BATON ROUGE, La. -- Here are things to know as LSU starts spring practice:
Practice dates: March 14, 15, 16, 19, 21, 23 (scrimmage), 25, 26 and 28. After spring break, resumes April 9, 11, 13 (scrimmage), 16, 18 and 20 (spring game).
What's new: Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron will install his new offense, and four new starters will man the defensive line.
What's old: The Tigers have eight returning starters on offense, led by quarterback Zach Mettenberger.
Offensive outlook:
Starters returning (8): QB Mettenberger, RB Jeremy Hill, FB J.C. Copeland, WR Jarvis Landry, WR Odell Beckham, LT La'el Collins (moved from left guard), LG Josh Williford (moved from right guard), RG Trai Turner, RT Vadal Alexander.
New starters: TE Dillon Gordon or Logan Stokes, C Elliott Porter. Key reserves -- QB Stephen Rivers, RBs Alfred Blue, Kenny Hilliard and Terrance Magee, FB Connor Neighbors, LT Jerald Hawkins, RG Fehoko Fanaika, RT Ethan Pocic, WR James Wright, Kadron Boone, John Diarse and Travin Dural, TE Travis Dickson.
Defensive outlook:
Starters returning (4): MLB Lamin Barrow (moved from WLB), SLB Kwon Alexander, Tahj Jones and Lamar Louis (all three started at least one game in 2012), SS Craig Loston, CB Jalen Mills.
New starters: DEs Jermauria Rasco and either Jordan Allen or Danielle Hunter, DTs Anthony Johnson and Ego Ferguson, CB Jalen Collins (nickelback in 2012), FS Corey Thompson or Ronald Martin. Key reserves -- DT Quentin Thomas, Mickey Johnson and Christian LaCouture, LBs Deion Jones, Lorenzo Phillips and D.J. Welter, S-Dime Micah Eugene, CBs Dwayne Thomas and Derrick Raymond.
Special Teams outlook:
Starters returning (3): KO specialist James Hairston, PR Beckham, LS Reid Ferguson.
New starters: PK Hairston, Colby Delahoussaye or Trent Domingue, P Jamie Keehn.
What's missing? LSU has eight of its 27 2013 signees in camp, leaving 19 who won't participate until August, including many potential early impact players like CB Tre'Davious White, TE DeSean Smith, DT Greg Gilmore, DE Frank Herron and athlete Jeryl Brazil (who recently won a national prep championship in the 60-meter dash). Also, LSU is without injured reserve QB Rob Bolden and injured DE Justin Maclin.