LSU junior defensive tackle Marlon Favorite has been patiently waiting for his time to shine on the Tigers’ highly-touted defense.
And now it seems that time has come, albeit following extremely unfortunate circumstances.
Defensive tackle Charles Alexander, who started the Tigers first three games alongside All-American Glenn Dorsey, injured his knee a few days before the South Carolina game and appears to be lost for the season.
Alexander’s injury has thrust Favorite into a starting position yet again. The Harvey native started four games this past season and made his first start of 2007 in LSU’s 28-16 win against the Gamecocks.
Favorite said he had a lot of thoughts going through his head while taking on the Gamecocks.
“I was thinking, ‘How can I help my team out, and what can I do to contribute.'” he said. “That was on my mind the whole time I was out there. When stuff like [Alexander’s injury] happens, you have to be ready to step in, contribute and do the best you can.”
Favorite contributed six tackles, including one for a loss, Saturday night, but his performance was overshadowed by his late fourth quarter facemask penalty on South Carolina quarterback Chris Smelley.
LSU coach Les Miles said penalties are always unacceptable, but he understands Favorite’s intention was not to grab Smelley’s facemask.
“Having played that position a long time ago and understanding what it is like, when you approach a ball handler your hands are ready to grip,” Miles said. “Whatever you get your hands on, you are going to grab it.”
Dorsey agreed with his coach’s assessment of the play, saying the penalty was a result of aggressiveness.
“When you get back there, you’re just grabbing at anything that you can,” Dorsey said. “I know it was a facemask, but that’s just [Favorite] being aggressive and trying to make a play.”
Making plays is something Favorite expects to continue to do as the season progresses. Alexander’s injury has opened a door not only for Favorite but for reserve players like sophomore Al Woods and redshirt freshman “Pep” Levingston to see an increase in action.
Senior Kirston Pittman said having that much depth on the defensive line speaks volumes about LSU’s talent level and recent recruiting.
“If you have guys that can come in as soon as one goes down, that’s great,” Pittman said. “Someone gets injured and you have a backup guy that can come in and not miss a beat. When it comes to situations like that, you just have to roll with the punches.”
Names like Favorite, Woods and Levingston aren’t usually mentioned when media outlets talk about LSU’s top-rated defense, which is allowing 162 yards per game this season.
Favorite, who was rated as ESPN’s No. 1 defensive tackle when he came out of West Jefferson High School in 2004, said the media attention given to the All-American Dorsey and senior safety Craig Steltz, who is No. 2 in the nation with four interceptions, has never personally bothered him.
“It’s great those guys get that attention because they work hard,” Favorite said. “One thing my mom always told me is ‘Marlon, you just keep working hard and you’re time is going to come.’ I don’t too much worry about all the hype. When you buy into that stuff, you find yourself playing poorly. Eventually [the attention] will come along.”
Dorsey said having a player like Favorite in the middle of the defensive line keeps offensive players on their toes.
“I know Favorite can play ball,” he said. “Our whole defensive front can play ball so [opponents] can’t really just focus on one guy. They can double-team me, but only for so long because somebody else will eat them up.”
The Tigers’ defense has certainly had a big appetite through their first four games. In addition to being the best in the nation for yards allowed per game, LSU is tied for first with Kansas, allowing 5.8 points per game, and is No. 1 in rushing yards allowed.
Favorite said he expects those statistics to remain at or near those levels throughout the season, and he hopes to be one of many making sure that happens.
“I know it’s a big job, but I go out here every day on the field and work hard at that,” he said. “I feel that it’s my time. Glenn can’t do it by himself, Steltz can’t do it by himself. We all have to come together as 11 guys on the field. When that happens and you have a good defense, everybody’s name gets mentioned.
“One day you’ll hear Marlon Favorite’s along with everybody else’s.”
—Contact Tyler Batiste at [email protected]