BYU football: LSU Tigers may be missing huge piece against Cougars

When BYU football meets LSU on Saturday, September 7 in Houston, the Tigers may be missing a huge piece of their defense.

The yearly madhouse that are SEC Media Days began today. Usually, that wouldn’t mean anything for BYU football. But today, that’s a different story.

LSU head coach Ed Orgeron had some bad news. Before he took to the podium for his press conference, Orgeron told reporters that Arden Key won’t be ready for the start of the Tigers’ fall camp.

In fact, Key might not be ready for BYU football in early September.

Key is one of the best defensive ends in the nation. As a sophomore last season the 6-foot-6, 240-pounder set a LSU record with 12 sacks. Key also had 14.5 TFLs, 11 QB hurries and three forced fumbles.

He was an easy All-SEC First Team selection.

Key is rehabbing from a shoulder surgery that the program announced in early June.

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“This is going to be a rehab that’s going to take some time,” Orgeron told NOLA.com. “We don’t have a time limit on it, but as far as everything we’re hearing, it’s going to be fine. I don’t know when he’ll be back, what time he’ll be back.”

Orgeron went on to add:

“He will not be ready for the start of camp… If he’s ready for the first game, he’ll be ready. If he’s not, he’s not. I think it’ll be week-by-week.”

Even without Key, BYU will have its hands full with LSU. Tough to see this changing the outcome, but obviously Key’s a dangerous player. With him potentially on the sidelines, it may open things up more for Tanner Mangum and the BYU receivers to make some plays.

The Tigers and Cougars will be featured on ESPN as part of the network’s college kickoff weekend.