LSU may turn to freshman quarterback vs. Florida with Myles Brennan doubtful

LSU-Florida is in jeopardy of being postponed, but if the game is played, it’s doubtful that LSU football starting quarterback Myles Brennan will play.

If LSU and Florida move forward with their SEC crossover rivalry on Saturday in light of a COVID outbreak with the Gators, it’s unlikely LSU starting quarterback Myles Brennan will be healthy enough to play.

The Tigers signal-caller was banged up during the first half of LSU’s loss at Missouri last Saturday and has been held out of practice this week. He finished the game vs. Missouri and posted good numbers, albeit in the loss, but his left shoulder may force a lineup decision by head coach Ed Orgeron.

With a reported 19 Florida football players testing positive, another 10 in quarantine and two Florid assistant coaches also testing positive, the SEC may postpone the game between the two if Florida doesn’t have the minimum number of 53 scholarship players available.

LSU may turn to a freshman quarterback vs. Florida if Myles Brennan can’t play

If the game remains scheduled as-is and Brennan is unable to play, LSU will turn to freshman TJ Finley or Max Johnson to make the start. A true freshman starting at Florida would normally be an untenable situation, and it still is, but without a packed Swamp and with a disappointing Gators defense potentially missing several starters and key reserves, it may not a total disaster.

That said, it’s not going to be ideal for Ed Orgeron’s Tigers who are reeling after a 1-2 start where the defense has been one of the worst in the nation under Bo Pelini.

The 6-foot-6, 242-pound Finley was a three-star recruit ranked as the No. 499 overall recruit and No. 19 pro-style passer, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Johnson, a 6-foot-5, 219-pound Georgia native, was a four-star recruit that ranked as the No. 10 pro-style quarterback and No. 253 overall recruit, according to 247Sports.

Finley is listed as Brennan’s backup on the LSU depth chart, according to Our Lads. However, according to The Advocate, the two have split practice reps in half.

“I really think both of them are phenomenal young players,” Orgeron said. “It’s hard to distinguish the difference between them, they’re both so good.”

For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.