LSU Football: 4 Players with the Most to Gain in Spring Practices

LSU head coach Les Miles cannot wait until March 7. The date marks the first day of spring practice, which will allow Miles to evaluate his 2015 Tigers for the first time.

To the excitement of Miles, he will not have to deal with as much roster turnover as in years past. LSU only had three early entries into the NFL draft. The Tigers did also lose some major senior contributors, but they are well-equipped to fill the holes.

Spring practice will be a crucial time for players who were backups last season. They can show why they deserve to be starters or rotation players next season.

The competition will be intense on both sides of the ball as Miles and his staff will search for players they can trust.

The pressure on Miles to improve on LSU's mediocre 8-5 record is immense. Last season was the first since 2009 when the Tigers failed to win at least 10 games.

Here are four players who can help get LSU back to 10-plus wins next season. But first, they must take a major leap forward this spring.

Brandon Harris

Butch Dill/Associated Press

LSU quarterback Brandon Harris attempts to evade the Auburn pass rush.

LSU needs better quarterback play next season.

Anthony Jennings started 12 of 13 games last season for the Tigers. He finished the season having completed fewer than half of his passes and only eclipsed 200 passing yards once in a game.

Brandon Harris was only given one start against Auburn to relieve the Tigers of their quarterback mediocrity. Harris performed awfully, completing only three of 14 passes. He was only allowed to throw one pass for the rest of the season.

Miles inexplicably did not give Harris more opportunities to play as Jennings floundered to close the season. The true freshman's flashes of brilliance against Mississippi State and New Mexico State should give Tiger fans hope for the future.

Miles said to expect another close quarterback battle this spring.

“This will be a very competitive spring,” Miles said, per Ross Dellenger of The Advocate. “Out of spring, I’d like to pick another starter. It could be Anthony. It could be, certainly, Brandon. Competition will have to continue there.”

Jennings and Harris will enter spring practice as equals. Harris has a stronger arm and better escapability. There is no reason for him to not win the job this spring.

Trey Quinn

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LSU receiver Trey Quinn crowdsurfs after the Tigers defeated Ole Miss last season.

LSU should feel ecstatic about its future at wide receiver. The Tigers will return Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre as a dangerous 1-2 punch.

The battle for the No. 3 receiver will be a fierce one in spring. Trey Quinn primarily played the role early in the season, but he was eventually surpassed by John Diarse.

Quinn caught 17 passes compared to Diarse's 15, but Diarse did more with the balls thrown his way, as he scored three touchdowns and averaged more than 18 yards per catch.

Quinn must use spring practices to prove he is a reliable receiver who can make plays downfield. He also must add some extra bulk to his frame to make him a more dangerous threat over the middle.

Time could be running out for Quinn as well, as talented incoming freshman receivers Derrick Dillon and Tyron Johnson will be stepping on campus in the fall. The sophomore must prove himself as a critical component of the offense in the spring if he wants to stay in the receiving rotation.

Clifton Garrett

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LSU linebacker Clifton Garrett

It was shocking that 2014 5-star linebacker Clifton Garrett barely saw the field last season.

Garrett could not crack LSU's linebacker rotation, especially after Kendell Beckwith took a stronghold of the middle linebacker position. However, the redshirt freshman should have new life with new defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Kevin Steele.

Returning starter Lamar Louis said LSU could be playing more 3-4 next season under Steele, per The Advocate's Dellenger. The 3-4 scheme would call for one more linebacker on the field than in LSU's traditional 4-3 defense, which could create an opening for Garrett to exploit.

Garrett has more than enough raw ability to be a starter in the SEC. If he takes advantage of his opportunities this spring, he will be in the rotation for the Tigers.

Kevin Toliver II

LSU's highest-rated prospect in the 2015 class is 5-star cornerback Kevin Toliver II. To the happiness of Miles, Toliver II is an early enrollee and will participate in spring practice.

The Tigers are loaded in the secondary, as experienced playmakers Tre'Davious White, Jamal Adams, Jalen Mills, Dwayne Thomas and Rickey Jefferson all return. John Battle, Ed Paris and Devin Voorhies will also be fiercely competing to prove themselves worthy of playing time.

Despite the logjam in the secondary, Toliver II is talented enough to work his way into the rotation this spring. He is a physical corner who is not afraid to be physical in press man coverage.

Defensive backs coach Corey Raymond will give Toliver II ample opportunities to prove himself against LSU's talented receivers. He will also get some looks on nearly every LSU special teams unit.

Stats, rankings and additional information provided by cfbstats.com, ESPN.com and LSUSports.net. Recruiting information provided by 247Sports.

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