The best defensive tackle for LSU football was Jacobian Guillory.
Coach Brian Kelly of LSU, speaking following the Tigers’ 44-21 victory over Nicholls State on Saturday, at least stated that about the fifth-year senior. A vital component of the defense against the run was Guillory, who tore his Achilles in the first quarter.
He was a rock for us, Kelly remarked on Monday. “Big, physical, point-of-attack guy.”
Guillory contributed to the Tigers’ season-opening defeat in Las Vegas by limiting Southern Cal to 69 yards on 23 tries. In a room with only one other returning player from the previous season, he was the veteran.
Kelly said that discussions about Guillory sitting out this season as a medical redshirt and coming back in 2025 have started between LSU and his family. However, now that his 2024 campaign is gone, LSU must find an unproven replacement to take the place of one of its key players up front.
“We’ve got some ideas about how we can do things with our front that can make up for his loss,” Kelly said.
LSU was not hesitant to switch around men at defensive tackle, even with Guillory starting. To cover for Guillory and fellow starter Gio Paez against USC, freshmen Ahmad Breaux, Jay’viar Suggs, a transfer from Grand Valley State, and Jalen Lee all saw action.
Guillory was only able to play six snaps on Saturday due to an injury that occurred early in the game, according to Pro Football Focus. This created space for Shone Washington, a junior college transfer who, according to Kelly, was not initially scheduled to play versus Nicholls.
Considering that Washington had been a member of LSU’s scout squad for the first three weeks of preseason practice, Kelly was thrilled with what he observed from him. LSU will look to Washington as “the first guy” to fill Guillory’s open snaps.
“Seeing that was fantastic,” Kelly remarked. “Once Shone is able to do the things that he did on Saturday, that helps us a lot in trying to find another 15-20 reps.”
According to Kelly, LSU still has to cover 15 to 20 open snaps as a result of Washington’s elevation. The Tigers will need to think outside the box to close that hole.
Kelly brought up the possibility of inserting Dominick McKinley, a former five-star recruit, into the starting lineup. McKinley was not on the first or second team in the preseason and hasn’t played a snap in the last two games.
Kelly also mentioned the notion of converting one of the edge rushers to defensive tackle. The Tigers’ most flexible defensive lineman and third edge rusher, Paris Shand, has some experience at the position.
Without Guillory, LSU will need to play a different up front strategy, according to Kelly. Being compelled to do so might have some disadvantages, but it might also have some advantages.
Rushing the passer, for instance, was not Guillory’s strongest point. The pass rush would benefit from additional playing time for a player like Suggs, whose agility can aid in applying pressure to quarterbacks.
“Jacobian was a very technically sound, physically strong football player,” Kelly added. “We know what he wasn’t as well, but you already know what you’re missing in that regard. He would be the first to admit it, he wasn’t a particularly good pass rusher.”
Kelly seems to be optimistic that LSU can find a suitable replacement for the experienced insider, though.
“You’re losing a very strong inside presence to your defense,” Kelly said, “and so you’ve got to look at who can make up for that.”
