LSU Football: Five Players Who Will Shine Against UNC

Les Miles needs to make a statement in the opener against the Tar Heels, keeping his foot on the gas and running up the score as much as possible. A route of the Tar Heels would be a great confidence booster for the inexperienced players and a chance to put LSU back in the national spotlight to prove that the past two seasons were anomalies and that the Tigers are a legitimate threat for the BCS Title each and every year.

The key to LSU's success in 2010 will be the play of a few select players, which will being on September 4th in the Georgia Dome.

WR Rueben Randle

Rueben Randle

The depleted secondary and loss of Marvin Austin on the defensive line should make life more comfortable for Jordan Jefferson and allow him time to go through progressions and find open recievers . With the defense having to account for Russell Shepard, Randal should have one on one matchups with UNC’s third cornerback which is a blatant mismatch.  Randal should exploit the Tar Heel secondary and put up eye-popping numbers.

RB Stevan Ridley

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 14: Quarterback Jarrett Lee #12 of the LSU Tigers hands off the ball to Stevan Ridley #34 during the game against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Tiger Stadium on November 14, 2009 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Tigers defeated

The Tar Heels will be without star defensive lineman Marvin Austin and linebackers Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant, giving the Tigers’ offensive line an advantage.  After a dismal 2009 season running the ball, Les Miles will be looking to reestablish the running game in Week One.  Ridley should touch the ball early and often.

LB Kelvin Sheppard

Kelvin Sheppard will continue his dominance in 2010

With 110 tackles in 2009, Sheppard was the leader on the Tiger defense.   If the Tiger offense jumps out to and early lead, look for the defense to pin their ears back and go after Tar Heel quarterback TJ Yates.  Sheppard will undoubtedly be the leading tackler again in 2010 and look for him to jump start his stats against an unsuspecting Tar Heel offense.

WR Russell Shepard

Russell Shepard could prove to be the difference-maker for the 2010 LSU Offense

With Billy Gonzales in as the Tiger’s new wide receiver coach, look for Shepard to be used in a very Percy Harvin-like fashion, touching the ball more on the majority of the Tigers’ offensive plays.   Wide receiver screens, quick slants, direct handoffs, and even direct snaps from the Wild Tiger formation will be common occurrences in 2010.  Look for Shepard to have 150+ all purpose yards almost every week, but especially in the season opener.

CB Patrick Peterson

Patrick Peterson will continue his shutdown ways at CB in 2010

Peterson is the most athletic and most NFL ready player on the LSU roster and he will be ready to secure his draft status in 2010.  UNC’s most consistent wide receiver, Greg Little, is probably going to be out due to NCAA investigations, so Peterson will be working against inferior talent.  With inconsistent T.J. Yates under center, Peterson could have a multiple interception game to kick off the 2010 season.  If nothing else, Peterson should shutdown one side of the field and let the safeties cheat to the other side.