Tag: JaCoby Stevens

2021 NFL draft projections for nine former LSU stars

Pro day is always a big day for the LSU Tigers. Each year, the NFL descends on Baton Rouge to see some of the NFL draft’s top talent

Pro day is always a big day for the LSU Tigers.

Each year, the NFL descends on Baton Rouge to see some of the NFL draft’s top talent. Last year alone, LSU had 14 players selected, which tied the NFL record most selections from one school in the modern seven-round era.

On Wednesday, all 32 NFL teams were represented at LSU’s pro day, with wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase the featured attraction.

And Chase, a projective top-five selection, did not disappoint.

However, Chase wasn’t the only former Tiger who stood out on Wednesday. Fellow wide receivers, Terrace Marshall Jr. and Racey McMath, both ran the 40-yard dash in under 4.4 seconds.

Safety JaCoby Stevens, a standout defender for the past three years, also had a big day on Wednesday.

Stevens answered some questions about his ability to play safety at the next level. While there was some talk Stevens may be too heavy for safety in the NFL, he weighed in at 216 pounds and ran the 40 in 4.5 seconds. Regardless of where he plays, Stevens will make an impact early in his professional career.

So, where could Stevens be picked in the 2021 NFL draft?

Here are NFL draft projections for each of the nine former Tigers who participated in LSU’s pro day.

 

 

 

S JaCoby Stevens impresses at LSU pro day

Versatile LSU safety JaCoby Stevens put on quite the show on Wednesday.

Several former LSU Tigers had impressive showings on pro day, but hardly anyone stole the show quite as safety JaCoby Stevens did.

He headed into the day needing to record a strong performance to continue moving him up the draft boards, and there’s no question that he caught the attention of several scouts.

Stevens measured in at just over 6-foot-1 and 212 pounds on Wednesday, with a 76 ½” wing-span and 32 ¼” arm length.

He recorded an impressive 42” vertical jump and an eye-catching 10-foot, 10-inch broad jump to go with it.

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Stevens ran a 40-yard dash of 4.50 seconds on his first attempt, recording a time of 4.51 seconds on his second attempt.

So much for those “athletic limitations.”

https://twitter.com/jacobystevens7/status/1377281087303475208?s=20

It almost goes without saying that Stevens feels he’s really proven something — and he has.

“Today was really big for me,” Stevens told reporters. “They wanted to see how athletic I was. I feel like I answered those questions.”

Outside of the numbers, it’s important to note how respected Stevens was in the locker room as a teammate and on the field as one of the team’s most important defensive playmakers.

Stevens finished out his LSU career with 190 combined tackles (102 solo) with 9.5 sacks, 15 passes defended, one forced fumble and four interceptions over three seasons in Baton Rouge.

It will be interesting to see where he lands when the 2021 NFL Draft begins on April 29.

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Official measurements for LSU players on pro day

Here’s a look at the official player measurements on LSU football’s pro day.

LSU football pro day — a day that is even more important this year with no NFL Combine — is underway in Baton Rouge.

The Tigers have a total of nine players participating:

FB Tory Carter

WR Ja’Marr Chase

WR Terrace Marshall Jr.

WR Racey McMath

DT Tyler Shelvin

DB Jacoby Stevens

DB Kary Vincent Jr.

LB Jabril Cox

P Zach Von Rosenberg

The day started off with measurements at approximately 8 a.m. CST, and the numbers are in.

Here’s a look at those:

Cardinals have met with versatile defensive prospect from LSU

The Arizona Cardinals have had predraft virtual communications with LSU defensive back JaCoby Stevens.

The Arizona Cardinals have historically been fond of versatile defensive players. They have selected Isaiah Simmons, Budda Baker, Tyrann Mathieu and Deone Buccanon as players who can fill multiple roles.

In this year’s draft class, they have at least some interest in yet another versatile defender, as they have been in contact with LSU safety JaCoby Stevens.

According to Justin Melo, the Cardinals are one of several teams with whom he has had virtual communications.

Stevens began his LSU career as a receiver and switched to safety his sophomore year. He was a little taller than 6-1 and weighed in at 216 pounds at his pro day.

In three seasons as a safety, he had 190 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss and four interceptions. In LSU’s championship season in 2019, he had 92 tackles, five sacks, nine tackles for loss and three interceptions.

He is perhaps a Day 3 pick who can play in the box. Some team might move him to a cover linebacker position.

He should be able to contribute on special teams right away. He would be a good fit for the Cardinals, as they appear to have a safety spot vacant on the roster that was once filled by Chris Banjo.

With four Day 3 picks in the draft next month, Stevens is a name to potentially pay attention to.

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Colts’ 7-round mock draft: Trading up for a QB

A full mock with a trade up.

The Indianapolis Colts are still a few months away from the 2021 NFL draft, which is currently scheduled to take place at the end of April. Until then, the mock drafts will be seen early and often.

While free agency—an aspect that will change draft plans—has yet to arrive, we can still take a look at what avenues the Colts can take. In our last mock draft, we did the traditional simulation without any trades. That isn’t the case here.

In this mock draft, using The Draft Network’s mock draft machine, we traded up from the No. 21 pick to the No. 7 pick with the Detroit Lions. This is a popular choice for the Colts so it was interesting to see what the rest of the draft looked like when moving up to get a potential franchise quarterback.

