Tag: Sage Ryan

Brian Kelly talks about Sage Ryan’s upside

Last season, Brian Kelly depended on a lot of transfer players to fill pivotal roles in the LSU secondary.

Last season, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] depended on a lot of transfer players to fill pivotal roles in the LSU secondary. With a lot of those guys gone, Kelly is looking for someone to step up and fill the void.

He believes that redshirt sophomore [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] could be that guy. Ryan played in 14 games last fall, making one start, as he made 23 tackles and had one forced fumble.

Ryan was a four-star recruit out of Lafayette Christian Academy in Lafayette, Louisiana, when he committed to LSU in 2021. Kelly believes that Ryan possesses some of the traits needed to be a great player in the secondary and maybe not just at safety.

“One thing that we really are concerned about is making sure that we tackle the football and having a great tackler out there. Sage has been a really steady tackler for us,” Kelly said. “So, he brings a lot of those traits to that position and gives us flexibility to put a guy that’s played a lot of football out there, that runs really well and can tackle in a position to help us,” Kelly said.

Ryan has been banged up a little this fall, but Kelly says it is just minor and it shouldn’t be an issue. Could this be a breakout year for Ryan?

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LSU dealing with several injuries in secondary ahead of season

The Tigers could enter the season with some depth concerns in the defensive backfield.

We’re less than two weeks away from LSU beginning its 2023 campaign against the Florida State Seminoles in Orlando, but the Tigers are currently battling a few injuries in one of the thinner position groups on the field.

LSU currently has several players in the secondary working to get back to full health. The most significant is cornerback [autotag]JK Johnson[/autotag], an Ohio State transfer who was expected to compete for a starting job but is currently out indefinitely with a fractured foot.

On3’s Matthew Brune also provided injury reports on two other players. [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag], who’s having a good camp and could win the nickel job, was injured during Saturday’s scrimmage, ending his day.

If Ryan is unavailable for the opener, it’s possible we could see safety [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag] move back to nickel, where he began the 2022 season.

Safety [autotag]Matthew Langlois[/autotag] has missed a lot of camp, which is concerning given his injury history. He was expected to provide some key depth, and his absence for the start of the season would raise even more questions about the group.

That’s not even mentioning the status of [autotag]Denver Harris[/autotag], who returned to the field on Saturday after missing a week of practice. It’s still not entirely clear if he’s going to play against the Seminoles.

LSU has luckily managed to stay healthy among starters in the defensive backfield, but it could enter the season with some serious depth concerns.

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Sage Ryan ready to take on bigger role in 2023

Sage Ryan could be poised for a breakout third year with the Tigers.

LSU’s secondary features a lot of new faces after another big-time transfer portal haul. But perhaps one of the most intriguing players in the group is one that LSU recruited and developed themselves.

After redshirting his first season in 2021, [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] saw a lot of action off the bench in 2022. He played in all 14 games, but he only made one start.

Ryan is looking to change that this time around, and he’s vying for a starting spot at nickel in 2023. After seeing action as a utility weapon in high school, Ryan said focusing on one position has helped him grow.

“It was hard my first two years to adapt because I only played offense in high school and was a top athlete,” Ryan told the media, per On3. “When I finally focused on one position on the defensive side, it was a different challenge for me. When I broke down the playbook it really helped me understand everything. Now, things are moving a lot slower for me on the field.

“I’d say my man coverage and my ball skills have been the main focus – just making a play with the ball in the air. It was mostly my one-on-one coverage. I’ve got zone coverage down, with my eye progressions, but it’s just doing your job.”

Ryan will certainly face some competition at nickel. The Tigers added a potential starter there in Syracuse transfer [autotag]Duce Chestnut[/autotag], and true freshman [autotag]Javien Toviano[/autotag] has repped at safety and nickel in what has reportedly been an impressive camp.

Still, Ryan has the benefit of experience and knowing the defensive system, which should help him secure his biggest role yet on defense.

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2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 22 Duce Chestnut

Duce Chestnut comes in after two years as a starter at Syracuse.

Going into the 2023 football season, LSU Wire will be looking at each player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Brian Kelly this season.

Once again, arguably the biggest storyline on the defensive side of the ball this offseason is the class of transfer additions in the secondary. One of the more intriguing players in that group is [autotag]Duce Chestnut[/autotag], who was a standout in his first two seasons at Syracuse.

