Former LSU and Alabama stars have moved on from their respective teams after last season’s matchups, making Saturday’s battle a different game entirely.
Known as defensive juggernauts, both teams lost key members of their secondary including Crimson Tide safety Mark Barron, who had 11 tackles and two pass break ups combined in both contests between the Tigers and Tide last season.
Meanwhile, LSU is without Jim Thorpe Award winner Morris Claiborne.
Short on offensive firepower, electrifying Alabama running back Trent Richardson has departed to Cleveland while LSU deep threat Rueben Randle is trying to break in with the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
The two schools combined to have 13 players drafted in this year’s NFL draft, including six in the first round.
LSU CB Morris Claiborne:
11/5/11: 3 total tackles, one interception, one break up
1/9/12: 5 total tackles
NOW: Rotates in at CB for the Dallas Cowboys
Alabama RB Trent Richardson:
11/5/11: 169 total yards (89 rushing, 80 receiving)
1/9/12: 107 total yards (96 rushing, 11 receiving), rush TD
NOW: Starting RB for the Cleveland Browns
LSU WR Rueben Randle:
11/5/11: 2 rec. 19 yds
1/9/12: 3 rec. 13 yds.
NOW: Rotating in at WR for the New York Giants
Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw:
11/5/11: 6 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, 2 quarterback hurries
1/9/12: 7 total tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack
NOW: Starting LB for the Baltimore Ravens
LSU CB Tyrann Mathieu:
11/5/11: 5 total tackles
1/9/12: 6 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 pass break ups
NOW: Out of football, arrested for possession of marijuana on Oct. 25
Alabama S Mark Barron:
11/5/11: 6 total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception
1/9/12: 2 total tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack
NOW: DB for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
