Christian LaCouture came back to LSU on a mission.
After suffering a knee injury that caused him to miss his entire senior season, the defensive end was granted his fifth year of eligibility and decided to return to school.
“I wanted to improve my draft stock,” LaCouture said. “Teams were scared with my knee and everything. I wanted to make sure I came back and show it’s OK, it’s healthy and 100 percent.”
LaCouture has been a key cog on LSU’s defensive line the last three seasons and was expected to be a key contributor last season.
LSU coach Ed Orgeron and defensive line coach Pete Jenkins re-recruited LaCouture and were a big factor in his decision to return.
“I’m pretty sure I was gone,” LaCouture said. “I’m so excited to be back now. Coach [Orgeron] played a huge part in it, understanding what my role is for next year, and I am just excited to be a part of it and I really can’t wait.”
LaCouture, was one of the players that hoisted former head coach Les Miles on his shoulders after the Texas A&M game in November 2015. Although it was tough to see Miles fired, LaCouture said he was happy that Ed Orgeron got the job.
“We were excited and we wanted him to get the job,” LaCouture said. “When he got the job, it was very exciting to see. Guys fought for him every week to make sure he could get the job.”
Miles and LSU had high hopes when they entered last season.
LaCouture figured LSU would be contending for the College Football Playoffs, but the Tigers came up short, finishing with 8-4 record.
“It was rough,” LaCouture said. “We had a lot of high expectations for ourselves and as a team, but I also feel like things happen for a reason. I told myself that when I got hurt.”
LaCouture is a key building block for defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, who looks to rebuild a defense that lost nine starters to the NFL.
Orgeron named LaCouture a starter at defensive end heading into spring, a position LaCouture transitioned to when LSU switched to a 3-4 defense in 2016 after spending his first three years at defensive tackle.
“It’s great just trying to be that senior leader,” LaCouture said. “Understanding my role, and just trying to help the younger guys that are ready to go.”
“Going out there, and [understanding] that I’ve got to be that team leader — just making sure that I listen to the coaches, and do what I can to become a better player every day.”
LaCouture is one of the three defensive players participating in the spring with LSU that have double-digit starts.
“It’s going to be hard for us,” LaCouture said. “We’ve got to understand that we lost a lot of great guys to the NFL. We can’t have guys doing one thing and another, and make sure as a defense as a whole that some guys might step up and have a bigger role. We gotta communicate and be on the same page. Just being one team, if we do that we will be a solid defense.”
LSU junior defensive tackle Christian LaCouture (91) tackles Aurburn wide receiver Ricardo Louis (5) during the Tigers' 45-21 victory against Auburn on Saturday, Sept.19, 2015, in Tiger Stadium.
