The LSU Tigers must shut these four Texas A&M Aggies standouts if they want to win this weekend.
The LSU Tigers have a chance to head back home this weekend and get their season back on track, but the Texas A&M Aggies stand in their way. Both squads lost last Saturday and will be looking to right some wrongs.
Ever since that seven-overtime game back in 2018, this series has been split a little bit more evenly. The Aggies have taken the last two meetings, though, so the Tigers need to get one back at home. Texas A&M won in Baton Rouge last year, too. Here are three players that LSU will need to erase to make sure they come out on top this time:
QB Marcel Reed
This is the obvious one. Reed hasn't had the best start to this season, but he's obviously ultra-talented. He had his coming-out party against the Tigers back in 2023, and he's been the one to take them down over the past two years.
Reed is dangerous with his legs. Blake Baker knows that and has had two years of tape on him cutting through his defense. This is also the most athletic front seven that he has had in that time. If he can't stop him now, then running quarterbacks will continue to thrive this year.
He has plenty of arm talent, but he has been inefficient through the air this year, completing under 60% of his passes with three interceptions.
CB Julio Humphrey
Humphrey has been spectacular in coverage this season, and LSU has been inconsistent through the air, especially when targeting the boundary. That's not exactly a great combination for the Tigers.
Per Pro Football Focus, Humphrey has been targeted 10 times this year, allowing just five catches. One of those catches did go for 53 yards, though. He has two pass breakups and an interception, showing his ball skills. He's a fifth-year player who started out with the Georgia Bulldogs, but this year has seen his biggest role, and he has responded well.
WR Mario Craver
Reed's top target and safety blanket this year has been Craver. In last week's loss to the Kentucky Wildcats, Craver had 11 catches while only one other person on the team had more than two.
Craver has big play ability, and though he lines up outside, most of his production comes between the numbers. If they can take him out of the equation, it would force someone else to step up and make plays, as Reed is clearly most comfortable going to Carver.
DE Anto Saka
Saka is a rotational pass rush specialist who is looking for his breakout performance since transferring over from the Northwestern Wildcats this past offseason. His career 16% pressure rate has dropped to just 6.3% this year, with two pressures on 32 attempts so far, per PFF. This LSU offensive line has been shaky, though, especially on the right side, so this could be a chance for him to make himself known.


