Multiple key contributors for LSU football, including star defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo and tight end Mason Taylor, will not participate in spring practices due to injuries, LSU coach Brian Kelly told The Advocate on Tuesday.
Along with Wingo and Taylor, Syracuse transfer cornerback Darian Chestnut, running back Armoni Goodwin, center Charles Turner and West Virginia transfer defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson will be out for the entire spring. Kelly also confirmed On3 Sports’ report last week that Alabama transfer wide receiver Aaron Anderson would be out for the spring following a knee procedure.
Joining Maason Smith, freshman five-star signee Da’Shawn Womack will also be a non-contact participant this spring because of a shoulder injury.
“Those guys are all trending to be back in late May, early June,” Kelly said to The Advocate. “They’re not going to miss any of our summer program. We needed to get these guys taken care of and we felt like getting it done now and not waiting.”
Taylor’s absence is due to undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, while Anderson will also have thumb surgery after already having a knee procedure. Kelly also said that Jefferson is out due to a shoulder injury and Wingo has shoulder and core muscle injuries.
The rash of injuries LSU faces will likely affect what it can work on this spring, especially with its offensive and defensive lines.
None of LSU’s offensive line signees are enrolled for the spring semester, according to 247Sports. And after the Tigers lost four offensive linemen to the transfer portal and starting guard Anthony Bradford to the NFL Draft, they were already entering this offseason light on bodies when including a healthy Turner and the freshmen.
On the defensive line, not having Wingo and Jefferson available diminishes the depth of a unit that will only have four healthy scholarship defensive tackles this spring.
“We’re down some key players on the defense and the offensive line in terms of numbers,” Kelly said. “That puts us in a situation where we have to be really careful in terms of how we articulate between the offense and defensive line.”
