Often overshadowed by the defensive line’s media-praised members and without a reputation like “DBU,” LSU junior linebackers Luke Muncie, Kevin Minter and Lamin Barrow keep one thing on their minds.
“We made it our mindset this year to make our names known,” Minter said.
Through the first two games, it’s been mission accomplished.
With Minter tallying a team-leading 15 tackles and Barrow in a close second with 13, the Tiger linebackers have pushed aside the skepticism that greeted them in the preseason.
“You see rankings and our linebacking corps wasn’t ranked in the top of the [Southeastern Conference],” Barrow said. “You don’t want to be overshadowed, our main thing was to have a presence on this defense.”
Hindered by the loss of Stefoin Francois and Ryan Baker, outsiders and critics pointed to the linebackers as the Achilles’ heel of an otherwise vaunted Tiger defense.
But according to Minter, the torch was passed seamlessly.
“They were the leaders on our team, and it was a pretty big loss,” Minter said.
Before junior linebacker Tahj Jones was ruled ineligible for the 2012 season Wednesday, Minter said this current crew of linebackers is “better than what we’ve had in the past.”
Even without Jones’ experience in the huddle, the linebackers racked up 44 tackles in the first two games, spearheaded by Minter in the middle.
It’s been more than just the tackles for Minter, who has assumed the role of defensive leader from his middle linebacker position.
It’s something the Suwanee, Ga., native got a taste of at the tail end of last season.
“Towards the end of [last] season, everyone had confidence in me, and I had confidence in myself to lead this team,” Minter said. “I’m playing a lot faster, and we’re gelling like never before.”
Both he and Barrow lauded the newest crop of freshmen linebackers as hungry to step outside the shadows of “DBU.”
And for those who may feel left out of the limelight, Minter has a simple message.
“There’s a reason why we recruited you,” Minter said. “You’re a playmaker, and there’s a reason why we got you on the field with us.”
Barrow pointed to an early season 7-on-7 drill when he picked up on freshman linebacker Deion Jones’ desire to play with the big boys.
“We’ve just really put our minds together and stuck hard in the film room, practiced hard and really just built a strong bond,” Barrow said.
That camaraderie between young and old has paid dividends, as illustrated in the Tigers’ opening weekend rout of North Texas.
After Barrow ended a play shaken up, Jones steadily held down the position, bursting through for a crowd-pleasing open field tackle on his first snap off the bench.
Now with the experienced Jones ineligible for the entire season, the rapport among the linebackers, old and new, will be more invaluable than ever as the Tigers progress to SEC play.
But as for now, LSU coach Les Miles has no issues with the middle of his defense.
“I think they’ve played extremely well,” Miles said. “I think Lamin is playing his best year of football.”
And young or old, with or without the likes of Francois and Baker, Barrow still thinks his group can compete with the best.
“I feel like this is one of the best groups I’ve been around,” Barrow said. “The best in the SEC and the best in the country.
