Sometimes to help others, it’s necessary to be a little selfish.
At least that’s how LSU freshman defensive tackle Greg Gilmore is approaching spring practice.
“That’s what I care about, helping the team, but then I have to be selfish,” Gilmore said. “I have to try to play with these ones and try to be an impact player for myself and my own brand.”
The interior of the defensive line has evolved into a tight competition this spring with no set starters emerging from the trenches through the early part of the offseason.
Gilmore is one of five defensive tackles currently on LSU’s roster vying for a spot in the two-deep rotation, with three incoming freshmen set to join the team in the fall, following the early departure of Anthony Johnson and Ego Ferguson to the NFL.
Freshman Maquedius Bain said he, Gilmore, sophomore Christian LaCouture and junior Quentin Thomas are the current front-runners for the starting spot, with LaCouture and Thomas appearing to have an edge.
“Right now, those are the set guys in the spring,” Bain said. “[Signee Travonte] Valentine and a couple of recruits are coming in, but right now, that’s what I’m going with and that’s the guys that’s been in the trenches before us.”
According to Gilmore and offensive tackle La’el Collins, the difference between this year and last year is an actual competition each day for the starting job. All the defensive tackles are pushing harder each day to prove they should be receiving more snaps than their teammates, and they hope that heightened level of competition will make up for a lack of experience.
“They know they have less experience than the guys that left, so obviously they’re out there trying to get better each and every day and giving us their all,” Collins said. “Last year, we had those veteran guys out there going through whatever they needed to go through, but these guys are giving a little bit more effort because they understand that it’s their time to play.”
Focusing on his own play has been a key factor for Gilmore this season. The Hope Mills, N.C., native keeps a tally of every mistake he’s made this spring, particularly staying low and getting solid extension with his hands.
Each day Gilmore watches film, he marks down his mistakes and focuses on having fewer tallies the next day.
“Right now, we’re all fighting for a starting spot, in my opinion,” Gilmore said. “When people know they have to take a back seat in the twos and the threes, they don’t practice as hard, they don’t play as hard and they don’t scrimmage as hard.”
LaCouture has emerged as a possible leader for the unit after playing in all 13 games last season and recording 11 tackles and a sack — both of which are the most of any returning defensive tackle. Thomas isn’t far behind, registering nine tackles and a fumble recovery in 11 games played. Both Bain and Gilmore redshirted last season.
But even with the green interior, LSU coach Les Miles said he still believes the unit can live up to the standards past defensive tackles have set.
“[My expectations] are just like what we’ve had here: stingy, don’t let the ball go up and down the field, pass rush, line of scrimmage stoppers, handle the rush roughly,” Miles said. “I think these guys can be dominant players.”
Miles has repeatedly said he expects the 2014 recruiting class to hit the Tigers right where they need it, and he maintains that approach with the defensive tackles, expecting the new signees to compete for playing time in their first season in Baton Rouge. Miles also added that he likes the guys currently on the roster and anticipates them carrying the vast majority of the workload.
Bain said he thinks Valentine will quickly supplant himself as the fifth guy at the defensive tackle spot once he reaches campus, but LaCouture isn’t ready to anoint him to the rotation just yet.
“For me honestly, you come around here, you have to earn your spot,” LaCouture said. “For the young guys coming in, a lot of them are going to have to play because we had a lot of guys leave, but at the same time, you have to focus on you.”