LSU linebackers Kelvin Sheppard and Perry Riley thought they had seen the last of then-Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis when they chose LSU over Tennessee more than three years ago.Now Sheppard, a rising junior, and Riley, a rising senior, are more than happy to welcome Chavis to Baton Rouge.Sheppard and Riley, along with rising senior Jacob Cutrera, are among returning linebackers looking for redemption after a sub-par overall campaign last season.”I’m surprised he doesn’t have a grudge on me because I actually kind of committed to him [at Tennessee] and didn’t go,” Riley said with a smile. “But I’m here. We finally ended up together anyway.” Sheppard said he’s elated to get an opportunity to be coached by Chavis, who was known at Tennessee for taking players and turning them into future NFL linebackers. New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo was Chavis’ most recent pupil to excel in the NFL, winning the 2008 Defensive Rookie of the Year. “He recruited me hard … and I came here and I guess it was kind of destiny for us to work together,” he said. “I’m honored to have him as a coach.” Chavis brings a new defensive scheme for the players, vastly different from that of former co-defensive coordinators Doug Mallory and Bradley Dale Peveto. In this new scheme, the linebackers are required to be all-around players to limit substitutions.”We had a lot of times where people were getting confused, were running the plays that coach Chavis wanted to run, but doing it the way coach [Mallory] and [Peveto] taught it last year,” Riley said. Riley said Sheppard will have new responsibilities as strongside linebacker that are totally different from last year. “[Kelvin’s] position is an important position … because that’s the guy that is doing the most covering out of all the linebackers,” Riley said. “He’s going to be out there flanked out on the slot receiver or covering the tight end most of the time.”  In the scheme, the strongside linebacker is responsible for calling the defense and any pre-snap adjustments. It also requires an athlete who is strong enough to stop the run, yet able to drop into pass coverage. Sheppard, who finished second on team with 64 total tackles last season, said although the defense is different, he is ready to take on the challenge of being a field general. “It fits me perfect,” he said. “Coach Chavis very much emphasizes if you’re going to be out there on the field, you’re going to be able to cover, run and hit.” Riley is the most experienced linebacker of the three, starting nine games in 2008. He accumulated 60 total tackles, with 7 tackles for loss and one interception.Only three days into spring practice, Riley said he is learning things he never learned in his previous years as a Tiger. “I’m soaking it all in like a sponge, and I’m coming out here trying to perform what [Coach Chavis] tells me,” he said. “I know he knows what he’s talking about, he has a long track record … I’m loving it so far.” One hole the Tigers have to fill is the void left by former middle linebacker Darry Beckwith, who completed his eligibility last season. Cutrera will step in as the defense’s new middle linebacker. The Lafayette native is no stranger to Saturday nights in Death Valley. He started two games each of the previous two seasons when Beckwith was out with injuries. “Jacob is as experienced as we have … so I don’t think anyone on this defense is worried about Jacob coming in and filling Darry Beckwith’s role because he’s done it before,” Riley said.LSU coach Les Miles said it’s too early to tell which linebackers will have the most to prove. “The veterans looked pretty good to me — Perry Riley, Cutrera and Kelvin Sheppard. Those three looked pretty strong,” he said. Behind the three starters, the most enticing young linebacker to keep an eye on could be rising sophomore Ryan Baker.  Baker only played on special teams last year but wowed coaches, players and fans with his athleticism and hard-hitting nature. “Ryan Baker, just based off … how physical he is, how athletic he is, I see him doing a lot of big things in the near future,” Riley said.  Besides Baker, rising junior Shomari Clemons and redshirt freshmen Kellen Theriot and Kyle Prater will vie for more reps this spring.—Contact Sean Isabella at [email protected]