LSU Tigers: Corey Raymond
BATON ROUGE, La. -- By the middle of August camp, free safety Eric Reid was the only returning starter in LSU's vaunted secondary.
After Heisman Trophy finalist Tyrann Mathieu was dismissed from the team, Reid, the junior free safety from Geismar, became the elder statesman and responded with a solid, 91-tackle, two-interception season during which he was the Tigers' unquestioned leader in the secondary and became a consensus All-American.
His end of the bargain held up, Reid announced his decision Friday to leave LSU for the NFL. He wasn't the only one.
In a mild surprise, junior cornerback Tharold Simon also declared for the draft after leading the team with four interceptions and 13 passes defended. A first-year starter in 2012, he was a key piece to the LSU secondary in 2011 as the fifth defensive back whose presence allowed the Tigers to use Mathieu as a nickel back.
With their departures, all six of LSU's primary defensive backs on the 2011 team -- Simon, Reid, Mathieu, cornerback Morris Claiborne, safety Brandon Taylor and dime back Ron Brooks -- probably will be on NFL rosters next season.
Regardless, LSU looks to be in better shape next season than it was entering 2012. Where only two of the top six DBs returned for the 2012 season, the Tigers should still have four of their top six back next season.
Junior strong safety Craig Loston probably will return for his senior year and starting cornerback Jalen Mills, nickel back Jalen Collins and dime back Micah Eugene were all freshmen.
That bodes well for the Tigers' secondary, which outperformed expectations most of the year, given that Mathieu's departure forced LSU to have to start a true freshman, Mills, in his place. The Tigers did struggle down the stretch, allowing four straight 300-yard passing games to finish the season.
Developing young talent will be crucial this offseason. Ronald Martin, Eugene, Corey Thompson and Jerqwinick Sandolph are young safeties who might vie for Reid's free safety spot. LSU has one 2013 recruit committed, Jeremy Cutrer. But LSU is pursuing more, including ESPN 150 safety Priest Willis.
At cornerback, Collins figures to replace Mills and LSU also returns Dwayne Thomas and Derrick Raymond and has a talented class of cornerbacks coming on signing day, including three four-star prospects -- Jeryl Brazil, Tre'Davious White and Rickey Jefferson -- and three-star Rashard Robinson.
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AP Photo/Bill HaberCraig Loston will have to step into a leadership role with the departures of Eric Reid and Tharold Simon.
AP Photo/Bill HaberCraig Loston will have to step into a leadership role with the departures of Eric Reid and Tharold Simon.His end of the bargain held up, Reid announced his decision Friday to leave LSU for the NFL. He wasn't the only one.
In a mild surprise, junior cornerback Tharold Simon also declared for the draft after leading the team with four interceptions and 13 passes defended. A first-year starter in 2012, he was a key piece to the LSU secondary in 2011 as the fifth defensive back whose presence allowed the Tigers to use Mathieu as a nickel back.
With their departures, all six of LSU's primary defensive backs on the 2011 team -- Simon, Reid, Mathieu, cornerback Morris Claiborne, safety Brandon Taylor and dime back Ron Brooks -- probably will be on NFL rosters next season.
Regardless, LSU looks to be in better shape next season than it was entering 2012. Where only two of the top six DBs returned for the 2012 season, the Tigers should still have four of their top six back next season.
Junior strong safety Craig Loston probably will return for his senior year and starting cornerback Jalen Mills, nickel back Jalen Collins and dime back Micah Eugene were all freshmen.
That bodes well for the Tigers' secondary, which outperformed expectations most of the year, given that Mathieu's departure forced LSU to have to start a true freshman, Mills, in his place. The Tigers did struggle down the stretch, allowing four straight 300-yard passing games to finish the season.
Developing young talent will be crucial this offseason. Ronald Martin, Eugene, Corey Thompson and Jerqwinick Sandolph are young safeties who might vie for Reid's free safety spot. LSU has one 2013 recruit committed, Jeremy Cutrer. But LSU is pursuing more, including ESPN 150 safety Priest Willis.
At cornerback, Collins figures to replace Mills and LSU also returns Dwayne Thomas and Derrick Raymond and has a talented class of cornerbacks coming on signing day, including three four-star prospects -- Jeryl Brazil, Tre'Davious White and Rickey Jefferson -- and three-star Rashard Robinson.
2014 S John Bonney talks LSU offer 
November, 16, 2012
11/16/12
3:21
PM ET
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
Before this season, Houston Lamar safety John Bonney already possessed an offer from his father's alma mater, Houston. This week, the 2014 prospect received one from his mother's, LSU.
The six-foot, 175-pound rising star got the news of the LSU offer on Thursday from his head coach at Lamar, Tom Nolen. It was met with excitement from Bonney, who came into the season with offers from Baylor, Houston and SMU.
"I was kind of surprised at first," Bonney said. "I didn't expect anything coming but it was pretty good and I was happy. It's great."
The six-foot, 175-pound rising star got the news of the LSU offer on Thursday from his head coach at Lamar, Tom Nolen. It was met with excitement from Bonney, who came into the season with offers from Baylor, Houston and SMU.
"I was kind of surprised at first," Bonney said. "I didn't expect anything coming but it was pretty good and I was happy. It's great."
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- Alfred Blue is in a struggle among six talented tailbacks to be one of the two Les Miles wants to carry the load when LSU opens its season against North Texas on Sept. 1.
