The 2022 version of the Preseason Coaches All-SEC Football Teams was released on Tuesday the week that college football will kickoff with week zero on Saturday. Four LSU Tigers were voted by all 14 of the SEC coaches on who they thought were the best players in the conference. Here are those four players that were featured on the list:
First-Team Offense–Kayshon Boutte, WR
Boutte is earning his preseason respect coming off a 2021 season that was dealt with an injury. He was listed on the Preseason All-SEC Team by the media during SEC Media days and a selection for the AP All-American team.
The New Iberia, Louisiana showed what he was capable of in his freshman year with the purple and gold racking up 735 receiving yards and five touchdowns. His breakout game came in the regular season finale in 2020 where he set the SEC record with 308 receiving yards on 14 receptions for three touchdowns.
Boutte entered the 2021 season with a lot of expectations from a stellar freshman season, but last season would be cut short due to an ankle injury he suffered against Kentucky. Despite missing out on half of the season, he still led the Tigers in receiving yards (509) and touchdowns (9). The sky will be the limit for Boutte heading into 2022 as LSU will have a new face at quarterback.
All-SEC First-Team Defense–B.J. Ojulari, DL
Like Boutte, Ojulari has received several preseason accolades for his performance and leadership on the field. He would receive the honors to continue the No. 18 tradition by Brian Kelly. The star defensive lineman goes into the 2022 season on the preseason All-American and All-SEC teams.
The Marietta, Georgia native stepped onto the scene in Baton Rouge creating havoc on the defensive line in his freshman season in 2020. Ojulari would play in all 10 games on the Tiger defense. He would add 16 tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss.
In 2021, Ojulari would continue his growth with LSU as he led all defensive lineman with 55 tackles. He would also lead the purple and gold in sacks with 7.0 and ranked second the team for loss with 11.5. The defensive line will be one of the strong suits for LSU heading into the 2022 season and will be one of the best units in the conference.
All-SEC Second-Team Defense–Ali Gaye, DL
Gaye announced in the offseason that he was going to be returning for his fifth year for the Tigers. He will be one of the best defensive lineman heading into the 2022 season and will be on one of the most veteran defensive fronts in the conference.
The Lynnwood, Washington native played at Garden City Community College before stepping on LSU’s campus. He would rack up 44 tackles, one sack, a pass breakup and two blocked kicks.
Gaye would transfer to LSU after the 2019 season. The fifth-year senior would be a starter on the defensive line heading into the 2020 season. He would finish the 2020 season with 32 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. The star defensive lineman would be receive honors on the second-team All-SEC team.
Gaye would also see action in four games for the Tigers. In that shortened season, Gaye would pick up 19 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
All-SEC Third-Team Defense–Jaquelin Roy, DL
Roy will be in prime position to have a breakout season in his junior year heading into the 2022 season. He has been a starter on the defensive line in one game during his first two season with LSU.
The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native appeared in nine games with the Tigers during his freshman season in 2020. Roy would record 18 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. He would also add a pair of quarterback hurries.
The potential for breakout showed during the 2021 season. Roy picked up 30 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He would add on a pair of fumbles and a forced fumble during his sophomore season. Roy has been coming in off the bench being apart of the LSU defensive line rotation. Expect him to put up big numbers this upcoming season.
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