Tag: LSU Secondary

Brian Kelly gives an update on Denver Harris after Week 2

Denver Harris has been the topic of conversation for the LSU secondary ever since he decided to transfer from Texas A&M to the Tigers.

[autotag]Denver Harris[/autotag] has been the topic of conversation for the LSU secondary ever since he decided to transfer from Texas A&M to the Tigers. Harris was a five-star recruit in the class of 2022 and he was rated as the No. 22 overall player in the country by On3.

He played in five games for the Aggies during his freshman season making 14 tackles and three pass deflections. He was not redshirted at Texas A&M so he entered this season as a sophomore and as a guy that many thought could start at cornerback early.

So far, that has not been the case. He did not play against Florida State in week one but he finally got on the field against Grambling in Week 2. Here is what [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] had to say when he was asked about Harris’s progress.

“He’s making progress,” Kelly said. “There’s a lot of work to be done. But I’m not going to put a guy on the field unless he is committed to our process. He is not there yet. But, I don’t know if there’s any one guy can say in our program has got it down, yet.

“He is committed to it. If you’re committed to it, we’re gonna work with you. It’s the guys that are not committed to it, guys that don’t want to do the little things the right way, that we’re gonna let you figure it out. And, we’ll let you figure it out watching. [Harris] tried that. He didn’t like watching. So he’s doing a good job.”

LSU’s secondary has looked rough in the first two games. If Harris can buy into the program I believe he can help.

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Sage Ryan seeing time as LSU’s starting nickel in spring practice

Matt House likes the growth he’s seeing from Ryan

[autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] is one just a few returning defensive backs that saw significant playing time in 2022.

According to defensive coordinator [autotag]Matt House[/autotag], he could be in line for more in 2023. Ryan has been running with the first-teamers as LSU’s nickel back in spring practice.

Ryan, a five-star recruit in 2021, is entering his third year with the program.

Ryan made plays here and there but struggled to establish consistency. His playing time varied last year. He had four games with 10 snaps or less but also crossed the 40-play mark a couple of times.

He saw a lot of action against Purdue where he arguably had his best coverage game. He allowed just 6.2 yards per target against the Boilermakers and broke up a pass.

According to PFF, Ryan missed just one tackle the entire year.

Despite the flashes of talent, there were some not-so-good moments. Ryan had a 119.7 passer rating when targeted.

In the slot, that number went up to 124.3, which ranked last in the SEC among corners with at least 70 snaps in the slot.

Ryan’s athleticism and versatility offer a lot. If he can take another jump in pass coverage, he could become a solid contributor for this defense. It sounds like House is pleased with the progress he’s seeing from Ryan.

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LSU football’s Greg Brooks Jr. plans to uphold ‘DBU’ tradition in 2023

Can LSU maintain its DBU claim in 2023?

LSU is one of several college football programs that considers itself the premier producer of defensive back talent in the country and has adopted the moniker “DBU” to reflect that.

Though that is a point of contention with several other schools, given that the Tigers have produced players like [autotag]Patrick Peterson[/autotag], [autotag]Tyrann Mathieu[/autotag] and [autotag]Jamal Adams[/autotag], just to name a few, they certainly have a case.

This year’s group of defensive backs will feature a lot of new faces after a number of players departed and were subsequently replaced in the transfer portal with players like [autotag]Duce Chestnut[/autotag], [autotag]Denver Harris[/autotag] and [autotag]Zy Alexander[/autotag].

[autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag], one of the few returning veterans in the defensive backfield, said this year’s group has what it takes to keep that DBU tradition alive, according to On3.

“It’s great, you know what I’m saying. We gotta keep the tradition going. It’s gonna be a fun year,” said Brooks. “We have a lot of new guys. And I feel like a lot of us are gonna step up to keep that name, upholding this tradition.”

After a portal-heavy rebuild in the secondary last offseason, Kelly had to do so once again. Sustaining success that way may not be easy, but there’s no denying the talent on the roster at the position.

LSU fans will hope Brooks is right and the defensive backs can continue to be a strength.

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Brian Kelly opens up about Denver Harris’ exit from Texas A&M

Kelly spoke about the process that went into Harris’ recruitment following his messy exit from Texas A&M.

When [autotag]Denver Harris[/autotag] left Texas A&M and hit the transfer portal, there was no question about his talent.

He was one of the best available players — a former five-star who fit the bill when he was on the field, too.

But there were questions about his messy exit from A&M. Harris was one of several A&M players disciplined last fall. He went from a freshman phenom to not seeing the field.

LSU needed corners and Harris’ talent was too big to ignore, but in Brian Kelly’s time at LSU, he’s said LSU just doesn’t want to take anyone from the portal – especially if there were issues at the previous stop.

Harris committed to LSU in December, helping to address that need in the secondary.