Duce Chestnut Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Camden, New Jersey

Ht: 5-11

Wt: 200

247Sports Composite Ranking

Three Stars | No. 7 in New Jersey | No. 31 Cornerback

Class in 2022: Sophomore

Career Stats

Year G Total Solo TFL Sack FF PD INT
2021 (Syracuse) 12 43 32 3.5 0 0 8 3
2022 (Syracuse) 12 40 27 1.5 0 0 1 1


Depth Chart Overview

Chestnut immediately became a starter after arriving at Syracuse, starting all 12 games as a true freshman while earning Freshman All-America and Third Team All-ACC honors. He also finished as the runner up for ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.

He started all 12 games again last fall, earning All-ACC Honorable Mention. His interception numbers dropped from three to one, though he took his lone pick to the house against Wagner.

After arriving at LSU this offseason, he’s expected to take over the starting nickel role, though he’ll have to compete with returning player [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag], who showed some promise last season, as well.

Duce Chestnut’s Photo Gallery

2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 15 Sage Ryan

Sage Ryan will look to build on a promising redshirt freshman season.

Going into the 2023 football season, LSU Wire will be looking at each player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Brian Kelly this season.

We’re taking a look at a returning player who could be poised to break out among a group filled with transfers. [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag] missed much of his true freshman season due to injuries, but he took a step forward last fall, becoming a regular contributor

Sage Ryan’s Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Lafayette, Louisiana

Ht: 5-11

Wt: 202

247Sports Composite Ranking

Five Stars | No. 2 in Louisiana | No. 2 Safety

Class in 2021: Redshirt Freshman

Career Stats

Year G Total Solo Sack PD INT FF FR
2021 4 6 2 0 2 0 0 0
2022 14 23 14 0 0 0 2 2

Depth Chart Overview

Ryan was the second-highest-rated recruit in LSU’s 2021 recruiting class coming out of high school, but he had a minimal impact as a true freshman due to injuries. In the four games he appeared in, he totaled just six tackles and two pass deflections.

He saw a much bigger role this past fall, appearing in all 14 games with one start against Ole Miss, in which he totaled a career-high five tackles. He finished the year with 23, forcing two fumbles and recovering two as well.

Ryan can play nickel or safety, but his easiest path to the field is likely at the former spot. He’ll compete with Syracuse transfer [autotag]Duce Chestnut[/autotag] for that starting job this fall.

Sage Ryan’s Photo Gallery

Elite Louisiana prospect opens up committment

Ju’Juan Johnson has reopened his recruitment after the former Colorado commit took a visit to Boulder.

One of LSU’s top targets has reopened his commitment.

Four-star DB [autotag]Ju’Juan Johnson[/autotag] decommitted from Colorado following a visit over the weekend.

According to the 247Sports Composite, Johnson is the sixth-best prospect in Louisiana’s 2024 class. From Lafayette, Johnson has earned offers from many of the country’s top programs.

LSU was in hot pursuit before Johnson committed to Deion Sanders at Colorado. With the recruitment back open, LSU could hop right back in the race.

We’ve seen several LSU recruiting battles play out in a similar way before. A top prospect commits to go out of state before flipping to stay home later in the cycle.

[autotag]Ja’Marr Chase[/autotag] is one example. More recently, we saw it with QB [autotag]Rickie Collins[/autotag] last year.

LSU has a strong connection with Johnson’s high school, Lafayette Christian Academy.

LCA’s head coach is [autotag]Trev Faulk[/autotag], a former LSU linebacker and cousin of LSU legend [autotag]Kevin Faulk[/autotag].

Current Tigers [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag], [autotag]Jordan Allen[/autotag] and [autotag]Fitzgerald West[/autotag] were all LCA prospects.

It’ll take some time to get a feel for where LSU stands with Johnson, but the Tigers have as good a chance as anyone to keep the blue-chip prospect at home.

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Recapping biggest news out of LSU’s spring practice

Here’s everything you might have missed from LSU’s ongoing spring practices.

LSU’s spring practice has been going on for over a month now. It’s set to conclude next week with a final event in Tiger Stadium. It won’t be a traditional spring game, and coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] still hasn’t announced all of the details for what that practice might look like.

Every program views spring practice in a different way. It can be hard to make any conclusions this time of year. Another transfer window awaits, some freshmen have yet to arrive and fall practice will bring its own narratives.

That being said, there’s still a good bit to get caught up on. Here’s all the news you might have missed from LSU’s spring practice so far.

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 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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