It wasn't just a good team. Honestly, calling the 2019 LSU Tigers "good" feels like an insult to what Joe Burrow and Joe Brady actually built in Baton Rouge that year. When you look back at the 2019 LSU depth chart, you aren't just looking at a college roster; you’re looking at a Sunday afternoon starting lineup for the NFL. It was a perfect storm.
Fifteen players from that squad were drafted in 2020. Five went in the first round. But the numbers don't really capture the sheer "it factor" that resided in that locker room. You had a guy like Justin Jefferson, who many thought was just a "good" slot receiver, playing alongside Ja'Marr Chase, who was essentially a physical glitch in the matrix. Then there was Terrace Marshall Jr. lurking as a third option. Most college defenses can barely handle one elite vertical threat. LSU had three. Plus a Heisman winner who suddenly decided he wasn't going to miss a throw for four straight months.
The Quarterback Room and the Burrow Transformation
Joe Burrow started the 2018 season as a gritty, tough-nosed game manager who had transferred from Ohio State. By the time the 2019 LSU depth chart was finalized in August, he was something else entirely. Behind him sat Myles Brennan, a strong-armed kid who would have started for 90% of the Power Five, but he was stuck watching a masterclass.
Burrow’s season was stupid. There is no other word for it. He threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns. You've probably seen the stats, but do you remember the efficiency? He completed 76.3% of his passes. In a vertical, aggressive offense, that shouldn't be possible. He wasn't just checking it down to Clyde Edwards-Helaire—though he did that plenty—he was carving up Alabama and Georgia like they were high school JV squads.
The depth here was thin but elite. If Burrow had gone down, the season would have changed drastically, yet the confidence in the building was sky-high. Coach Ed Orgeron and offensive analyst Joe Brady had installed a "Passing Game Coordinator" role that basically deleted the old-school, "three yards and a cloud of dust" LSU identity. They went empty backfield more than almost anyone in the SEC. It was bold. It worked.
Skill Positions: A Logjam of Future All-Pros
The wide receiver rotation was where the 2019 LSU depth chart became unfair. Ja’Marr Chase was the alpha. He won the Biletnikoff Award and finished with 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns. Justin Jefferson was right behind him with 1,540 yards and 18 scores.
Think about that.
Two guys on the same team, in the same year, both putting up numbers that would win the Heisman in other eras. Jefferson was the technician. He found space in the zone that didn't exist. Chase was the bully. If the ball was in the air, it was his. End of story. Behind them, Terrace Marshall Jr. was a red-zone nightmare who caught 13 touchdowns despite missing time with an injury.
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Then you have Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the backfield. He wasn't the biggest back. He wasn't the fastest. But his lateral movement was disgusting. He broke ankles in the open field against Alabama in a way that made NFL scouts drool. He was the safety valve that kept the chains moving when defenses tried to drop eight into coverage.
- WR1: Ja'Marr Chase (Sophomore)
- WR2: Justin Jefferson (Junior)
- WR3: Terrace Marshall Jr. (Sophomore)
- RB1: Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Junior)
- TE1: Thaddeus Moss (Junior)
Thaddeus Moss, son of Randy Moss, was the unsung hero. He wasn't a burner, but he had hands like glue. His catch against Alabama near the sideline remains one of the most underrated plays of that entire championship run. He provided the bulk and the blocking that allowed the smaller receivers to thrive on the perimeter.
The Trenches: Protecting the Heisman
You can't throw for 60 touchdowns from your backside. The offensive line on the 2019 LSU depth chart was a veteran group that played with a mean streak. Lloyd Cushenberry III was the literal and figurative center of that universe. He wore the No. 18 jersey, a massive honor at LSU, symbolizing leadership and character.
Alongside him was Damien Lewis, a powerhouse at guard who eventually became a high-level NFL starter. Austin Deculus and Saahdiq Charles held down the tackle spots. They weren't flashy. They didn't get the Heisman hype. But they gave Burrow the 3.5 seconds he needed to let Chase run a double-move.
What’s crazy is the continuity. This unit didn't rotate much. They played through bumps and bruises because they knew they were part of something historic. When Saahdiq Charles was out for various reasons, Dare Rosenthal stepped in. The drop-off was minimal. That’s the definition of depth.
Defense: The "DBU" Reputation Validated
While the offense got the headlines, the defensive side of the 2019 LSU depth chart was littered with high-end talent. Dave Aranda, the defensive coordinator at the time, ran a complex 3-4 system that relied on elite secondary play.
