SEC Football Top 150 Players: No. 106, Tharold Simon, LSU DB

The SEC Blog will be counting down the top 150 players in the SEC every day, concluding on Aug. 30 at the start of the college football regular season.

No. 106: Tharold Simon, No. 24, LSU, Cornerback

2011 Stats: Appeared in 12 games with two starts. Tallied 42 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups.

Strengths

Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne got all of the publicity last season in the LSU secondary, but Tharold Simon wasn't too shabby either. He finished third in the SEC with 10 pass breakups as a sophomore in 2011.

The 6'3", 185-pounder is a star in the making in Baton Rouge due to his athleticism and ability to shut down one side of the field.

Weaknesses

Simon hasn't been "the guy" yet. With Claiborne gone, he's going to be lined up against better receivers in 2012, so he will have to step up his game.

There is a bit of a concern over where Simon's focus is. He was suspended for the Auburn game last season with Mathieu and running back Spencer Ware, reportedly due to a positive test for synthetic marijuana. 

2012 Prediction

Simon is going to emerge as a star in 2012. He's got a future not only in the SEC, but also in the NFL—he just hasn't had the opportunity to star just yet.

LSU's defensive line will certainly help make things easier for the Tigers defensive backfield, and Simon should capitalize on that and make an impact this fall.

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