LSU Football: Early Look at Tigers 2015 Roster

LSU head coach Les Miles should be ecstatic about his team's future.

The Tigers were a young team in 2014 that showed flashes of excellence. They will return an abundance of talent on both sides of the ball next season that should challenge for an SEC crown.

Miles will be under immense pressure. The Tigers have not been to the SEC Championship Game since 2011, and this will be the first season since 2009 in which he's failed to reach a double-digit victory total. 

Coaches can only do so much, though. Players are what win championships. 

Here is an early preview on how the 2015 LSU Tigers will look. 

Offense

The first order of business will be quarterback. Will LSU be led next season by Anthony Jennings or Brandon Harris?

Jennings and Harris' struggles in 2014 are well-documented. It is unlikely either will be named the starter in the spring, so fans must be prepared for more quarterback purgatory. 

LSU's backfield will lose running backs Terrence Magee and Kenny Hilliard as well as fullback Connor Neighbors, but the Tigers will be just fine without their services. Their departures, though, increase the pressure on Leonard Fournette to carry the load. 

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Fournette rushed for 891 yards and eight touchdowns in the regular season. The expectations for next season will be a run for the Heisman Trophy. 

Fournette will have help, as running back Darrel Williams and fullback Melvin Jones return. The Tigers also have 2015 4-star prospects Derrius Guice and Nick Brossette committed to LSU. Guice and Brossette both posses the talent to contribute right away. 

Travin Dural led all receivers in catches, yards and touchdowns. Miles breathed a huge sigh of relief when Dural said he would return next season, per WBRZ's Michael Cauble:

"

LSU WR Travin Dural says he'll be back next season, even though he's draft eligible. @LSUfball

— Michael Cauble (@MichaelCauble) December 16, 2014"

The Tigers will have promising freshmen Malachi Dupre, Trey Quinn and John Diarse returning as well, with Dupre having the most star potential. His 5-star talent flashed throughout the season, evidenced by his five touchdown receptions.

LSU has a receiver commitment from 4-star Jazz Ferguson, but the coaching staff has its sights set on bigger prospects. The Tigers are in the running for 5-star talents Tyron Johnson and Damarkus Lodge. 

Miles will have to replace senior All-SEC left tackle La'el Collins and center Elliott Porter. There is an outside shot right tackle Jerald Hawkins and left guard Vadal Alexander declare for the NFL. 

Offensive line coach Jeff Grimes will have to decide if he wants to make returning starter Ethan Pocic a center or keep him at right guard. Either way, expect Will Clapp, Garrett Brumfield, K.J. Malone, Andy Dodd and Jonah Austin to be in the mix. There is a chance incoming 5-star freshman Maea Teuhema could start right away. 

Defense

LSU's defensive line in 2015 will be a mystery.

The Tigers will return starting defensive tackle duo of Davon Godchaux and Christian LaCouture. Quentin Thomas should provide some depth. 

Defensive line coach Brick Haley will look to develop more depth at the position. Maquedius Bain, Greg Gilmore, Frank Herron and Travonte Valentine must take a step forward to help the unit. 

Haley will lose productive senior defensive end Jermauria Rasco, and junior Danielle Hunter could leave as well. Hunter's decision will weigh heavily on the Tigers. Backups Tashawn Bower, Lewis Neal, Sione Teuhema and Deondre Clark did little though on limited snaps. 

LSU only has one defensive line 2015 commit in 3-star defensive end Isaiah Washington. Haley will hit the recruiting trail hard after bowl season with his sights set on 5-star defensive tackle and Texas A&M commit Daylon Mack. Barton Simmons of 247Sports believes the Tigers have a chance at getting Mack to Baton Rouge. 

LSU will return middle linebacker Kendell Beckwith, who has had a spectacular season since taking over the position from D.J. Welter. Weak-side linebacker Kwon Alexander has been even better as the team's leading tackler, but the junior could enter the NFL draft in the offseason. 

Lamar Louis will likely return as the strong-side linebacker, which leaves defensive coordinator and linebacker coach John Chavis only looking for one possible replacement starter. Duke Riley and Deion Jones have played well in their limited time given. 

The player to keep an eye on is 2014 5-star recruit Clifton Garrett. Garrett redshirted this season and has the potential to crack the starting lineup. 

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

There is no excuse for LSU to not have the best secondary in college football next season. It is defensive backs coach Corey Raymond's job to best use his embarrassment of riches. 

Cornerback Tre'Davious White returns after a stellar sophomore campaign. Jalen Collins could declare for the NFL draft, but Ed Paris and Dwayne Thomas would step in just fine. Former starter Rashard Robinson is currently suspended, but his possible return to the lineup in 2015 would be an extra boost. 

Raymond's commits in the class of 2015 could also make a massive impact. In the above video, B/R's Barrett Sallee sees Kevin Toliver II as a future superstar, while Xavier Lewis proved to Michael Felder at "The Opening" he has elite ball skills and physicality. 

Raymond will lose starting free safety Ronald Martin. Junior Jalen Mills could possibly follow in Martin's footsteps. But the position will be in good hands regardless with sophomore Rickey Jefferson and dynamic freshman Jamal Adams.

Former LSU Heisman finalist Tyrann Mathieu has high hopes for Adams next season, per NFL.com:

"

Tyrann Mathieu: LSU freshman will be CFB's best safety in 2015. http://t.co/8RnnskPjDK pic.twitter.com/msAmAcgHqn

— CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) December 12, 2014"

Chavis loves to use his 3-2-6 "Mustang" package on passing downs, which requires six defensive backs on the field at once. He will have plenty of ammunition to choose from next season.

Special Teams

LSU will have an intense kicking competition.

Starting field-goal kicker Colby Delahoussaye had a shaky end to the regular season, which opens the door for kickoff specialists Trent Domingue and Cameron Gamble. Domingue and Gamble will also battle for the role of primary kickoff specialist.

Junior Jamie Keehn will return as the punter in 2015, with Domingue as his backup. Deep snapper Reid Ferguson will also come back for his senior season.

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

White and Fournette's roles as punt and kickoff returner could respectively change. Miles might not want to risk injury to arguably his two most important players.

Special teams coach Bradley Dale Peveto has a wide range of options to evaluate as returners. Peveto does, though, have the comfort in knowing most of his kick and punt teams featured underclassmen.    

Stats, rankings and additional information provided by cfbstats.com, ESPN.com and LSU Sports Information. Recruiting information provided by 247Sports.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow me on Twitter @CarterthePower.