LSU Football: 5 Guys Who Need a Great Spring Performance

After a spectacular 2011 regular season, things have not exactly gone the way Les Miles would have hoped with his LSU football team.

For starters, the Tigers were shutout in an ugly 21-0 loss to Alabama in the BCS National Championship. Following that forgettable performance, LSU saw several of its top players from this year declare for the NFL draft. Then to top it all off, LSU lost out on several top recruits, including 4-star quarterback Gunner Kiel, who verbally committed to the program and then ditched the Tigers in favor of Notre Dame.

Now, this LSU football program has the chance to put all of that behind them as they prepare for spring football.

However, with the departure of many key players, there are now several others who have to step up in spring football and prove to Les Miles that they are indeed capable of stepping in and taking on a new starting role.

Let's break down five guys who need need to have a great spring performance for the Tigers.

Bleacher Report Style! 

1. Zach Mettenberger

After what truly was an abysmal quarterback performance from this LSU team in the national championship game, several fans can rejoice in knowing that Jordan Jefferson is gone now.

With that said, in steps Zach Mettenberger, a former Georgia recruit who got dismissed from the Bulldogs program, spent a year playing junior college and then sat on the sideline last season while watching and learning from Jefferson and Jarrett Lee.

Now, it is up to Mettenberger to lead this LSU offense, but he sure has a lot to prove before fans can trust this young quarterback.

If Mettenberger can play well in spring ball, then LSU fans should quickly be able to forget the Jordan Jefferson era.  

2. Russell Shepard

Russell Shepard shocked the LSU football world when he announced that he was planning to leave school early and apply for the NFL draft.

It took a talk from Les Miles and the coaching staff to convince Shepard to come back, and now that he will return in 2012, this is a kid who has to show some promise in the spring time in order to convince people he's ready to step up and take his game to the next level.

Shepard is an athletic specimen, but the production on the football field just hasn't been there yet. Now that Rueben Randle is off to the NFL, Shepard has the chance to be a big-time playmaker in the Tigers' passing game.

We know the talent is there, but is he ready to take that next step and be a big-time playmaker in this offense?

He needs to show the LSU coaches that the answer to that question is a definite "yes." 

3. Tahj Jones

Tahj Jones is a guy who was a standout on special teams, but now, with the departure of Ryan Baker and Stefoin Francois due to graduation, Jones should have the chance to step in and take over one of those starting outside linebacker spots.

Of course, this year's LSU recruiting class wasn't quite as strong as others in the past, but where the Tigers did strike gold in this class was at the linebacker position.

With that said, Jones has a lot of pressure to step up this spring and grab one of those starting spots.

LSU has a ton of returning talent on the defensive line and in the secondary, but with only one returning starting linebacker, Jones has a lot to prove this spring. 

4. Craig Loston

Who remembers how highly touted Craig Loston was coming out of high school?

Well, in 2009, Loston was the top-rated safety in the nation and the No. 20 overall recruit according to rivals.com.

So why hasn't he seen the field much?

Well, because he was playing behind Brandon Taylor for the past couple of years—one of the top safeties in all of college football. 

Now, Loston will finally get the chance to display his talents and win one of those starting safety spots, opposite of Eric Reid. But he's going to have steep competition and plenty to prove to the LSU coaches this spring.

If this is going to continue to be one of the top secondary units in college football this year, the Tigers' are going to need Craig Loston to step up, and that all starts in spring ball this month.

5. Anthony Johnson

Anthony Johnson has shown ability to get to the quarterback in limited playing time, but with Michael Brockers bolting early for the NFL draft, Johnson should get the first chance at stepping up and grabbing that other defensive tackle spot.

We already know that Sam Montgomery, Barkevious Mingo and Bennie Logan should secure three of the four starting spots, but will Johnson do enough to secure that other spot?

Standing at 6'3", 294 pounds, Johnson has ideal size of the DT position, but his experience is of course limited.

If Johnson can have a great spring performance, then this LSU defensive line should be considered the best unit in the country heading into the 2012 college football season.