LSU Tigers

As LSU prepares to begin spring practice March 14, GeauxTigerNation will take daily looks at aspects of the spring camp. This is the third in the series:

BATON ROUGE, La. -- If you watched the NFL combine, you saw former LSU defensive linemen and defensive backs lining up to take their turns in drills.

So you want to know the areas of need as we head to the spring?

The combine gave you most of the answers.

Defensive end

Players lost: Barkevious Mingo, Sam Montgomery, Lavar Edwards, Chauncey Aghayere

Experience returning: Jermauria Rasco

Other candidates: Danielle Hunter, Jordan Allen, Justin Maclin.

Outlook: LSU won't have all of its candidates until August, when a trio of true freshmen arrive. But it'll be interesting to see who emerges out of the four veterans. Rasco worked his way into the top four last season and Hunter was a nice special teams player. Allen is coming off a knee injury. Any strong play from these four would be great news in the spring.

Defensive tackle

Players lost: Bennie Logan, Josh Downs

Experience returning: Anthony Johnson, Ego Ferguson

Others: Quentin Thomas, Mickey Johnson, Christian LaCouture.

Outlook: LSU is a little more solid here than at end because Johnson and Ferguson have seen plenty of snaps. Ferguson needs to step his game up though. There's a lot of talk that Thomas is a guy who might step up and earn significant playing time, possibly even challenging Ferguson for a starting spot. True freshman Maquedius Bain and Greg Gilmore will arrive in August. Another freshman, LaCouture, is already on campus.

Middle linebacker

Player lost: Kevin Minter

Experience returning: Lots of players, but are there any natural MLBs?

Outlook: This position is more a matter of finding the right guy than finding a guy. Does LSU move weak linebacker Lamin Barrow there? Does D.J. Welter, who was second team in the Chick-fil-A bowl after missing the season for academic reasons, get a shot? How about young Ronnie Feist? There are no shortage of candidates. It's just a matter of finding the right fit.

Left tackle

Player lost: Chris Faulk, Josh Dworaczyk

Experience returning: La'el Collins (could be moved from left guard), Vadal Alexander (could be moved from right tackle).

Others: Jerald Hawkins, Evan Washington, Jonah Austin, Ethan Pocic.

Outlook: Like middle linebacker, there are candidates here, but which one is the best fit? Collins was a highly-regarded prospect coming out of high school, but he got comfortable at left guard as a sophomore and there could be a reluctance to move him. Hawkins is a talented redshirt freshman, but do you really want a redshirt freshman blocking quarterback Zach Mettenberger's blind side? Alexander, last year's starter at right tackle, could be an option as well, but that would leave the Tigers having to find a new starter for two positions.

Heading into the 2012 season, it was hard to find a more well-rounded SEC defensive end than LSU's Sam Montgomery.

He could have left school early last year and headed for the NFL, and no one would have questioned him. But he decided to stay in Baton Rouge to not only become a better player but he wanted to earn his degree as well.

To him, the league could wait.

Through three games, Montgomery has registered seven tackles, with 2.5 for loss and a sack, and has three quarterback hurries.

Montgomery took some time out of his busy schedule to talk with ESPN.com about the season so far and how he really feels about turning down millions in the NFL.

You had kind of an awkward start to the year by not starting, but you've come on strong since. How have the first three weeks of the season been like for you?

Sam Montgomery: This year, so far, has been like a roller-coaster ride for me. It's been up and down, up and down. But the one thing that's stayed consistent is that I've gone out there and played my hardest and played my technique. I try to get off my block and try to make all the tackles that I can and stay excited for the team, being as I'm one of the energy guys out there. They feed off my energy. My plays will come, but the overall thing is that I play my assignment with full effort, full technique and everything comes together for the team. The "W" is what's important.

What was going through your mind when the coaches came to you and said you wouldn't be starting the opener?

SM: When I wasn't starting, I looked at it as we have the best, top 3 defensive ends in the country. It also gave my buddy Lavar [Edwards] a chance to show and display his talent, which he's been doing a great job of consistently. That will probably give him a higher chance at the next level and to pursue his career and dreams because he's a great defensive end. I have no problem with me, [Barkevious] Mingo or Lavar [playing] because I know they'll go out there and handle their jobs. All I know is that third man, no matter who it is, it's going to add on some extra pressure for that tackle coming in because we have three powerful forces, plus, the young guy Chancey Aghayere.

With all the hype and attention you got heading into the season, did not going out first in the opener motivate you?

SM: Of course it did. Being a guy that doesn't really listen to what people say or look at where everybody ranks me at, I'm just trying to help and win games so I can make my memories with my teammates last a little bit longer. That's all that really matters to me. What other people think is all good, well and dandy, but, at the end of the day, it's all about LSU and all about my defensive line being able to play longer into the season together, so we can build our memories and our friendships that will last forever.

(Read full post)