Kelly spoke about the process that went into that after Tuesday’s practice.

It sounds like Kelly feels whatever happened with Harris at A&M is behind him. Kelly trusts in the culture that he’s building at LSU.

“So far, so good,” he said.

LSU will need the situation to remain that way as Harris figures to be a key part of the defense in 2023.

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LSU State of the Program: Secondary looks to build a foundation

Here’s what to expect from LSU’s secondary this year and moving forward.

Thinking about the lead-up to last season, I think I wrote more about LSU’s new-look secondary than anything else. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] rebuilding the room from scratch was a major storyline.

A year later, I’m getting deja vu. LSU, once again, has taken to the portal to fill out the secondary.

Several of last year’s additions were on the older side, approaching the end of their eligibility or in the case of [autotag]Mekhi Garner[/autotag] and [autotag]Jay Ward[/autotag], ready to declare for the draft.

[autotag]Jarrick Bernard-Converse[/autotag], [autotag]Joe Foucha[/autotag] and [autotag]Colby Richardson[/autotag] are gone, too.

A few younger players choose to exit through the portal. [autotag]Raydarious Jones[/autotag], [autotag]Jaelyn Davis-Robinson[/autotag] and [autotag]Damarius McGhee[/autotag] will all be playing elsewhere.

There’s no cause for concern yet with some of the portal’s best corners set to wear purple and gold. Here’s what the group looks like in 2023 and beyond.

Key LSU defender announces plans to return in 2023

Greg Brooks Jr. is coming back to Baton Rouge for one more ride.

The Tigers will once again be undergoing a full-on rebuild of the secondary this offseason, but they won’t have to start from scratch.

On Friday, starter [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag] announced that he would be returning to LSU for one more season. A transfer from Arkansas, Brooks began the 2022 seasons as a starter at corner before eventually swapping spots with [autotag]Jay Ward[/autotag] and moving to safety.

He started 12 games and appeared in all 13, totaling 61 tackles (two for loss), a sack, a forced fumble, four pass deflections and an interception, which sealed the win over Auburn.

“Normally, this is where you hear the part about moving on to the next chapter, but I believe my story in Baton Rouge is not over,” Brooks said. “I will continue on this Path to Greatness at LSU for one more year. I want to close this chapter the right way alongside my brothers and Tiger Nation.”

Between transfers and the exits of [autotag]Mekhi Garner[/autotag] and Ward for the draft (plus the expected exit of [autotag]Joe Foucha[/autotag]), LSU will definitely have a new-look secondary next year. But Brooks should bring a much-needed veteran presence to the room.

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LSU again wearing thin in the secondary entering the offseason

How Brian Kelly rebuilds the secondary will go a long way toward shaping LSU’s 2023 roster.

One of Brian Kelly’s first tasks at LSU this time last year was rebuilding the secondary.

The conclusion of 2021 saw [autotag]Derek Stingley Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Cordale Flott[/autotag] head to the NFL while [autotag]Eli Ricks[/autotag] and [autotag]Dwight McGlothern[/autotag] enter the transfer portal.

LSU returned almost no experience at cornerback and a group of safeties that struggled.

The coaching staff did an admirable job filling the holes, getting the likes of [autotag]Mekhi Garner[/autotag], [autotag]Jarrick Bernard-Converse[/autotag], [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Foucha[/autotag] from the transfer portal.

[autotag]Major Burns[/autotag], [autotag]Jay Ward[/autotag] and [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] took some steps forward along with the portal additions, and the Tigers’ secondary did a fine job in 2022.

Kelly and company will now be faced with a similar task this offseason.

Ward has declared for the draft and will likely be joined by Bernard-Converse and Garner. The latter has eligibility left but played well enough to earn a spot on Sundays.

Foucha, a fifth-year player, will be off to give it a shot in the league too.

[autotag]Demarius McGhee[/autotag] and [autotag]Raydarious Jones[/autotag], two talented recruits who have been depth pieces for the last couple of years, have entered the portal.

The Tigers should remain fine at safety. There’s a chance LSU gets Brooks back along with Burns. Ryan played a lot of nickel this fall but has the ability to play on the backend. LSU’s 2023 recruiting class currently holds three commitments from blue-chip safeties, too.

The picture grows murky when looking at the cornerbacks. There aren’t many in-house options, especially on the outside.

There’s still [autotag]Sevyn Banks[/autotag], the talented Ohio State transfer whose career has been interrupted by injuries. He made his way back on the field for LSU but was injured once again shortly after.

With a full, healthy offseason under his belt, he could emerge as a solid option in 2023.

Then there’s [autotag]Laterrance Welch[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaelyn Davis-Robinson[/autotag], two talented freshmen that impressed [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] in fall camp but took a redshirt. Without significant additions in the portal, LSU will be relying on both to develop quickly. Even if both pan out in 2023, depth is still a major concern.

