By Hunt Palmer
Over his final two seasons at LSU, BJ Ojulari amassed 12.5 sacks. As he moved on and passed the torch to the next men up, that production flatlined. A group of Sai’vion Jones, Bradyn Swinson, Ovi Oghoufo, Paris Shand, Dashawn Womack and Quency Wiggins combined for 11.5 sacks last year. In the season’s biggest games, LSU mounted essentially zero pass rush. Florida State’s Jordan Travis was never sacked. Nor was Ole Miss’s Jaxon Dart. Jalen Milroe went down twice, but considering Alabama allowed more sacks than literally ever other SEC team, a pair of sacks doesn’t merit a crawfish bowl in celebration. Great LSU defenses have featured a feared edge rusher like Ojulari, K’Lavon Chaisson, Arden Key, Barkevious Mingo, Sam Montgomery, etc. LSU’s search for the next one continues.
WHO’S GONE: Ovi Oghoufo (Graduation), Quency Wiggins (Transfer), Jaxon Howard (Transfer)
WHO’S BACK: Sai’vion Jones, Bradyn Swinson, Paris Shand, Da’Shawn Womack, Dylan Carpenter
WHO’S NEW: Gabriel Reliford (Freshman), C.J. Jackson (Freshman), Kolaj Cobbins (Freshman)
Sai’von Jones checks every box physically. He’s 6-foot-6. He weighs 280 lbs. He runs well and is blessed with long limbs. Everything set up for him to break out in a big way last season, his third in college. It just didn’t happen. Jones tallied just two and a half sacks to go with seven hurries. Even more disappointing was the fact that he only made one other tackle behind the line of scrimmage all season. To be fair to Jones, he has played for five defensive line coaches in three seasons. He’s now on his sixth. That would be tough on any player or position group. Those tools remain. Can he emerge in his final season? Early returns in Fall Camp suggest it’s possible. Jones has been the only man to beat All-American tackle Will Campbell in pass rush drills. The St. James High product has lost some weight and may be in for his best season as a Tiger.
Bradyn Swinson came over from Oregon last season and was probably LSU’s best edge rusher. He led the team with nine hurries. His huge sack in the fourth quarter at Missouri helped put that game away, and he made a prime time play to strip Florida’s Graham Mertz for a turnover against the Gators. Swinson was absent for the first portion of camp while he and Jalen Lee completed a Spanish course. Since returning, Swinson has been among the best edge presences at practice.
Jones and Swinson likely lead the way for this group, but Da’Shawn Womack will have something to say about that. In his first season, Womack made a couple of impactful plays to help win SEC tilts. His sack on a third down against Arkansas forced a field goal try. Then he came flying off the edge to notch a sack against Texas A&M in a game LSU trailed by two scores before the offense came to life to down the Aggies. Womack, a former five-star recruit, has double digit sack potential. When you explore the personnel on LSU’s defense looking for a player or two to help spearhead a renaissance, Womack’s name jumps off the page.
The next man up might just be Gabirel Reliford. A one-time Aggie commitment, the Shreveporter flipped to the home state school and figures to play a role at a position that lacks a little bit of depth. Certainly, Paris Shand could log some snaps on the edge, but the thought is that he’ll play some on the inside as well, especially on third downs. Reliford is a strong athlete will a quality mix of pass rush moves. Week one against USC may be an assignment for the older players, but Reliford should be a prime candidate to get some action in the weeks that follow in hopes he emerges as a viable option.
And don’t sleep on freshman Kolaj Cobbins. The St. Rose native has flashed serious pass rush ability in limited action. Much of his work has been against younger offensive linemen, but the quickness and athleticism have been apparent. Cobbins may have to wait his turn behind some older players, but the four-star prep prospect may be a future star.
LSU simply didn’t do enough to affect passers last year. And big plays behind the line of scrimmage were few and far between. That must change this year. New defensive coordinator Blake Baker enjoys aggressive defensive play calling. That could create more opportunities for this group to get after the passer on obvious passing downs.
