LSU vs. Arkansas: Ranking the Top 15 Playmakers on the Field

When LSU and Arkansas take the field Friday, both teams will showcase some of the best football players in the country.

With all of the implications on the line in this Battle for the Boot, you better believe players are going to be bringing their A-games and looking to make that game-changing play.

From Arkansas’ outstanding receivers to LSU’s remarkable secondary, there’s no shortage of playmakers in this matchup.

With stakes higher than they’ve ever been between these two teams, these are top 15 playmakers that will be on the field come this Friday.

Honerable Mention

Michael Ford

Michael Ford is the Tigers’ second-leading rusher on the year with 625 yards and seven touchdowns.

Barkevious Mingo

Barkevious Mingo provides speed off the edge, and the Tigers will need him to cause havoc in the backfield and disrupt Tyler Wilson.

Brad Wing

He has the most swagger on the team, and he’s a constant game-changer in every single game. Wing has to keep the ball away from Joe Adams and continue to land punts inside the 20-yard line.

Broderick Green

Part of Arkansas’ three-man rushing attack. The Hogs like to use him near the goal line because of his power.

Greg Childs

Before getting injured last season, Greg Childs was the Hogs best wide receiver. Fans have been waiting all season long for Childs to break out, and this could very well be the game.

15. Dennis Johnson

Dennis Johnson seems like he’s back to 100 percent, and that doesn’t bode well for the Tigers.

After dealing with a bowel injury last season and a few nagging injuries here and there, he’s now running the ball like one of the best running backs in the league.

Johnson leads the Hogs in rushing this season with 606 yards and has three touchdowns. He’s also a dangerous return man as well.

14. Odell Beckham

Odell Beckham is LSU’s equivalent to Joe Adams.

Beckham has shifty moves in the open and provides the Tigers with great returns and outstanding runs after the catch.

Beckham is the Tigers’ second-leading receiver on the season with 410 yards, and he has two touchdowns.

13. Jake Bequette

Before getting injured this year, Jake Bequette was acknowledged as one of the best defensive linemen in the SEC.

Now that he’s back, he’s starting to reassert his dominance play, and the Hogs are benefiting from it tremendously.

The past two games, the Hogs have given up a total of 24 points, and going against a stout defense like LSU, they’ll have to come up big once again.

This is where Bequette comes in to play.

12. Cobi Hamilton

There’s no getting around it—Cobi Hamilton killed LSU last year with some long passing plays.

He’s a dynamic receiver who has earned more playing time this season, while Greg Childs has been overcoming his patellar tendon injury he suffered last season.

Hamilton is another great receiver that the Hogs have at hand, and he could provide more long receptions for the Hogs in this game Friday

11. Sam Montgomery

Perhaps, LSU’s best defensive lineman, Sam Montgomery, has had one heckuva season.

Montgomery is third in the SEC in sacks with six, and he has provided solid play up front for the Tigers all season long.

The Tigers will need to get pressure on Wilson, so it’s up to Montgomery and the guys on the defensive line to do their part.

10. Jordan Jefferson

You have to give the devil his due.

Jordan Jefferson has played a lot better than he played a year ago, and he has to continue to play at a high level.

Jefferson is a dual-threat quarterback that can hurt defenses with both his arm and his feet, and he’s coming off one of his best performances last week.

Jefferson completed all seven of his passes and had a passing touchdown. JJ just might be heating up and could very well have a monstrous game against the Razorbacks.

9. Jerry Franklin

Jerry Franklin has led the Arkansas Razorbacks in tackles every season that he’s been played, and that’s one amazing feat.

Franklin is not only a tackling machine, but he’s not too bad when it comes to covering as well. The Tigers' offense will have to account for Franklin every time they line up to run another play.

8. Rueben Randle

Rueben Randle has become the wide receiver that LSU fans knew he could be the minute he stepped on campus.

Randle provides that deep threat that makes opponents respect the passing game to go along with that vicious rushing attack.

Randle leads the Tigers in receiving yards with 755 and has eight touchdowns. Rest assured, the Tigers will be looking deep to Randle on multiple occasions this Friday.

7. Spencer Ware

Spencer Ware is a big, physical back that has rocked just about every defense he has faced this season.

He’s the focal point of the offense, and he gives the Tigers that physical running game they need to “Ware” down defenses.

So far this season, Ware has 650 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, but he’s just one of LSU’s running back trio.

6. Jarius Wright

Jarius Wright leads the Hogs in receiving with over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdown receptions.

Since the beginning of the season, he suddenly emerged as Tyler Wilson’s favorite target, and he’s leading the SEC in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

Don’t be surprised to see Wilson targeting No. 4 throughout the game.

5. Eric Reid

If (and it’s seeming like a big if right now) Eric Reid plays, he will be one of the premiere playmakers on the field.

Reid is questionable after suffering an injury against the Ole Miss Rebels last week. When it comes to his play-making ability though, I don’t have to sell you on Eric Reid’s ability to affect a game.

All I have to do is show you highlights of the LSU game against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Reid laid the wood on Trent Richardson on multiple occasions and made an amazing interception to keep LSU in the thick of things.

In another top-five matchup coming up, odds are Reid makes another game-changing play.

4. Tyler Wilson

Tyler Wilson has evolved into quite an efficient quarterback.

With so many weapons at his hands, Wilson is dangerous with his accurate passes and pinpoint long balls.

Wilson has completed 63 percent of his passes, thrown for over 3,200 yards and has 21 touchdowns with five interceptions.

Take a look at this video of Wilson coming into the game against the Auburn Tigers after Ryan Mallet was injured. It shows exactly why Wilson could very well be considered the most dangerous man on the field.

3. Mo Claiborne

He could change the game with an interception, or he could take a kickoff to the house.

Whichever the case may be, Mo Claiborne has proved throughout this season that he’s an impact player. His interception against Alabama a few weeks ago was a big momentum shift, and it helped the Tigers win the football game.

Another classic case of Claiborne being a showstopper.

2. Tyrann Mathieu

The Honey Badger has cooled down after his suspension, but he’s still capable of causing a turnover.

In just his sophomore season, he broke Ali Highsmith's forced fumbles record in school history, and talks of winning a Heisman seemed possible early on.

This guy has football instincts like none other at the college football level, and should the Razorbacks target him, he’s more than capable of making them regret it.

1. Joe Adams

The most dangerous man on the field in the “Battle for the Boot” is without a doubt Joe Adams.

If you’re LSU, you have to make another player beat you. Anyone but Adams.

A dazzling punt return from Adams or an amazing run filled with broken tackles and jukes is all that Arkansas sideline needs to erupt.

Adams is the spark that the Hogs will need to pull off the upset in Baton Rouge. He’s just one shifty move away from changing the entire postseason picture.