Sixth in a series of articles previewing SEC football teams going into the 2014 season.
HOOVER, Ala. -- During Les Miles' previous nine seasons as LSU's coach, the Tigers have led all SEC teams with 60 players drafted by the NFL, including 18 in the past two years.
Despite the annual heavy losses to the NFL, Miles and the Tigers keep winning on the field with a 95-24 record during his tenure and eight top-20 finishes, led by the 2007 national championship.
So it's no surprise Miles expects the Tigers to contend again for SEC and national championships.
"I like us," Miles said at SEC media days. "I like us in every game."
Media members picked the Tigers to finish third in the SEC West behind Alabama and defending conference champion Auburn.
"What generally seems to me to be our position is, 'Don't bother us, we're don't care. We just want to work to improve, we want to play one game at a time,' " Miles said. "We understand that doesn't mean we're in the immediate talk, but if we continue to do the things we've done in the past, we'll earn our way."
Senior offensive tackle La'el Collins said the Tigers appreciate Miles' confidence.
"He knows the type of ability that we have," said Collins, one of 13 returning starters from a 10-3 team. "He's seen guys year in and year out be successful, and he knows exactly what it takes for us to win a championship."
After having 17 juniors enter the NFL Draft the past two seasons, the Tigers will rely heavily on a freshmen class led by running back Leonard Fournette.
"Leonard Fournette is doing exactly what he should be doing," Miles said. "He's getting in the weight room, running, getting in great shape, pursuing in the classroom.
"He's got a quiet confidence that will benefit him."
Fournette will be part of a tailback rotation that includes seniors Terrence McGee and Kenny Hilliard and freshman Darrell Williams.
McGee, the team's leading returning rusher with 86 carries for 626 yards and 8 touchdowns, said he's glad to share the ball.
"When you look at teams that have guys that take 25 or 30 carries a game, their career at the next level doesn't really last that long," McGee said. "For us to have running back by committee at LSU, it allows you to be more successful on the next level.
"At times, some guys might look at it and say, 'It's too crowded, I don't want to play there.' But in the long run it ends up benefiting you."
McGee said it didn't take Fournette long to impress him during summer workouts.
"It probably took about 7 seconds, when I saw how he ran the ball," McGee said, laughing. "Just the power and the speed and the vision that he runs with."
Collins said he's excited about Fournette's potential.
"As a running back, he's got it all," Collins said. "I can't wait until he's able to really get loose."
LSU also is expecting big things from freshman quarterback Brandon Harris, who will compete with sophomore Anthony Jennings for the starting job with the loss of Zach Mettenberger.
Miles said he knows offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, a former college and NFL head coach, will get the most out Jennings and Harris to give the Tigers a quality starter.
"It will be a very competitive event from start to finish," Miles said. "Cam Cameron -- a guy who's made a career out of mentoring quarterbacks -- will do exactly the right things with those guys."
After Mettenberger suffered a knee injury last season against Arkansas, Jennings came into the game and led the Tigers on a 99-yard touchdown drive -- capped by a 49-yard touchdown pass to Travin Dural with 1:15 to play -- to rally LSU to a 31-27 victory.
"The thing that I noticed, as soon as Anthony came into the game, he was very comfortable and took control of the huddle," McGee said. "He showed he had prepared himself for that moment. He was ready when his opportunity came."
Jennings started the Tigers' 21-14 victory over Iowa in the Outback Bowl.
"That playing experience obviously has given him a step up on Brandon," McGee said. "But going through the spring and the summer, those guys both have done tremendously well.
"They're going to make it real tough on the coaches to decide who's going to be the starter for game one."
LSU opens the season Aug. 30 against Wisconsin at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
"We recognize the challenge," Miles said. "It's an opportunity for us to raise our level of play. I really expect those freshmen that are going to step on the field, and those underclassmen that are now being counted on, to show they can play big roles for the Tigers."
John Chavis, who won the 2011 Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant, is going into his sixth season as LSU's defensive coordinator.
"I think he's the best in the business," Miles said. "I think he's a guy that gives us real advantages in scheme and understands the ways to get the best out of our players."
Miles said LSU has developed a recruiting strategy that allows the Tigers to remain competitive regardless of whoever they may lose to the NFL.
"There's a responsibility that the coaching staff has to see a void that will potentially occur and we have to recruit to that void," Miles said. "We have to make sure that our style of recruiting is the style that we get an athlete that has a want to be something special, then that guy steps in and plays as a true freshman.
"Although not optimal, it's certainly something we've done."
Up next: Mississippi State
Sports on 07/20/2014