Charles Turner, freshman Will Campbell stepping up on LSU offensive line

The LSU offensive line was one area that required immediate attention when Brian Kelly arrived as the Tigers’ new head coach. His staff has taken steps to remedy the problem.

Miles Frazier and Tre’Mond Shorts came aboard through the transfer portal, where at least one other veteran may be found before the fall.

That is not to say answers will not be coming from in-house options.

Charles Turner was once a 6-foot-4, 242-pound prospect in the 2019 class. Lloyd Cushenberry completed his days as a center that season, earning All-SEC honors and selection in the third round pick by the Broncos in the ’20 NFL Draft. Liam Shanahan transferred to Baton Rouge from Harvard to shore up the center spot.

During that time, Turner has come a long way and knows he has big shoes to fill.

“I work hard everyday and try to lock down the center job,” Turner stated. “That’s my main focus. I have to prove that I can play this position and that this will be my job.”

The Canton, Ohio native has awaited this opportunity, growing to 285 pounds. He has made overall improvements.

“Definitely physical development. I’ve gotten a lot stronger. I’ve gained a lot more weight over the last couple of years. When I was about 295 two years ago, I felt like (my weight) was a lot more sloppy. It was bad on my knees. This year I focused on more toning my body and instead of just eating, focusing on better eating habits and my body has gotten where I want it to be.”

His coaches have been pleasantly surprised by Turner’s commitment and overall skills.

“He’s athletic. He’s got athleticism at a position down the middle that requires a high IQ,” Kelly explained. “Quarterback, center, middle linebacker and safety, it shows itself in the NFL. You’re looking for somebody who can make all the calls, get us in on the right line calls and displays athleticism for the position that we like. He’s got a ways to go. He’s going to get some competition. He’s done a really nice job and he’s to be commended for that.”

Turner was ecstatic when Kelly was named head coach. The latter’s reputation of success while at Notre Dame included consistent top-level offensive line development.

“When he got the job, I said ‘Oh yeah He’s going to get this straight.’ I know his track record at Notre Dame, some of the best offensive lines in the country year in and year out. I felt the emphasis for him was come in and we’ll get better, help us have a stronger unit.”

At LSU, Turner has found himself in different spots along the line. He filled in for Cam Wire at left tackle, Ed Ingram at guard and Shanahan at center. Second-year offensive line coach Brad Davis has made sure that all candidates cross train and understand all positions up front.

“That helps us tremendously,” Turner stressed. “One man can go down, another can step in. He might have to play a different position to what he’s used to playing. He might be a center and they need him at tackle. So versatility will help us a lot.”

As for who else may become a new key contributor, onne of the new faces who has been the talk of the camp is 2022 signee and early enrollee Will Campbell.

“He’s doing tremendous as a freshman,” Turner said. “You don’t see many freshmen like him. He’s very physically ready to play the game. There are things that he has to work on. There are things that everyone has to work on. But at the end of the day I feel like he can help us.”

Campbell can not be counted out even at left tackle despite being a true freshman. Kelly noted that the process to rebuild the offensive line began to take shape when the staff showed confidence in the 6-foot-6, 310 product of Neville High School.

“Some pieces are starting to come together there,” Kelly said. “We moved Campbell to left tackle. He’s done a real nice job there. It gives us more flexibility. It’s starting to come together. Turner has done a nice job at center. That offensive line is starting to show a little consistency. It all started when we decided to put Campbell at the left tackle position and things kind of fell into place from there.”

Campbell seems to possess the same traits of some who preceded him who demonstrated special qualities. He appears to have that special innate quality that sets him apart in terms of physical and mental toughness.

“Emotional maturity. Generally you come in as a freshman, you don’t know where thei emotional maturity is,” Kelly continued. “Sometimes if a freshman gets beat on a play, can they come back to (succeed) the next play? It’s just emotional maturity that (Campbell) just moves on to the next play. It’s just emotional maturity that he carries as a freshman that’s made him a guy that we can plug in. You don’t know until you do it. He’s going to have some failures, to see how he handles himself. He just bounces back and gets after it. That’s what we’ve seen already. We wanted to make sure that he had that maturity and we saw it. It’s time for him to get in there.”

There’s a long way to go until the season opener but Campbell and Turner may be starting for the Tigers in the Caesars Superdome.

ROOKIE SENSATIONS

If Campbell draws a starting assignment against Florida State in the season opener or down the road during the course of the 2022 campaign, he will join a noteworthy fraternity of players who started for the Tigers on the offensive line as true or redshirt freshmen. Some, as you’d expect, are among the best players in school history.

Andrew Whitworth is considered the premiere left tackle in school history. “Whit” started 13 games as a redshirt freshman, participating in 884 plays. He was flagged only seven times that season (2002) and graded 85% or better. He was named 1st team Freshman All American. He set an LSU record with 52 starts, never missing a game or practice due to injury. He missed only one college practice (due to graduation) in December 2005. The inevitable Pro Football Hall of Famer recorded 235 NFL starts during 16 seasons and was twice named All-Pro.

Alan Faneca started as a redshirt freshman offensive guard in 2005 and was tabbed the SEC’s freshman of the year. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021, he started 201 NFL contests and was a six-time All-Pro.

Will Clapp, set to enter his fifth NFL season with the Saints, started 12 games at offensive guard in 2012 as a redshirt freshman. In 776 snaps, the Brother Martin porduct made 88 knockdowns and did not allow a sack.

Trai Turner, as a redshirt freshman in 2012, made seven starts at right guard. His highlights that year included 12 knockdowns against Ole Miss. He has since made 106 NFL starts and earned five Pro Bowl selections.

Saahdiq Charles made the first of his nine starts as a true freshman at right guard against BYU in the 2017 season opener as a true freshman. Seven of those came at left tackle plus another at rigth tackle. Charles is entering his third NFL season with Washington.

Ed Ingram, a four-year starter, was an instant LSU with 12 starts as true freshman at right guard in 2017. He made 45 college appearances with 34 starts. Ingram will hear his name called in this month’s NFL Draft.

Kevin Mawae, a 1990 freshman All-SEC selection as a redshirt, made seven starts that year at left tackle prior to his move to center. That position was his destiny. Mawae became a seven-time first team All Pro and was inducted into Canton in 2019.

Lance “Big Daddy” Smith, a All-SEC true freshman in 1981, ended up earning first-team All-American honors in 1984. The three-time All-SEC played 12 seasons in the NFL, making 165 starts. His first start came against Notre Dame in Tiger Stadium in the second contest of 1981.

Eric Andolsek made three starts at left guard as true freshman in 1984. He was enough to earn Freshman All-American recognition. He played both sides of ball in LSU’s 1985 Sugar Bowl loss to Nebraska, pitching in a defensive tackle.