By Hunt Palmer
Jack Pyburn is a man on a mission.
He was tired of limitations and stereotypes. He saw more for himself, and after three years at the University of Florida, the Floridian spread his wings and embraced a new home.
“When I became officially available, LSU contacted me,” Pyburn said. “I went on another visit and had another visit scheduled, but as soon as I stepped on campus (at LSU), I got a feeling. I’m a person in life that is all about feeling. When I get a feel for something and something feels like home, I normally stick with it and ride with it. As soon as I got here, I just had the feeling.”
Once settled, Pyburn focused on football. He didn’t care about the others in the incoming portal class or the roster LSU was assembling. He didn’t mind two other transfer defensive ends being brought in. There was no vendetta against the school he left.
Like a typecast actor, Pyburn wanted to find a new role. For too long he felt he’d been told what he was and what he wasn’t. Ultimately, he set out to create his own reality.
“There’s nothing more powerful than the mind,” Pyburn said. “When you’re in a mindset that you’re defined as something, it’s really hard to break out of that. And that’s a big reason why I felt like I needed to get away from the situation that I was in. Mentally I felt like I was stuck that a was a run defender, and I was this and that, and I wasn’t that athletic. That’s not the truth. The truth is what I make it. That’s really something that I’ve honed in on.”
Pyburn did excel as a run defender at Florida. He made 60 tackles as a junior on the Gator defensive line. Pro Football Focus graded him an elite 78.9 against the run. His strength at the point of attack, toughness in the trenches and willingness to clash with the tackles in the SEC made him perfect for the role.
He wanted to do more.
In three seasons at Florida, Pyburn totaled just one sack. He felt he was dropped into coverage too often and sometimes was taken off the field altogether in obvious passing situations.
LSU edge rushers coach Kevin Peoples has a reputation of unlocking more in his pupils than they’d previously displayed. Just last season Peoples helped Bradyn Swinson make the jump from five total sacks in four years to eight and a half in his fifth. Sai’vion Jones parlayed his strongest season into a third round selection by the Denver Broncos.
Pyburn feels he’s making similar strides.
“I think a big part of that is just how much more athletic I am than I’ve ever been,” Pyburn said. “I’m faster and stronger and twitchier than I’ve ever been. I’ve built the lower body strength that I needed, squatting damn near 600 pounds, running close to 21 mph which is over a mile and hour faster than I was at my previous school. All those things help, and when you get a coach that can really hone in on your exact skillset not just a basic idea of it, exactly what I need to be a successful pass rusher, the angles that I need to take, the tracks that I need to take. It’s been amazing the progress that I’ve made.”
Those results have shown in practice. Pyburn has been a force on the edge for a deep defensive end group. He’s played the edge. He’s shifted inside for pass rush packages. He notched tackles for loss and been credited with sacks.
As Pyburn put it, every goal he has set for himself, he’s reached.
LSU will largely play in a four down lineman defense. There are packages with three, but four will be the base. Pyburn played in Florida’s three down system the last couple of seasons. He’s comfortable in both but prefers the way LSU is operating.
“We have different packages,” Pyburn said. “Second and long packages, third and medium packages. They move me around, three tech, two I, to get those one on ones with guards because I’m fast, physical, strong. I can catch a double team if I need to. I feel like all the different positions I’ve played in my college career have just kind of prepared me for this moment, and I’ve just become such a versatile player.”
Between Pyburn’s experience, versatility, comfort and excitement, to say nothing of his extreme drive, LSU appears to have laded an impact piece out of the transfer portal in its overhauled defense.
Pyburn feels that way.
“I think overall I’m an elite defensive end now,” Pyburn said. “I think every single part of my game is going to be an elite level. It’s incredible. I just feel so confident on the edge. I just don’t really feel like anybody is going to beat me to the edge. The game slows down even more, so I’m just really excited.”
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