LSU Tigers Position Breakdown: Defensive Line
Original SEC Sports Hub Article: LSU Defensive Line Breakdown
With Glenn Dorsey gone to the NFL as a Top Five pick, most would assume that LSU’s defensive line will take a step back next year. Quite simply, that will not be the case. LSU will likely have the nastiest front four in college football next year, even despite Dorsey’s loss.
An absolute terror at defensive end, Tyson Jackson returns for his senior season to lead an absolutely loaded LSU defensive line. Assuming he can avoid boneheaded plays, like his clubbing of Kentucky’s Andre Woodson on a crucial down in 2007, he should be a menace on the line.
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Opposite him at the other defensive end position will either be Rahim Alem or Kirston Pittman, a sixth year senior for the LSU Tigers.
However, as intimidating as that defensive end tandem will be, the interior tandem might be even better. Ricky Jean-Francois will pair up with Al Woods at times, formerly the top defensive tackle in his senior year in high school, to form an absolutely vicious duo.
Jean-Francois appears ready to follow in Dorsey’s giant footsteps and Woods is being projected as a potential Top 10 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Their presence will be felt inside in a big way during the 2008 season, even if Woods does not start from day one.
The Tigers are also loaded with depth as senior Tremaine Johnson will play a key backup role at defensive end, supported by redshirt freshman Sidell Corley, sophomore Lazarius Levingston and true freshman Chancey Aghayere.
At defensive tackle, either senior, Marlon Favorite or Charles Alexander, could start at the beginning of the season, but will certainly have to play well to keep their spot from going to the incredibly talented Woods. Sophomore Drake Nevis and redshirt freshman Kentravis Aubrey will provide plenty of depth in the middle for the Tigers.
Because LSU’s defensive line will be so talented, Tiger fans should rest easy despite a lack of depth at corner back and linebacker.
If the LSU defensive line gets the kind of pressure on opposing quarterbacks that they very well should, the corners will not have to cover receivers for very long, and that should certainly ease the youngsters’ transitions to the college game.
The LSU defensive line also seems poised to be a great run stuffing unit, which should also aid a thin linebacking corps.
Tiger fans should be very excited about their defensive line for the 2008 season because they will certainly be fun to watch in opposing teams’ backfields.
You can see position breakdowns like this for LSU and every other SEC team at SEC Sports Hub.
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