Whether one of them wins the Heisman Trophy remains a pretty fair long shot, but it’s pretty clear LSU’s freshman class will have a big say in where the Tigers’ season goes.

Maybe one of the oddest things to come out of LSU’s 56-0 walloping of Sam Houston State last week was Bearkats’ coach K.C. Keeler’s comment afterward.

“It was our boys against their men,” he said.

Who’s he calling a man?

Did he not notice that, for the first time in LSU history, four true freshmen scored touchdowns and one of them threw for one?

Or that the top two rushers were true freshmen Leonard Fournette and Darrell Williams?

It’s wasn’t much different on the other side of the ball, where true freshmen accounted for 17 tackles and two sacks.

Maybe we’re watching a football team become a rhythm and blues act.

Boyz II Men.

Just two games into the season, head coach Les Miles, who has never been shy about throwing youngsters into the mix, has played 16 true freshmen, the most even the Mad Hatter has ever played in an entire season.

And there will likely be more to come Saturday night when No. 10 LSU (2-0) hosts Louisiana-Monroe (2-0).

It’s not college life that freshman linebacker Clifton Garrett is having to adjust to, Miles said in predicting that the Joliet, Illinois, native will see playing time this week.

“He needed an adjustment period with the weather and the heat here,” Miles said.

He’ll likely be joining the fun soon, his coach said.

If this keeps up, a redshirt will become LSU’s version of a “Scarlet Letter.”

Whatever happened to sitting out a year? Only seven members of this year’s incoming class have yet to see the field.

Mostly, the NFL draft happened, annually robbing LSU of much of its senior class — 17 juniors in the last two seasons have opted to leave early.

“The exodus of the junior class (to the NFL) really has changed the view of the redshirt,” Miles said.

He’d prefer to have players stick around for four years, of course, but LSU’s reputation as a fast track to the NFL certainly doesn’t hurt in recruiting sales pitches. Miles may have to grin and bear it, but it appears he’s been able to restock the monster.

The true freshmen are only part of the tale.

Rare senior Kenny Hilliard has butted in occasionally — and he put the younger Tigers on his back to key the comeback against Wisconsin — but otherwise freshmen and true sophomores have accounted for nine of LSU’s 11 touchdowns.

“You have to recruit a freshman class that allows for the flexibility of that junior class to leave because you must have quality men at each position,” Miles said.

So far it’s working.

Fournette and Williams are the Tigers’ second- and third-leading rushers, respectively. Quarterback Brandon Harris threw for one touchdown and ran for another against Sam Houston.

Former Barbe High All-American Trey Quinn, whose three receptions for 37 yards don’t include the crucial 2-point conversion pass he caught against Wisconsin, rarely leaves the field at wide receiver. He was even back deep to return a punt late last week.

Fellow freshman receiver Malachi Dupre missed the first game with an injury but got his first college touchdown catch last week.

It’s just the reality for a team that keeps churning out players to the NFL.

But Miles does occasionally allow himself to dream a best-case scenario.

“If you can keep some of that junior class, the opportunity to be a little bit deeper and little more successful is there,” he said.

Until then, the youth march continues.(Associated Press)

Jonathan Bachman