Former LSU Head Coach Nick Saban Announces Retirement
A tip of the cap to one of the greatest to ever do it.

The collegiate football world was turned upside down when former LSU head coach Nick Saban announced he would be resigning.

Saban coached at LSU from 2000-2004 and helped rebuild the football program. After the doldrums that was Curley Hallman and Gerry DiNardo, Saban awoke the sleeping giant potential that LSU had.

The Tigers under Saban went 48-16 and won the 2003 BCS National Championship. LSU overcame Oklahoma 21-14 to earn its second ever championship, and the program’s first since 1958. LSU also won two SEC Championships under Saban as well as the 2002 Sugar Bowl, where the Tigers beat Illinois 47-34.

Saban departed LSU for the NFL following the 2004 season to coach the Miami Dolphins, and as far as I’m aware he’s been there ever since? It’s a shame he left LSU and the college game so early, who knows what he could have accomplished had he stayed. Oh well!

 

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LSU DL Maason Smith Declares For 2024 NFL Draft

 

LSU DL Maason Smith Declares For 2024 NFL Draft
Smith left Baton Rouge after three seasons, dials in for next chapter of his football life.
LSU defensive tackle Maason Smith has officially declared for the 2024 NFL Draft after three seasons in Baton Rouge.

Smith, a former five-star prospect out of Louisiana, closes off his LSU career after playing just two seasons with the Bayou Bengals, missing the 2022 season after sustaining a torn ACL in the season opener.

In 2023, he tallied 28 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two pass breakups in 12 games.

Before the season, Smith told the media of his journey to get back to 100%.

 

“There have been ups and downs, but the last couple of weeks I’ve been steadily getting better,” Smith said. “For me it was just getting back to who I am and who I know I can be. It was simply taking the rust off and now with coach Jenkins teaching me solid technique and how to act and think right it will go a long way for me. I’m satisfied to know I’m prepared now.”

Smith was a 2021 Freshman All-American. He totaled 19 tackles, 5.0 tackles for a loss and 4.0 sacks in nine games played.

Smith joins LSU DT Mekhi Wingo and Jordan Jefferson as interior defensive lineman to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Wingo, who started the first seven games of the season, sustained a season-ending injury, but returned for the Tigers’ ReliaQuest Bowl showdown on Jan. 1.

The heartbeat of LSU’s defensive line had 25 tackles, five tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks on the season. He had three tackles and two sacks against Wisconson in the 35-31 win on Monday to give LSU a 10-win season.

For Wingo, it was an amazing two-year stint in Baton Rouge. After transferring to LSU from Missouri in 2022, he earned Second Team All-SEC accolades on his route to winning over the Tigers locker room.

Fast forward to his second season in Death Valley and Wingo was granted the coveted No. 18 jersey for the purple and gold.

In 2021 at Missouri, Wingo tallied 27 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and an interception he returned for a touchdown against North Texas.

During his senior campaign at DeSmet High School, Wingo totaled 54 tackles as a senior in a COVID-shortened 2020 season. That followed a fantastic 2019 season when he produced 97 tackles including 29 for loss and 15 sacks.

Now, he’s heading to the NFL Draft after a standout college year with both Missouri and LSU.