LSU will be starting its fifth different offensive line combination in as many weeks when it hosts Ole Miss on Saturday night.
Left guard Garrett Brumfield will miss at least this week with a left knee injury, LSU coach Ed Orgeron announced at his Monday press conference. The coach didn’t provide a specific timetable for the senior to return.
“We don’t know when Garrett is going to be back,” Orgeron said. “I don’t know that. I don’t know when he’s going to be back.”
True freshman Chasen Hines will make his first career start in Brumfield’s place against Ole Miss. He’s replaced Brumfield for parts of the past two games when the veteran has gone down with various injuries.
Orgeron credited the job done by both Hines and Badara Traore filling in as the left side of the line became a makeshift unit. LSU ran for 240 yards and five touchdowns in the win over Louisiana Tech.
“Chasen Hines has been a plus,” Orgeron said. “He’s played well, and he’s probably going to have to start for us this week. He’s done a good job. He’s made some mistakes, but he’s big and he’s physical. He can handle the physical task and he’s handled the mental task so far.”
Staying on the injury front, left tackle Saahdiq Charles and reserve tackle Adrian Magee are both questionable to play against Ole Miss. Charles didn’t play against Louisiana Tech due to an undisclosed injury while Magee has been out since the season opener.
LSU obviously would like to get Charles back in the lineup to protect Joe Burrow’s blindside. Orgeron said last week that Magee, who started the Miami game at right tackle, would have to earn his playing time as Austin Deculus has made consecutive starts at the position.
The last two healthy linemen standing are center Lloyd Cushenberry and right guard Damien Lewis, a pair of first-year starters. This MASH unit up front is beginning to feel like deja vu to the injuries LSU dealt with up front in the middle of last season.
“That’s how it is, what can you do about it?” Cushenberry said. “We’ve still got to play. We’ve still got a great opponent coming in next week. Some guys are going to have to step up.”
LSU-UF KICKOFF TIME
LSU and Florida will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT in Gainesville next Saturday and the game will be broadcast on CBS, the Southeastern Conference announced Monday morning.
The annual cross-division rivalry match will be televised by CBS for the 10th time since 2005, including five of the past seven games played in Gainesville.
LSU has won six of its past eight meetings against Florida, including last year’s. This will be the second consecutive year the game is played in Gainesville.
LSU IN THE POLLS
LSU moved into the top-five of a major poll for the first time this season.
The Tigers are now No. 5 in the AP Poll, moving up one spot. LSU leapfrogged Oklahoma, which needed overtime to beat Army at home.
Meanwhile LSU maintained status quo and remained at No. 6 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
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