 "Photo: JOEY BORDELON / The Daily Reveille")
For most teams, it would be awfully tough to replace a senior cornerback drafted into the NFL who has started for the better part of three years. But the Tigers have to replace two.
Both Corey Webster and Travis Daniels are playing for NFL teams, but the remaining defensive backs said they feel it is just a matter of replacing the right players.
One position that has little doubt is free safety.
LaRon Landry, who has started 22 games since his freshman season, led the team last year in interceptions with four, and in tackles with 92.
Teammates say Landry is the leader of the secondary, but feel he does most of his leading on the field, not vocally.
This year Landry won’t have the assurance of Webster and Daniels on both corners, but does not expect the secondary to fall apart.
“At a program like this, when you lose great players like that, you just reload,” said defensive back Sammy Joseph. “It shouldn’t be much of a drop-off, if any.”
Joseph, a transfer from Colorado University, is back in Louisiana after earning Prep All-American honors at Archbishop Shaw High School in New Orleans. After leaving the Big XII Conference, Joseph is ready to prove he can play in the Southeastern Conference.
“With me missing last year and coming into a new conference, I definitely feel I have something to prove.” Joseph said. “Coming into the SEC, which is the best conference in America, I have to prove that I can play with these guys and I definitely feel I can do that.”
Cornerback Mario Stevenson, who transferred from Northeast Mississippi Junior College last season, injured his foot against Arkansas State, missed the remainder of the season and was not granted another year of eligibility.
After being declared a partial qualifier in 2001 because of academic reasons, Ronnie Prude remained focused in the classroom and graduated this summer.
The NCAA rewarded an extra year of eligibility to Prude, who heads into the season as the projected starter at cornerback. As a third cornerback last season, he recorded 28 tackles, one sack and one interception in 12 games.
Chevis Jackson, a sophomore, may already be the best cover corner on the team.
The cornerback from Mobile, Ala., played in all 12 games as a true freshman last season. Jackson said he grasped everything he could from last year’s NFL draft picks Webster and Daniels.
“I just learned how to play the game from those guys,” Jackson said. “They also helped me tremendously with my confidence and learning plays.” Jackson will take that knowledge into this season, as he is battling to be the starter at right cornerback.
Junior Jessie Daniels rounds out the secondary as the starter at strong safety. Known as the quarterback of the defense, Daniels makes most of the defensive calls and changes in the secondary.
Keron Gordon will back up Daniels at strong safety and is looking to break out this season after showing flashes of his potential throughout his career, including an interception against Mississippi State in 2004.
Landry said the main concern with this year’s secondary, their lack of experience, should not be a problem.
“I think we’ll be fine with Chevis and Prude stepping in because they’re both experienced.” Landry said. “They have experience in nickel and dime packages. And when Corey was out with an injury Prude stepped in and played very good for us.”
Contact Jeff Martin at jmartin@lsureveille.com
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