With 19 days until kickoff for the LSU Tigers, it's time to highlight the next two players to don that jersey number in Baton Rouge.
The LSU Tigers football season is inching closer, now down to double digits on the countdown clock. Kickoff against the Clemson Tigers is now just 19 days away.
As we continue to look back at the history of the Bayou Bandits to celebrate and prepare heading into the first game, there is also the matter of getting to know the current-day players.
Here is a look at the past and present of No. 19 at LSU:
No. 19 - DE Gabriel Reliford
Reliford is someone that many people are looking forward to seeing finally put together another healthy campaign. He has been expected to be a star on this defense, but has had horrible injury luck.
He committed to the Tigers out of high school in 2024 and contributed in a deep rotational role at times as a freshman. Just a few plays into the fourth game in 2025, he suffered a shoulder injury that cost him the rest of the season. Now, this spring, he tore his ACL and is expected to miss the year.
The Evangel Christian Academy alum is making great strides in his recovery, at least, and should be ready to finally take over next season.
No. 19 - QB Kaden Martin
Martin came to the Tigers this season as a walk-on. He joins his father, Tee Martin, a former National Championship-winning Tennessee Volunteers quarterback, who also came to LSU this offseason.
While walk-ons don't get the most shine, they are important in getting the team prepared to play week in and week out. Some walk-ons also earn their way to a scholarship with hard work and dedication.
No. 19 Was Almost Very Important
QB Bryce Underwood Chooses Michigan Wolverines Over LSU Tigers
A little bit of a different approach here, but it's time to take a look back at what almost was for the No. 19 at LSU. Had Underwood, who wears the No. 19 at quarterback, chosen the Tigers over the Wolverines, a lot could be different.
Underwood was the No. 1 player in the nation in the 2025 recruiting class. For a while, he was favored to pick LSU. At the last minute, he ended up going to Michigan.
Had Underwood come to the Tigers last season, as such an established young talent, perhaps the school would have given Brian Kelly and his staff a little bit more time to work things out so they wouldn't risk losing Underwood. That would have meant no coaching change and a completely different team this year.
