LSU’s defense struggled quite a bit in 2023, and one of the biggest concerns for new coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] this fall comes at the defensive tackle spot.
With three players from that group drafted this past spring, the Tigers return just two players with game experience at defensive tackle. One of those is [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag], who is expected to start this season in his fifth year.
Coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] put it bluntly when evaluating how Guillory has improved since he and the staff arrived ahead of the 2022 season.
“Well, he wasn’t a very good football player when we got here,” Kelly said. “He was technically out of control, he did not play with the kind of discipline necessary to play the position at a high level, and consequently, he didn’t play a whole lot of football.
“I think his maturity and his understanding that he needed to be very good at his technique and leverage, and I think last year he figured that out. And because he’s so strong and explosive and can play with great leverage, he’s now taking those strengths of his and put himself in a position to be an outstanding football and can play at the next level because of it.”
Kelly also praised Guillory’s improvements from a mental perspective and said he does a much better job of handling his emotions now.
“He has handled himself very well emotionally and because of that, I think we’ve seen this player ascend the way he has,” Kelly said.
Guillory started one game in 2023 but appeared in all 13, making a career-high 27 tackles. He has made 39 career appearances in four years with three starts.
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