Here's what the LSU football safety room looks like heading into preseason practice
BATON ROUGE — As much work as the cornerbacks needed from the disappointing 2023 season performance to now, LSU football's safeties needed just as much work.
The Tigers' pass defense was abysmal last season and, while there were some injuries at both safety positions, the group's issues were glaring.
For Brian Kelly and new safeties coach Jake Olsen, there are some players that have experience — while some others that the coaching staff are really high on. Junior Sage Ryan started last year and while he'll likely get most of his work this preseason at corner to help with depth, he's spent plenty of time playing on the backend and can still do so. Senior Major Burns is one of LSU's top NFL prospects and looks to perform better after leading the defense in tackles last season.
Sophomore Jordan Allen, who played a lot in the second half of 2023, is a player that LSU coaches are excited about coming into the season. Freshman Dashawn Spears has a ton of skill. Junior Jardin Gilbert and freshmen Kylin Jackson and Joel Rogers have been with the team and looks to carve out roles.
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Projected starters: Major Burns, Sr.; Jordan Allen, Soph.
Reserves: Dashawn Spears, Fr.; Jardin Gilbert, Jr.; Joel Rogers, Fr.; Kylin Jackson, Fr.; Ju'Juan Johnson, Fr.; Austin Ausberry, Soph.; Quad Wilson, Sr.; Tyson Short, Fr.; Skip Velotta, Sr.
As far as talent, the safety spots may be the one of the deeper rooms on the team in 2024. Burns sets the table for this group that just hasn't quite found its way yet — and now having to learn a new system.
Allen looks primed to be a key contributor — likely a starter a free safety. Spears will surprise people. At 6-foot-3, 208 pounds, he looks the part and backs it up with physicality needed near the line of scrimmage.
Jackson and Rogers are capable athletes and provide needed depth while guys like Johnson and Ausberry could see the field in less stressful situations to get some experience with the Tigers.
The upside
If there's one silver lining about last season's slog of a campaign is that expectations aren't soaring for LSU's secondary. But this room can rotate and have six capable tandems in the game at any point.
That's something Kelly and the defensive coaches didn't have a season ago. A player of Burns' stature will be key for the safeties as the younger one continue to develop.
One question or concern
New defensive coordinator Blake Baker's scheme for free safeties if predicated on reads, as well as covering downfield in man-on-man situations, which will be plentiful.
Timing and ball-hawk skills will be tested and how the group answers the call will be paramount. Will LSU's safeties be able to hold on in coverage of receivers and tight ends?
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Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz atbdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: What LSU football's safety room looks like heading into fall camp
