Preseason accolades mean nothing. Players and coaches don’t pay much attention to them. Fans argue over them.  
They fulfill only one purpose: to inform the public of which players to keep an eye on in the upcoming season.
Of the 23 players named to this past season’s preseason Southeastern Conference first-teams, only 10 made the postseason first-teams. Even JaMarcus Russell – this year’s No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft – wasn’t voted to the 2006 preseason first-team.
Senior Luke Sanders, the only LSU starting linebacker left off the preseason All-SEC teams, isn’t bothered a bit.
“You really don’t look too much at the rankings,” Sanders said. “It’s a team effort out there. I know my role on the defense.”
Sanders’ role as an outside linebacker is by no means a diminutive one. The West Monroe native recorded 35 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble while patrolling as a middle linebacker. 
Sanders’ best game came against Auburn when he racked up a career-high eight tackles and a sack.
This year Sanders will move to the “buck” linebacker position, which places him opposite the tight end to focus more on pass coverage.
He attributes the switch to his bigger body frame.
“I’m a little bit heavier than the other linebackers,” Sanders said. “I’m also a little taller, which gives me more leverage to work on the tight ends.”
Sanders is 6 feet 5 inches, four inches taller than his two fellow starting linebackers.
Sanders expects to amplify his contributions to the team with more than sacks and tackles. “This is my senior year so I’m going to try to pick up a little of that leadership role that seniors do,” Sanders said.
As one of the two senior starting linebackers, Sanders said he considers leadership to be a vital part of any successful defense. 
“We try to set an example for the younger guys so they know what it takes,” Sanders said. “We want them to have the same success we’ve had.”
Sanders said part of that success comes from developing good communication on the field and in the huddle.
“The communication we have out there is a big part of the defense,” Sanders said. “We can work together off the field and on the sidelines making adjustments.
“We’ve been playing together so long that we know what the other person is thinking.” 
Sanders represents one-third of the linebacking unit that has started almost every game together since the beginning of the previous season.
“As a linebacker group we want to be three of the best linebackers there are,” Sanders said.
Sanders is joined by senior Ali Highsmith and junior Darry Beckwith, two of the top three tacklers from this past year’s defense. 
“Having two guys out there like Darry and Ali motivates me to do better,” Sanders said. “I want to get on their level and be as good as they are.”
Highsmith, a 2006 second-team All-SEC selection, praises Sanders’ abilities.
“Luke is a good linebacker,” Highsmith said. “He goes out there and plays to the best of his ability. He’ll get his name out, he’ll get seen.”
LSU coach Les Miles is impressed with Sanders’ attention to detail.
“[Sanders] is a student of the game,” Miles said. “He understands where he’s supposed to be and he can call a defense as well as our coaches. He’ll be invaluable this fall.”
Sanders said it’s up to the three linebackers’ jobs to make the necessary calls on the field.
“The linebackers are the voice of the defense,” Sanders said. “We all make switches and adjustments out there on the field.”
LSU will enter the season as the No. 2 team in the nation. Its defense is ranked in the top five in every major preseason poll. 
Despite preseason pressure, Sanders thinks his teammates will hold him to a higher standard than any preseason ranking ever could. 
“We know everybody expects us to be good, but in our own way we expect to be the best,” Sanders said.
As for his own personal glory, don’t expect Sanders to be bitter about his lack of recognition by the national media. 
“I’m proud of what I’ve done,” Sanders said. ”I’ve been here for four years. 
“I started last year and I’m starting this year. I’m very happy with that.” 
—-Contact James Rees at [email protected]