Derek Stingley Jr. was a true freshman. Usually, true freshmen get picked on in the SEC. Not Stingley. He led the SEC with six interceptions. He was arguably the best cornerback in the country the moment he stepped on the field. Opposite him was Kristian Fulton, a steady veteran who locked down the other side.
And then there was Grant Delpit. Even playing on a bum ankle for half the season, he won the Jim Thorpe Award. He was the "eraser." If a play broke down, Delpit was there to fix it. Kary Vincent Jr. played the nickel spot with track-star speed, making it nearly impossible for teams to find a mismatch in the slot.
- CB: Derek Stingley Jr. (Freshman)
- CB: Kristian Fulton (Senior)
- S: Grant Delpit (Junior)
- S: Jacoby Stevens (Junior)
- LB: Patrick Queen (Junior)
- LB: Jacob Phillips (Junior)
The linebacker corps was fast. Patrick Queen and Jacob Phillips were tackling machines. Queen, in particular, saw his draft stock explode during the College Football Playoff. His performance against Clemson in the title game was a clinic in sideline-to-sideline pursuit.
Up front, you had massive human beings like Tyler Shelvin and Rashard Lawrence. Shelvin was a 340-pound mountain who required two blockers on every play. This freed up K’Lavon Chaisson to hunt quarterbacks. Chaisson was the "Swag" of the defense, a twitchy edge rusher who finished the season with 6.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss.
Why This Specific Depth Chart Won’t Be Repeated
The transfer portal and NIL have changed the game. In 2026, a guy like Terrace Marshall Jr. or Myles Brennan might have left earlier to find a guaranteed starting spot elsewhere. But in 2019, they stayed. They built chemistry. They waited their turn.
There was also a specific lack of ego. Usually, when you have three first-round receivers, someone complains about targets. Not this group. They celebrated each other's success with a level of genuine enthusiasm that you rarely see in high-stakes sports. They knew that if the defense doubled Chase, Jefferson would have 200 yards. If they doubled both, Clyde would run for 150. It was a mathematical certainty of success.
The coaching staff also deserves a massive amount of credit. Ed Orgeron knew his limitations. He didn't try to micromanage the offense. He hired Joe Brady, a young mind from the New Orleans Saints, and gave him the keys. He kept Steve Ensminger as the coordinator to provide veteran stability. It was a "best of both worlds" scenario that rarely happens in the ego-driven world of college football.
The Legacy of the 2019 LSU Roster
When you look at the 2019 LSU depth chart today, it reads like a Pro Bowl ballot. Burrow, Chase, Jefferson, Queen, Edwards-Helaire, Delpit, Fulton, Lewis, Cushenberry—all became impactful NFL players.
The 15-0 record wasn't a fluke. They beat seven teams ranked in the Top 10 at the time of the game. They dismantled Oklahoma 63-28 in the playoff. They handled a defending champion Clemson team with ease.
They weren't just better than everyone else; they were deeper. If a starter went out, a future NFL draft pick came in. That is a luxury most programs never experience, even the blue bloods like Alabama or Ohio State.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
To truly appreciate the magnitude of this team, you should look at the following metrics that set them apart:
- Third Down Efficiency: LSU converted 49.1% of their third downs, which is absurd given the volume of their passing attack.
- Red Zone Scoring: They scored on 91% of their red-zone trips, with a massive percentage of those being touchdowns rather than field goals.
- Strength of Schedule: They didn't pad stats against weaklings; they did this against the heart of the SEC.
If you are a student of the game, go back and watch the 2019 Alabama vs. LSU tape. It is the highest level of college football ever played. You'll see the 2019 LSU depth chart in its purest form—under pressure, on the road, against a Nick Saban defense, and absolutely thriving.
For those looking to understand modern offensive evolution, the 2019 LSU season is the blueprint. It showed that you don't need a massive, bruising run game if your passing attack is efficient enough to serve as an extension of the run. It proved that elite talent, when combined with a modern scheme, is essentially unstoppable.
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To visualize the impact, track the "LSU effect" in the NFL. Notice how many of these players became immediate starters. It validates that the 2019 roster wasn't just a college powerhouse; it was an NFL team playing on Saturday. Check out the 2020 NFL Draft results to see the sheer volume of talent that exited Baton Rouge in a single window. It remains the gold standard for roster construction in the modern era.