If you're paying attention to LSU's recruiting efforts for the 2010 class, you'll notice the influence of new Tiger defensive coordinator John Chavis on the selection of top targets in the upcoming crop as Chavis seeks to transform the LSU linebacker corps into something more to his liking.That influence is unmistakable, and it's already begun - a perfect example is the moving during spring camp of 2008 starting strong safety Harry Coleman to linebacker, where the word is he'll likely start alongside Perry Riley and Jacob Cutrera this fall. The "undersized" linebacker has been a staple of Chavis defenses at Tennessee, where players like Al Wilson, Jarod Mayo, Kevin Burnett and Rico McCoy have used speed and playmaking ability to become stars despite lacking ideal size - at least upon their arrival on campus.


Smaller linebackers - even the safety/linebacker hybrid players - aren't total unknowns in Baton Rouge. After all, Ali Highsmith fit that description throughout a stellar career ending in the 2007 national championship season, and the 2003 national title campaign probably wouldn't have been possible without the terrific play of Eric Alexander, who spent the first three years of his career at LSU as a safety. Both are in the NFL.
But most of LSU's linebackers in recent years have been along the lines of guys like Luke Sanders, Lionel Turner and Cameron Vaughn - big, physical guys who while they might have run well didn't really have the quickness to, say, cover wide receivers in the slot or be great blitzers.
At the Mike, or middle linebacker, position, the big linebacker still might have a place in LSU's defense, and Chavis has the Tigers recruiting a few candidates fitting the description. Memphis, TN Ridgeway star Justin Maclin (6-4/225) will likely be 240 pounds by the time he's a contributor at the college level, and Maclin sounds like a player LSU very well could land in this class - though it's not out of the question Maclin might end up a defensive end in Tigertown given his size and pass-rushing skills. Other linebackers with size who look like classic Mike prospects LSU is looking hard at are Chase Williams (6-3/235) of Leesburg, VA Loudon County High School and Kendall Moore (6-3/230) of Southeast Raleigh HS in North Carolina. Both have Louisiana ties, as Williams' father Gregg is the new defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints and Moore's family is based on the Northshore. LSU is also in the top four for Bessemer, AL Jess Lanier star LaDarius Owens (6-2/220), who would fit the "big linebacker" category, but most observers see Owens as a pitched battle between Auburn and Alabama and it would be a major upset if LSU was in the race at the end.


But the majority of the linebacker prospects LSU is working on for the coming recruiting class fit the classic Chavis model. The Tigers have already taken commitments from two such prospects - Crowley Notre Dame's D.J. Welter (6-1/215), who used his 4.5 speed to rack up 128 tackles for the state Class 3A runner-up, and Spring, TX Klein Oak's Luke Muncie (6-2/215), who actually played safety in high school - posting 80 tackles and picking off five passes. Welter and Muncie are both fast playmakers with coverage ability and great pursuit skills; they can stay on the field against spread offenses rather than give way to nickels and dimes.


It seems apparent that LSU is going to take at least two more linebackers in this class, probably three. And they're putting themselves in position to add even more of the smaller, quicker types. At next week's camp will be two such prospects - Sugar Land, TX Hightower's Shaun Lewis (6-1/205) and Atlanta, GA Westlake's Michael Taylor (6-0/200). Both have 4.5 speed and tremendous playmaking skills, and both are being heavily recruited. The same is true of a number of other safety/linebacker hybrids LSU is working on - including Corey Nelson (6-0/210) of Dallas, TX Skyline, Travis Williams (6-2/200) of Norfolk, VA Lake Taylor, Neiron Ball (6-3/205) of Jackson, GA and Kevin Nelson (6-2/215) of Gainesville, FL.