The 2011 LSU football roster represented one of the most uniquely talented and dominant squads in modern college football history. Under head coach Les Miles, the Tigers bulldozed through a brutal Southeastern Conference schedule, finishing the regular season undefeated at 13-0, capturing an SEC Championship, and earning a spot in the BCS National Championship Game.
While the team ultimately stumbled in the final rematch against Alabama, the roster was a factory of future NFL superstars. This retrospective examines the standout athletes across offense, defense, and special teams who made the 2011 LSU Tigers legendary, going far beyond a basic name-and-number list to explore how these players shaped the program.
Offensive Powerhouse and Quarterback Dynamics
The 2011 offense operated under a unique multi-quarterback system paired with a punishing ground game. Les Miles split snaps between veteran signal-callers Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson, leveraging each player's strengths depending on game flow.
- Jarrett Lee: The senior provided steady pocket-passing stability, completing 104 passes for 1,306 yards and 14 touchdowns against just three interceptions.
- Jordan Jefferson: Known for his dual-threat capability, Jefferson chipped in 737 passing yards and six touchdowns while adding crucial mobility on option plays and short-yardage situations.
- Zach Mettenberger: Waiting in the wings as a sophomore, Mettenberger provided a glimpse of the future cannon-armed style that would dominate Baton Rouge in subsequent seasons.
The Running Back Committee
LSU didn't rely on a single bell-cow runner; instead, they deployed a relentless four-man rushing rotation that kept fresh legs on the field at all times.
Sophomores Michael Ford and Spencer Ware led the charge. Ford paced the team with 756 rushing yards (averaging 6.0 yards per carry), while Ware churned out 707 hard-earned yards as a physical chain-mover. Behind them, sophomore Alfred Blue contributed 539 yards, and true freshman Kenny Hilliard added a short-yardage thumping presence with 336 yards and multiple scores.
Dynamic Playmakers on the Outside
In the passing game, wide receiver Rueben Randle served as the undisputed alpha target. Randle hauled in 53 receptions for 917 yards and eight touchdowns, consistently stretching opposing secondaries.
Complementing Randle was a dynamic true freshman named Odell Beckham Jr. In his debut collegiate season, Beckham flashed elite explosive traits, catching 41 passes for 475 yards and establishing himself as a nightmare for defensive coordinators in space. Junior Russell Shepard also contributed heavily as both a wideout and a gadget runner, adding crucial leadership to the offensive meeting rooms.
A Lockdown, NFL-Loaded Defense
While the offense was efficient, the defensive unit was downright historic. Defensive coordinator John Chavis orchestrated a unit that yielded a paltry 11.3 points per game, suffocating high-powered SEC offenses with speed, length, and sheer intimidation.
The Secondary: "DBU" in Full Effect
The 2011 secondary remains one of the greatest collections of defensive backs ever assembled on a single college roster.
- Morris Claiborne: Playing opposite future NFL starters, Claiborne locked down half the field, intercepting six passes—including a legendary pick-six against West Virginia—and winning the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back.
- Tyrann Mathieu: Earning the famous nickname "The Honey Badger," sophomore Mathieu became a cultural phenomenon. He forced six fumbles, recovered five, intercepted two passes, and captured the hearts of college football fans with his knack for creating game-breaking turnovers out of nowhere.
- Eric Reid: Stationed at safety, Reid provided bone-crushing hits and deep-field intelligence, anchoring a back-end that allowed virtually no easy completions.
Front Seven Havoc
Up front, the Tigers won the line of scrimmage with future professional mainstays:
- Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery lived in opponent backfields off the edge, combining for explosive pass rushes that rattled opposing quarterbacks all autumn.
- Bennie Logan anchored the interior defensive line with immense strength, eating up double-teams and shutting down opponent running lanes.
- Akiem Hicks, a massive 324-pound transfer, wreaked interior havoc, overpowering interior offensive linemen with rare quickness for his size.
Special Teams and Field Position Control
LSU's dominance in 2011 was heavily aided by elite special teams play, which consistently won the battle of field position.
Punter Brad Wing altered games by flipping the field with booming, high-arc kicks that routinely pinned opponents inside their own twenty-yard line. Meanwhile, placekicker Drew Alleman provided steady reliability under pressure, converting crucial field goals throughout high-stakes conference battles, including a signature game-winning kick against Alabama in the regular-season "Game of the Century."
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the starting quarterback for LSU in 2011?
LSU did not have a single traditional starter. Les Miles famously utilized a two-quarterback system throughout the season, alternating between senior Jarrett Lee and junior Jordan Jefferson depending on tactical matchups and game situations.
How many players from the 2011 LSU roster made the NFL?
The roster was exceptionally talent-dense. Over 40 players from the 2011 squad eventually signed NFL contracts, with more than a dozen drafted inside the first two rounds over subsequent NFL drafts.
What was the final record of the 2011 LSU football team?
LSU finished the regular season and SEC Championship at 13-0 before losing the BCS National Championship Game to Alabama, ending their historic run with a final record of 13-1.
Who were the standout freshman contributors on that team?
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and running back Kenny Hilliard made immediate impacts as true freshmen on offense, while defensive back Tyrann Mathieu cemented his breakout star status as a dynamic sophomore playmaker.