After featuring four backs, all of whom return, last season, Miles has said during August camp that he wants that pared to two primary backs to start the season. Adjustments will be made as the year goes on and backs get banged up and others offer fresh legs.
Being in that top two for the season opener guarantees nothing going forward. A bad game or a minor injury can put an LSU back on the sideline. A season ago, the Tigers had four running backs who accumulated at least 62 carries in 14 games in Miles' by-committee approach.
After featuring four backs, all of whom return, last season, Miles has said during August camp that he wants that pared to two primary backs to start the season. Adjustments will be made as the year goes on and backs get banged up and others offer fresh legs.
Being in that top two for the season opener guarantees nothing going forward. A bad game or a minor injury can put an LSU back on the sideline. A season ago, the Tigers had four running backs who accumulated at least 62 carries in 14 games in Miles' by-committee approach.
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For the first time in fall camp, there was a unified LSU team at practice Sunday morning.
After three days of split practices -- one with veterans in the morning and the other with newcomers and selected veterans in the afternoon -- the entire team came together Sunday morning. For the first time, we saw reserves gathered together as "scout" teams. And we got to see some impressive youngsters like defensive end Danielle Hunter and linebacker Kwon Alexander work with their more established teammates.
We also saw the first look at the "Big Cat" drill, the one-on-one trench battle that is a staple of LSU camps. Seeing wide receiver James Wright lose his helmet in a collision and wide receiver Jarvis Landry and cornerback Corey Thompson get tangled right into the crowd of gathered players and cameras were nice reminders that the physicality of August camp is here.
After three days of split practices -- one with veterans in the morning and the other with newcomers and selected veterans in the afternoon -- the entire team came together Sunday morning. For the first time, we saw reserves gathered together as "scout" teams. And we got to see some impressive youngsters like defensive end Danielle Hunter and linebacker Kwon Alexander work with their more established teammates.
We also saw the first look at the "Big Cat" drill, the one-on-one trench battle that is a staple of LSU camps. Seeing wide receiver James Wright lose his helmet in a collision and wide receiver Jarvis Landry and cornerback Corey Thompson get tangled right into the crowd of gathered players and cameras were nice reminders that the physicality of August camp is here.
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GeauxTigerNation writers David Helman and Gary Laney break down the competitions, issues and talking points of LSU's August camp. Players report to campus Aug. 1 and we'll have a preview segment every weekday in July leading up to the day the players report:
Ron Cooper was steadily preparing LSU defensive backs for NFL futures. Think Patrick Peterson. Think Morris Claiborne.
So it was only fair that Cooper got a chance to go to the NFL too when he left his job as LSU's secondary coach in February to take the same position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Ron Cooper was steadily preparing LSU defensive backs for NFL futures. Think Patrick Peterson. Think Morris Claiborne.
So it was only fair that Cooper got a chance to go to the NFL too when he left his job as LSU's secondary coach in February to take the same position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Tigers snag DB coach from Nebraska
February, 27, 2012
2/27/12
10:44
PM ET
By
David Helman | ESPN.com
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Less than one week after losing Ron Cooper to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, LSU has found his successor.
A source confirmed published reports on Monday night that the Tigers will announce Nebraska secondary coach Corey Raymond as their new defensive backs coach.
Raymond oversaw a Nebraska secondary that finished 18th in passing yards allowed in 2011.
The hire comes just in time for the Tigers, who lost Cooper a week before the scheduled start of spring practice. LSU begins its spring football season Thursday.
Raymond comes to Baton Rouge after spending a season at Nebraska under Bo Pelini, the Tigers' former defensive coordinator. Returning to LSU serves as a homecoming for Raymond, who started four years at cornerback for the Tigers from 1988 to 1991.
Raymond also served as a football intern and then an assistant strength coach for LSU coach Les Miles from 2006-08.
Raymond is from New Iberia, La., and has several stops at Louisiana high schools on his coaching path. His experience also includes a one-year stint at Utah State and a two-month stay with Indiana before Pelini hired him away in 2011.
A source confirmed published reports on Monday night that the Tigers will announce Nebraska secondary coach Corey Raymond as their new defensive backs coach.
Raymond oversaw a Nebraska secondary that finished 18th in passing yards allowed in 2011.
The hire comes just in time for the Tigers, who lost Cooper a week before the scheduled start of spring practice. LSU begins its spring football season Thursday.
Raymond comes to Baton Rouge after spending a season at Nebraska under Bo Pelini, the Tigers' former defensive coordinator. Returning to LSU serves as a homecoming for Raymond, who started four years at cornerback for the Tigers from 1988 to 1991.
Raymond also served as a football intern and then an assistant strength coach for LSU coach Les Miles from 2006-08.
Raymond is from New Iberia, La., and has several stops at Louisiana high schools on his coaching path. His experience also includes a one-year stint at Utah State and a two-month stay with Indiana before Pelini hired him away in 2011.
ABOUT GEAUX TIGER NATION
Gary Laney
Gary Laney joined ESPN.com in 2012 after spending a year and a half as online sports editor of the Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate. Before that, he covered LSU sports for the Advocate. He has also been the sports editor at the Beaumont (Texas) Enterprise and covered McNeese State athletics for the Lake Charles (La.) American Press. Laney currently lives in Baton Rouge. Email him at glaneyespn@gmail.com