Orgeron: LSU tight end Thaddeus Moss to make debut Saturday against Louisiana Tech

It looks like transfer tight end Thaddeus Moss will make his long-awaited LSU debut this Saturday as head coach Ed Orgeron said he expects him to play during Wednesday’s SEC Media Teleconference.

Moss transferred to LSU from NC State in 2017 and redshirted his sophomore season due to NCAA transfer rules, and he missed the first three games due to injury.

“Thaddeus Moss looks like he will be able to play,” Orgeron said during the teleconference. “We need him. We need some tight ends. … It’s going to be up to (offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger), but I look forward to him playing and making some plays Saturday.”

He also said he expects outside linebacker Ray Thornton to play against Louisiana Tech after suffering an injury in the opening kickoff in LSU’s 22-21 victory against Auburn last Saturday.

Thornton practiced in a gold non-contact jersey on Tuesday, so his status for Satruday’s game was up still up in the air until the teleconference.

“He got hit pretty good, but I think he’ll be okay for the game Saturday.” Orgeron said of Thornton.

The Tigers got a bit beat up in a game against Auburn that Orgeron referred to as a “war” during Monday’s press conference, but he continues to be confident that none of the injuries suffered last Saturday will prove serious enough to limit play of significant players moving forward.

NOTES AND QUOTES

• Orgeron took time to brag on some of his younger players making an impact earlier in the season. In particular he pointed out the play of sophomore outside linebacker Andre Anthony, freshman offensive guard Chasen Hines, place kicker Avery Atkins and junior wide receivers Stephen Sullivan and Dee Anderson: “I thought those guys played fantastic against Auburn. They build depth on our football team.”
• Orgeron said he thinks highly of Louisiana Tech and its head coach Skip Holtz. The two have worked together at camps and know each other well, and Orgeron thinks Holtz has built quite the program up in Ruston: “Skip Holtz has done a tremendous job with his program. They have excellent, skilled athletes… and they’re very well coached.
• He didn’t mention him by name, but Orgeron seemed to point out Louisiana Tech defensive tackle Jordan Bradford as a threat. He referred to a great pass rusher, which Bradford has proven to be through two games, racking up 16 total tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.
• Asked about how the offense is evolving: “We want to be more of a spread offense. It takes awhile to make that transition. You’ve been such a pro-style offense all your life. You want to go to the spread, but you still hold onto some old ideas that you won’t let go of. I think we’re seeing that. We’re spreading the ball a lot more and becoming more of a spread offense.”