Notebook: Jack Gonsoulin wins LSU place kicking competition

By JAMES MORAN | Tiger Rag Associate Editor

Jack Gonsoulin has won LSU’s place kicker competition — again.

The walk-on kicker won the job from Connor Culp during a week-long competition in practice, LSU coach Ed Orgeron announced Thursday evening. He’ll get first ups as the Tigers head to Starkville to take on Mississippi State Saturday night.

“We had a competition to see who’ll kick field goals. Jack Gonsoulin won,” the coach said. “So he’ll go out there and be the first guy to kick field goals.”

Gonsoulin won the job out of fall camp but lost it after missing field goals wide in each of LSU’s first two games. He made two kicks, both from inside of 30 yards, and missed on two attempts from outside of 30 yards.

Culp went 1-for-2 kicking field goals against UT-Chattanooga, coming up short on a 47-yard try and connecting from 45 yards out. LSU hasn’t yet made a decision on whether Culp will travel.

Orgeron said Gonsoulin made a higher percentage of kicks in practice this week and was the better kicker during practice on Tuesday and Thursday.

“He won,” Orgeron said.

Does that mean the coach has fewer concerns about his kicking game than he did at the start of the week? Well, that much is yet to be determined.

“I’ll tell you Sunday morning,” he deadpanned. “I hope Jack can get it done. I have confidence that he had a good week and hopefully can be more consistent, but he’s got to show me.”

NOTES

– Ed Ingram will once again start at right guard and fellow freshman Saahdiq Charles will rotate in, Orgeron said.

– Running back Darrel Williams will play, Orgeron said. He was spotted in a gold non-contact jersey during media viewing portions of practice this week.

– Frank Herron, Donavaughn Campbell, Kristian Fulton and Caleb Roddy won’t travel to Mississippi State, Orgeron said. They’re “not available right now,” he added.

– LSU still isn’t any closer to being able to deploy four wide receiver formations, Orgeron said. “That’s why we need some great receivers in this recruiting class.”

– On the subject of recruiting, Orgeron said the LSU staff won’t spend Friday recruiting this week as it had the previous two. LSU will be staying in Tupelo, Miss.