LSU vs. McNeese State: 5 Tigers to Watch

Oct 25, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers tight end DeSean Smith (89) slaps hands with fans after fans storm the field following the Tigers 10-7 victory agains the Mississippi Rebels at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

The best time of the year is upon us. The sky is a little more blue, the breeze a little more gentle, and the grill is burning a little hotter. Music is in the air, caps are being twisted, and the Tigers are ready to take the field and kick off another football season.

Tiger fans have been pulled every which way this offseason. The team is coming off a disappointing 4 loss SEC campaign capped with a disappointing loss to Notre Dame in a consolation tier bowl game. The quarterback situation was not good.

The team is loaded with talent and hauled in another very impressive recruiting class. The NFL losses were fewer than years past. With decent QB play this is looking like a team with potential.

With Brandon Harris taking over as starter national media have started jumping on the LSU bandwagon. Kirk Herbstreit Lee Corso and Todd McShay have all predicted LSU will make it into the playoff for the national championship.

LSU fans are excited, but all too aware that this can go either way.

I have isolated 5 Tigers players whose production can be a bellwether indicating that LSU is establishing the kind of trends that will equal wins, once the tough games start.

And we begin with………

Next: Pocket Change