The Tigers could be gearing up to add some big-time corners to their 2023 freshmen class. LSU is well positioned with [autotag]Desmond Ricks[/autotag] and [autotag]Javien Toviano[/autotag].

Landing Ricks and Toviano a year after Welch and Davis-Robinson would lay a young foundation of talent and put LSU in a place where it wasn’t relying on the portal to build its secondary every year.

When LSU does start looking in the portal, look for the Tigers to get after names like Fentrell Cypress and JQ Hardaway. Both corners are two of the better players currently on the transfer market and respectively come from Virginia and Cincinnati. LSU has staffers with connections to both programs.

LSU landed two quality corners last year in Garner and Bernard-Converse. You could even throw in [autotag]Colby Richardson[/autotag], who made some positive contributions, as well.

It’s tough to imagine LSU’s defense having the same level of success this year without them. It’ll be just as critical to land at least two quality corners again.

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Joe Foucha’s breakout game elevates LSU’s secondary moving forward

Joe Foucha was one of LSU’s standout performers against Ole Miss. His breakout should elevate the secondary.

Down 24-20 in the second half, Ole Miss was deep in LSU territory and threatening to take the lead.

Rebels QB Jaxson Dart took the snap and faked a handoff to Quinshon Judkins before looking for Malik Heath on a fade route in the end zone. Under pressure from [autotag]Micah Baskerville[/autotag], the throw came up short well short of Heath, who was tightly covered by [autotag]Jarrick Bernard-Converse[/autotag].

[autotag]Joe Foucha[/autotag], playing under Heath, made a break on the ball. He extended one hand and reeled the ball in, picking off Dart.

The pick stopped any momentum Ole Miss had gotten back and put LSU in a position to pull away. [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] and the Tigers offense made the most of the ensuing drive, scoring a touchdown to go up 31-20.

 

Foucha missed the first four games of the season due to academic suspension. He returned against Auburn, playing 36 snaps. He saw significantly less time against Tennessee, getting just 6 snaps.

But over the last two weeks, Foucha has seen 160 snaps, taking over a full time role. Per PFF, Foucha was LSU’s highest-graded defender against Ole Miss.

Foucha was targeted four times and allowed just four catches for two yards. He had a 17.7 passer rating when targeted. Without [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag], LSU needed Foucha to step up at safety and he did.

Foucha and [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag] aren’t guys that will fly around on the back end and run with speedsters in man coverage, but they’re competent veterans who provide LSU with versatility at the position.

Foucha played 15 snaps in the box, 30 at free safety and 31 in the slot. On a few occasions, he even crept up on the edge.

Against Auburn, Foucha struggled in pass coverage, allowing three catches for 63 yards. Against Florida, he missed a couple of tackles but was better in pass coverage.

Foucha is an experienced player, but it’s understandable that it could take some time to settle in. It appears he’s now done just that. LSU had been getting solid performances from its corners, but safety had been inconsistent.

Burns was good, but his injury raised some questions. The staff tried putting Bernard-Converse back there, but his talents are best served on the outside. Brooks and [autotag]Jay Ward[/autotag] have gone back and forth between nickel and safety, but Ward seems to have found a home at nickel.

There’s a chance LSU has Burns back against Alabama, and his skillset is something LSU misses on the backend. But the emergence of Foucha gives LSU some comfort. This is the most well-rounded the secondary has been all year.

[autotag]Mekhi Garner[/autotag], Ward, [autotag]Colby Richardson[/autotag] and [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] allowed just four combined catches against the Rebels.

LSU’s going to need all hands on deck with Bryce Young coming to town in two weeks. Saturday wasn’t perfect, and the Tigers defense still has some big play issues.

A secondary that was once a major question mark is continuing to round into shape and Foucha’s performance only lends more reason for Tiger fans to be optimistic about this defense.

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Evaluating every LSU defensive back through seven games

Here’s how every LSU DB has fared seven games into the season.

LSU’s secondary was one of its biggest question marks entering the year.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] hit the transfer portal hard, adding [autotag]Mekhi Garner[/autotag], [autotag]Jarrick Bernard-Converse[/autotag], [autotag]Sevyn Banks[/autotag], [autotag]Colby Richardson[/autotag], [autotag]Joe Foucha[/autotag] and [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag]

LSU also had some significant returners in [autotag]Jay Ward[/autotag], [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag] and [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag].

Garner, Bernard-Converse, Richardson, Brooks and Ward have played the majority of the snaps. Prior to his injury, Burns played as much as anyone, and Foucha missed the first four games, but his working his way into a sizeable role.

For the most part, the results have exceeded expectations, but there have been issues when it comes to giving up explosive plays. Here’s how each has performed to this point, per the advanced statistics from Pro Football Focus.