 172 43.0 45 0 2 0 0 76 4629 60.9 4 1 Total 63 2538 40.3 59 3 22 23 0 76 4629 60.9 4 1

Name Punt returns Kick returns No. Yds Avg TD Long No. Yds Avg TD Long Trindon Holliday 21 279 13.3 1 92 27 609 22.6 0 49 Chad Jones 8 95 11.9 0 24 2 25 12.5 0 17 Patrick Peterson 1 6 6.0 0 6 Keiland Williams 13 290 22.3 0 38 Kelvin Sheppard 4 47 11.8 0 23 Quinn Johnson 2 14 7.0 0 12 Will Blackwell 2 11 5.5 0 7 Brandon Lafell 1 10 10 0 10 Ron Brooks 1 23 23.0 0 23 T-Bob Hebert 1 13 13.0 0 13 TEAM 1 0 0.0 0 0 1 11 11.0 0 0 Total 31 380 12.3 1 92 54 1053 19.5 0 49

Roster 2008 LSU Tigers rosterQuarterbacks 9 Jordan Jefferson – Freshman 12 Jarrett Lee – Freshman 14 Andrew Hatch – Sophomore 17 T. C. McCartney – Freshman Kyle Ridley – Freshman Paul Scioneaux – Sophomore

Running backs 5 Keiland Williams – Junior 24 Patrick Lipoma – Junior 26 Richard Murphy – Sophomore 32 Charles Scott – Senior 33 Orlando Gunn – Freshman 37 Phillip Pigott – Senior

Fullbacks 27 August Mangin – Junior 30 Chad Baniecki – Senior 34 Stevan Ridley – Freshman 42 Steele Hull – Freshman 45 Quinn Johnson – Senior

Wide receivers 1 Brandon LaFell – Junior 2 Demetrius Byrd – Senior 8 Trindon Holliday – Junior 10 Ricky Dixon – Sophomore 13 Jordan Newell – Sophomore 16 Jhyryn Taylor – Freshman 19 DeAngelo Peterson – Freshman 21 Chris Tolliver – Freshman 27 Jarred Joseph – Freshman 28 R.J. Jackson – Junior 31 John Williams – Freshman 39 R.J. Gillen – Freshman 39 Ian Harding – Freshman 43 Tim Molton – Freshman 58 Adam McClure – Sophomore 80 Terrance Toliver – Sophomore 86 Chris Mitchell – Junior 87 Jared Mitchell – Junior Tight ends 18 Richard Dickson – Junior 40 Caleb Angelle – Senior 41 Ronnie Turpin – Freshman 46 Tyler Edwards – Freshman 82 Matt Branch – Freshman 83 Mitch Joseph – Freshman 84 Jake Bryan – Freshman 85 Alex Russian – Freshman

Offensive line 51 Clay Spencer – Freshman 60 Will Blackwell – Freshman 61 Trey Helms – Freshman 64 P.J. Lonergan – Freshman 67 Tyler Simmons – Freshman 68 Josh Dworaczyk – Freshman 70 Ciron Black – Junior 72 Alex Hurst – Freshman 73 Thomas Parsons – Freshman 75 Greg Shaw – Freshman 77 Ernest McCoy – Freshman 78 Joseph Barksdale – Sophomore 79 Herman Johnson – Senior

Offensive guards 65 Lyle Hitt – Junior

Centers 53 T-Bob Hebert – Freshman 62 Richard Dugas – Sophomore 63 Ryan Miller – Senior 74 Brett Helms – Senior

Long snappers 49 Austin Kinchen – Freshman 50 Joey Crappell – Freshman Justin Warner – Freshman Defensive line 97 Dennis Johnson – Sophomore

Defensive ends 47 Tremaine Johnson – Senior 49 Kirston Pittman – Senior 53 Jonathan Nixon – Sophomore 81 Chancey Aghayere – Freshman 84 Rahim Alem – Junior 88 Chase Clement – Freshman 93 Tyson Jackson – Senior 95 Lazarius Levingston – Sophomore 98 Sidell Corley – Freshman

Defensive tackles 71 Cordian Hagans – Freshman 88 Donald Hains – Senior 89 Lavar Edwards – Freshman 90 Ricky Jean Francois – Junior 91 Charles Alexander – Senior 92 Drake Nevis – Sophomore 96 Kentravis Aubrey – Freshman 97 Al Woods – Junior 99 Marlon Favorite – Senior

Linebackers 11 Kelvin Sheppard – Sophomore 17 Shomari Clemons – Freshman 22 Ryan Baker – Freshman 32 David Impastato – Junior 41 Kyle Prater – Freshman 48 Darry Beckwith – Senior 52 Ace Foyil – Junior 53 Paul Felio – Sophomore 54 Jacob Cutrera – Junior 55 Kellen Theriot – Freshman 56 Perry Riley – Junior 57 Harold Butcher – Freshman Defensive backs 16 Trent Hebert – Freshman 19 David Detz – Freshman 45 Zach Elkins – Sophomore

Cornerbacks 4 Jai Eugene – Sophomore 7 Patrick Peterson – Freshman 13 Ron Brooks – Freshman 15 Brandon Taylor – Freshman 25 Phelon Jones – Freshman 28 Joe Maltempi – Junior 29 Chris Hawkins – Junior 33 Daniel Graff – Junior 35 Ryan St. Julien – Freshman 36 Derrick Bryant – Freshman

Safeties 3 Chad Jones – Sophomore 5 Chad Moody – Junior 23 Stefoin François – Freshman 24 Harry Coleman – Junior 27 Curtis Taylor – Senior 37 Karnell Hatcher – Freshman 44 Danny McCray – Junior

Punters 38 Drew Alleman – K/P – Freshman 39 Brady Dalfrey – Senior

Kickers 6 Colt David – Senior 17 Josh Graham – Junior 30 Josh Jasper – Sophomore 38 Drew Alleman – K/P – Freshman 39 Andrew Crutchfield – Sophomore

2008 Louisiana State University Football Roster and Bios

Coaching staff Name Title First year at LSU Alma mater Les Miles Head coach 2005 Michigan (1976) Gary Crowton Offensive coordinator 2007 BYU (1983) Doug Mallory Co-defensive coordinator 2005 Michigan (1988) Bradley Dale Peveto Co-defensive coordinator 2005 SMU (1987) Josh Henson Tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator 2005 Oklahoma State (1998) Earl Lane Defensive line coach 2006 Northwood TBD Defensive backs coach D.J. McCarthy Wide receivers coach 2007 Washington (1994) Joe RobinsonJoe Robinson Bio @ LSUSports.net Special teams coordinator 2008 Louisiana State University (1985) Larry Porter Asst. head coach/running backs/special teams 2005 Memphis (1996) Greg Studrawa Offensive line coach 2007 Bowling Green (1987) Tommy Moffitt Strength and conditioning coordinator 2000 Tennessee Tech (1986)

LSU Tigers in the 2009 National Football League Draft Tyson Jackson Defensive end 1 3 3 Kansas City Chiefs Quinn Johnson Running back 5 9 145 Green Bay Packers Herman Johnson Offensive guard 5 31 167 Arizona Cardinals Curtis Taylor Safety 7 10 219 San Francisco 49ers Demetrius Byrd Wide receiver 7 15 224 San Diego Chargers Ricky Jean-Francois Defensive tackle 7 35 244 San Francisco 49ers

Source:

References