Without further ado, here is our latest seven-round mock draft for the Colts:

Best LSU football recruit from every state since the year 2000

LSU is in a football recruiting hotbed, but who are the top recruits from states out of Louisiana signed by LSU?

LSU is fortunate to be in a hotbed of football recruiting in the state of Louisiana. LSU has traditionally been able to keep much of the state’s top talent close to home, but sometimes the Tigers have to go on the prowl beyond the state’s borders if they want to build the best recruiting class possible.

With another recruiting cycle in the books, now is a good time to take a look at the LSU recruiting efforts since the turn of the century and see who the best LSU recruit in each state has been.

To put together this list, the 247 Sports composite rankings are referenced. In all, 20 states are included in LSU’s recruiting efforts since 2000. The most fertile grounds for LSU recruiting are close to home in Louisiana and Texas. Those two states have produced players like Derek Stingley, Grant Delpit,  Jarvis Landry, and Joseph Addai, just to name a few. LSU has also claimed some recruiting victories in Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi and brought a recruit home from California, Michigan, and Ohio.

For the purposes of this list, JUCO players are included, and they are specifically noted. Keep in mind JUCO recruiting rankings are not necessarily the same as the traditional recruiting class rankings.

Senior Bowl recap for three former LSU stars

The Reese’s Senior Bowl is one of the biggest events on the NFL draft calendar. Held one week before the Super Bowl, the Senior Bowl is

The Reese’s Senior Bowl is one of the biggest events on the NFL draft calendar. Held one week before the Super Bowl, the Senior Bowl is viewed by many as the kickoff to draft season.

Senior Bowl week in 2021 is more important than in recent years, with the NFL announcing the 2021 scouting combine would be changed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, no one will descend on Indianapolis and all on-field workouts will be held at the on-campus pro days. One AFC executive told Mike Triplett of ESPN.com this year was more critical than ever.

“It’s kind of like an accelerated speed-dating process. You have to find out whether or not you’d marry them in 15 minutes,” the AFC general manager jokingly said.

The LSU Tigers, who finished a disappointing 5-5 one year after winning the national championship, sent three prospects to Mobile. Wide receiver Racey McMath, linebacker Jabril Cox and safety JaCoby Stevens all participated in Senior Bowl week.

How did they perform in the game?

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WATCH: best moments of Senior Bowl practices for LSU players

Looking into some of the best highlights from Senior Bowl practices on LSU players.

The 2020 college football season was an underwhelming one for LSU players overall, and the 5-5 overall record at the end of the season serves as a perfect illustration of that.

But there were some bright spots within a year of football surrounded by unprecedented circumstances, and three Tigers are being recognized for their efforts in the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Safety JaCoby Stevens, linebacker Jabril Cox and wide receiver Racey McMath each took the field this week and will look to continue raising their draft stock when the game is played this weekend.

As of now, several projections have Stevens and Cox going early on, while McMath is expected to be taken in either the late rounds or be signed by a team as an undrafted free agent.

Here’s a look at some of the best moments of the week for players representing the Purple and Gold.

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Measurements of every LSU player at the Senior Bowl

Here’s how LSU’s representatives at the Senior Bowl measure up.

The practice week has winded down now at the Senior Bowl, with players from multiple schools making their presence known.

LSU has three players in safety JaCoby Stevens, linebacker Jabril Cox and wide receiver Racey McMath taking the field — all of which will look to continue expanding upon their performances and raising their draft stock during the game on Saturday.

Players had weigh-ins earlier in the week and all of the measurements were posted to social media.

Here’s a look at the numbers on each former LSU Tiger giving us the last true dose of their college careers at the end of January:

WR Racey McMath, LSU

Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Height: 6’2”
Weight: 224
Wing: 79”
Arm: 31 1/2”
Hand: 9 1/4”

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LSU Football 2020 player review: JaCoby Stevens

LSU safety JaCoby Stevens may be heading to the NFL, but he made one final impression in 2020 in a season that saw LSU finish 5-5.

JaCoby Stevens was a driving force within the LSU secondary in 2020.

The senior finished last season with 63 total tackles in 10 games. Stevens was tied for first in tackles with Damone Clark.

He had three sacks for a total of 10 yards and four passes defensed, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. While Derek Stingley Jr. had a down year due to injuries, Stevens was a ball hawking safety that gave the Tigers a huge boost in the secondary.

His ability to break up any pass and make a crucial tackle saved LSU on a few defensive plays in 2020.

Entering his senior year, Stevens was ready to elevate his game and his draft stock. Over the course of his career, the versatile safety had shown flashes of greatness for a stingy LSU defense.

But in 2020, Stevens played one of his best seasons in Baton Rouge. When opposing teams would throw over the top, Stevens was right there with the receiver, ready to break up a potential big gain.

Now, he heads to the NFL to try and take his talents to the next level. This week, Stevens will compete in the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

The opportunity to play in one final game will give NFL scouts a chance to see what Stevens is really made of. Should he perform well, he could hear his name called in the 2021 NFL draft.

While the draft is a few months away, Tigers fans will be excited to see what Stevens can accomplish in the league.