LSU Tigers

The Class of 2016 will have new NCAA academic requirements for initial eligibility. Among the changes will be the creation of an "academic redshirt," for athletes who meet some, but not all, initial eligibility requirements. This is similar to, but not the same as, the old "partial qualifier."

It'll be interesting to see how this eventually affects the SEC.

With spring football and the NFL draft in the books, here are five things to know about LSU's secondary:

1. LSU's still DBU: For the second straight year, LSU had the NFL draft's first selected defensive back when cornerback Morris Claiborne went No. 6 overall to the Dallas Cowboys a year after Patrick Peterson went No. 5 overall to the Arizona Cardinals.

Claiborne, safety Brandon Taylor (third round, Chargers) and cornerback Ron Brooks (fourth round, Bills) became the first trio of LSU defensive backs to be selected in the same draft since the 1960s, when the AFL and NFL held separate drafts. And LSU has had defensive backs selected in six straight drafts, including first-rounders Claiborne, Peterson and LaRon Landry (No. 6 overall pick in 2007 by Washington).

So LSU's place as a producer of NFL-quality DB talent has never been stronger. Already, ESPN's Todd McShay has projected safety Eric Reid as a first-rounder for next year. So don't expect the NFL-quality defensive backs coming out of Baton Rouge to end any time soon.

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When Johnny Jones took the men's basketball job at LSU several weeks ago, he said he planned on bringing in three assistants to fill out the coaching aspect of his staff.

Jones brought on two of those three coaches last week when he announced the hirings of Shawn Forrest and Charlie Leonard from his old staff at North Texas. On Tuesday, the last piece of the puzzle came into view, as Jones announced the hiring of former Georgetown assistant Robert Kirby.

Reports began to surface last Friday that Kirby had made the switch from John Thompson III's staff to LSU, and Jones made it official in a press release Tuesday afternoon.

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Only five of LSU's NFL hopefuls made it into the seven rounds of the NFL draft, but plenty more were involved in a flurry of free agent activity during the weekend.

Following the draft's conclusion Saturday night, NFL teams began contacting valued undrafted players about signing free agent contracts. To date, eight LSU players have joined the professional ranks as undrafted free agents, the school announced Monday morning.

Several of those players will be joining their draft pick counterparts. Both center T-Bob Hebert and tight end Deangelo Peterson signed with the St. Louis Rams, who drafted defensive tackle Michael Brockers 14th overall Thursday night.

After San Diego drafted Brandon Taylor in the third round Friday night, the Chargers signed quarterback Jarrett Lee to a free agent deal. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also picked up multiple LSU products, as they signed both linebacker Ryan Baker and quarterback Jordan Jefferson to contracts.

Defensive end Kendrick Adams signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and guard Will Blackwell signed with the Carolina Panthers. Fullback James Stampley has been invited to a free agent tryout with the Seattle Seahawks.

LSU couldn't maintain its weekend trend of earning two draft picks, as the Tigers mustered just one more pick in the 2012 NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon.

That honor went to Ron Brooks, who didn't have to wait too long in Saturday's marathon, which covered rounds four through seven. Brooks was taken 29th in the fourth round (124th overall) by the Buffalo Bills. Brooks' fantastic numbers at this winter's NFL combine undoubtedly helped boost his draft stock. The former dime back didn't manage much time as a starter in Baton Rouge, but he made up for the lack of playing time with a jaw-dropping 4.37 40-yard dash at the combine.

Buffalo is slowly becoming a bit like LSU-North in recent years. Much like the New England Patriots, who seem to continually look at Tiger prospects, the Bills now feature three LSU alums on their defense. In addition to Brooks, Buffalo drafted former LSU linebacker Kelvin Sheppard 68th overall last spring, and they drafted Tiger DT Kyle Williams in the fifth round of the 2006 draft.

No other Tigers heard their names called in the remaining three rounds of the draft, giving LSU a total of five players drafted in 2012. Interestingly enough, that number is the lowest total for LSU since 2007. Five LSU players were drafted in 2007, which was also the last time LSU had multiple first round picks before Morris Claiborne and Michael Brockers were taken in the first round Thursday night.

The draft might have ended with just five players taken, but several more LSU prospects were involved in a flurry of free agent activity on Saturday night.

Two more LSU alums officially entered the NFL on Friday night, but the wait was a bit longer than expected.

Rueben Randle and Brandon Taylor joined first rounders Morris Claiborne and Michael Brockers as members of LSU's 2012 draft class. Randle was drafted by the New York Giants, while Taylor joined the San Diego Chargers. The timing of the pair's selections was a bit surprising, however, as both prospects waited longer than many had projected.

Randle was considered by many a possible first round pick, and he was one of 26 invitees to attend the draft at Radio City Music Hall. Despite that, Randle waited until the last pick of the second round -- going 63rd overall as the final pick of the second round. The drop alone wasn't the only surprising thing -- it was Randle's spot in the pecking over. The junior was considered by some to be one of the draft's three or four best prospects at wide receiver. But by the time the Giants called him, he was the ninth receiver off the board.

Some, including Todd McShay, projected Taylor as a potential second round pick, but the former Tigers' safety dipped into the early portion of the third round. The San Diego Chargers took Taylor 10th in the third round and 73rd overall. He was the fourth safety off the board in a draft that didn't see a lot of demand for ballhawks. After Alabama's Mark Barron and Notre Dame's Harrison Smith went in the first round, only Illinois safety Tavon Wilson went ahead of Taylor, as he was taken 48th in the second round.

No other Tigers went on Friday night, but there was bit of local interest in the New Orleans Saints' 89th overall pick of Akiem Hicks of the University of Regina. Hicks was committed to play for LSU in 2009, but he never had a chance to suit up for the Tigers. Violations in Hicks' recruitment led to a year of probation for the program, as well as the dismissal of former wide receivers coach DJ McCarthy.

With Taylor and Randle's selections, the four primary LSU prospects in this draft class have been taken. But there are still several Tigers in play as the draft enters its later rounds. Ron Brooks, Deangelo Peterson, Ryan Baker, Jordan Jefferson, Jarrett Lee and Will Blackwell are all guys who will be hoping to hear their names called in rounds four through seven on Saturday.