| The 2023 NFL Draft through two days hasn't been a stellar one for LSU football. Nothing like 2020, when five Tigers went in the first round and 10 were drafted through the first three rounds overall. Tell that, of course, to edge rusher BJ Ojulari, who went with the 41st pick overall Friday in the second round to the Arizona Cardinals. Rounds 4-7 will be held Saturday. Still waiting to see when Kayshon Boutte gets picked. Baseball opened its three-game home series with Alabama on Friday, and it was a little bit of everything. Dylan Crews and Tommy White hit home runs, Paul Skenes struck out an entire batting order's worth of red elephants (nine), and the bullpen barely held onto an 8-1 lead for an 8-6 victory. The win pulled LSU (33-8, 13-5) within a half-game of Vanderbilt for the overall SEC lead. There's also a photo gallery, if you'd care to take a stroll through it. There was also football news closer to home Friday, as sources told our Wilson Alexander that coach Brian Kelly was expected to hire South Carolina's Jimmy Lindsey as LSU's new defensive line coach. Good news for LSU gymnastics Friday, as four seniors led by nine-time All-American Kiya Johnson decided to return for the 2024 season. Johnson, you may recall, went down in LSU's second meet of the year in January with a torn Achilles tendon. Also Friday, LSU officially announced the transfer of celebrated guard Hailey Van Lith from Louisville. Got the news release here, with quotes from HVL (Hailey Van Lith for short) and coach Kim Mulkey. The LSU beach volleyball team is in the midst of its conference tournament, but needs a couple of wins Saturday to win the title. Back to baseball, where Leah Vann has a feature about the custom cleats the Tigers wear. And lastly, the LSU track teams are hosting some top talent in the LSU Invitational this weekend at Bernie Moore Track Stadium, which may become midcourt of a new basketball arena if Mulkey gets her way. Don't worry. If they build a new PMAC, track would also get a new facility somewhere. Got to keep turning left. That's all for today. Frankly, that's plenty. Please keep reading ... final exams are coming up, you know. Enjoy your sports weekend, Scott Rabalais | 
