While all the attention was on Matt Canada and his new offense in LSU’s spring game on Saturday, three defenders stole the show.
Junior cornerback Kevin Toliver, sophomore linebacker Devin White and freshman safety Grant Delpit drew high praise from LSU coach Ed Orgeron.
The defense brought something Orgeron loves: physicality.
“I thought the defense under Dave Aranda did a tremendous job,” Orgeron said. “Guys were tackling and running around, and they were very physical.”
Delpit, who started in place of senior John Battle, racked up four tackles in the game. Orgeron even went as far as saying Delpit may start for the Tigers.
“Grant [Delpit] proved tonight that he can make plays,” Orgeron said. “I wanted to see what the guys could do underneath the lights. He did a tremendous job. We gotta watch film, but he is a guy we considered may start. We will be playing a lot of young guys on defense.”
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Former LSU player Odell Beckham Jr. walks down Victory Hill before the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 just outside of Tiger Stadium.
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LSU coach Ed Orgeron walks back to the sideline at during the Tigers’ Spring Game at Tiger Stadium on April 22, 2017.
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LSU sophomore wide receiver Derrick Dillon (19) sets to receive a punt at during the Tigers’ Spring Game Tiger Stadium on April 22, 2017.
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LSU sophomore quarterback Justin McMillan (12) stands in the pocket during the Tigers’ Spring Game at Tiger Stadium on April 22, 2017.
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LSU sophomore punter Josh Growden (38) kneels on his helmet during the Tigers’ Spring Game on April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU senior quarterback Danny Etling (16) drops back for a pass at during the Tigers’ Spring Game at Tiger Stadium on April 22, 2017.
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LSU senior wide receiver Russell Gage (83) sprints up field at Tiger Stadium on April 22, 2017.
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LSU junior defensive back Donte Jackson (1) and senior outside linebacker Corey Thompson (23) celebrate at Tiger Stadium on April 22, 2017.
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LSU senior quarterback Danny Etling (16) scrambles during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU senior quarterback Danny Etling (16) autographs a fan’s hat outside of Tiger Stadium on April 22, 2017.
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Junior cornerback Kevin Toliver (2) celebrates with his teammates after an interception during the Tigers’ Spring Game at Tiger Stadium on April 22, 2017.
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LSU junior defensive back Donte Jackson (1) defends sophomore wide receiver Drake Davis (25) at Tiger Stadium on April 22, 2017.
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LSU sophomore wide receiver Derrick Dillon (19) and sophomore defensive back Kristian Fulton (22) run downfield during the Tigers’ Spring Game at Tiger Stadium on April 22, 2017.
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LSU freshman offensive lineman Jakori Savage (65) blocks freshman defensive end Glen Logan (96) during the Tigers’ Spring Game at Tiger Stadium on April 22, 2017.
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LSU senior quarterback Danny Etling (16) prepares for a play during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU sophomore defensive end Rashard Lawrence (90) sprints during the Tigers’ Spring Game at Tiger Stadium on April 22, 2017.
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LSU senior wide receiver D.J. Chark (7) gets up during the Tigers’ Spring Game on April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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Former LSU running back Leonard Fournette steps out on to the field to be recognized before the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU junior cornerback Kevin Toliver II (2) defends sophomore wide receiver Drake Davis (25) at during the Tigers’ Spring Game at Tiger Stadium on April 22, 2017.
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Former LSU players Odell Beckham and Jamal Adams chat on the sideline at Tiger Stadium on April 22, 2017.
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LSU sophomore cornerback Saivion Smith (8) crosses his arms at Tiger Stadium during the Tigers’ Spring Game on April 22, 2017.
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LSU sophomore linebacker Michael Divinity Jr. (45) tackles senior quarterback Danny Etling (16) during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU senior wide receiver Russell Gage (83) darts past junior defensive back Donte Jackson (1) during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU senior quarterback Danny Etling (16) makes a pass during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU senior quarterback Danny Etling (16) throws the ball during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU senior wide receiver D.J. Chark (7) tackles junior cornerback Kevin Tolliver II (2) during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU senior quarterback Danny Etling (16) hands the ball off to junior running back Derrius Guice (5) during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU senior quarterback Danny Etling (16) throws the ball during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU coach Ed Orgeron speaks to players as he heads toward the sideline during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU senior wide receiver D.J. Chark (7) picks himself up during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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Former LSU players Malachi Dupre and Leonard Fournette greet each other before the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU senior quarterback Danny Etling (16) prepares for a play during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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Former LSU linebacker Duke Riley speaks with fans before the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 just outside of Tiger Stadium.
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LSU sophomore quarterback Justin McMillan (12) shakes off a defender during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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Former LSU players Davon Godchaux, Leonard Fournette, and Jamal Adams making a video before the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU junior running back Nick Brossette (4) turns up the field during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU sophomore wide receiver Stephen Sullivan (10) lines up for a play during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU sophomore defensive back Kristian Fulton (22) during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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Former LSU wide receiver Malachi Dupre steps out on to the field before the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU coach Ed Orgeron heads toward the sideline during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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Former LSU safety Jamal Adams smiles at fans before the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 just outside of Tiger Stadium.
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Former LSU football player Malachi Dupre watches the Tigers’ Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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Former LSU football player Jamal Adams watches LSU’s Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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Former LSU football players Jamal Adams and Davon Godchaux watches LSU’s 2017 Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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Former LSU football player Duke Riley (left) meets up with defensive Coordinator Dave Aranda (right) during LSU’s 2017 Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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LSU coach Ed Orgeron watches a play during the 2017 National L Club Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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LSU coach Ed Orgeron walks down Victory Hill before the Tigers’ 2017 Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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Former LSU football player Duke Riley (left) and former LSU football player Malachi Dupre (right) walk down Victory Hill during 2017 Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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Former LSU football player Duke Riley walks down Victory Hill during the Tigers’ 2017 Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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LSU junior running back Nick Brossette (4) falls down during the Tigers’ 2017 Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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Former LSU football player Odell Beckham Jr. walks down Victory Hill during 2017 Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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LSU junior running back Derrius Guice (5) walks down Victory Hill during 2017 Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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LSU football players walk down Victory Hill during 2017 Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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LSU redshirt sophomore quarterback Justin McMillian (12) holds the ball during 2017 Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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LSU senior quarterback Danny Etling (16) hands off the ball to junior running back Derrius Guice in the National L Club Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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LSU sophomore long snapper Blake Ferguson (50) waits to snap the football during the Tigers’ 2017 Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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LSU freshman center Lloyd Cushenberry III (79) waits to snap the ball during the Tigers’ 2017 Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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LSU junior running back Nick Brossette falls down during the Tigers’ Spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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LSU freshman center Lloyd Cushenberry III (79) waits to snap the ball during 2017 Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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LSU football players walk down Victory Hill during 2017 Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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LSU football players play football during 2017 Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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Former LSU football players Odell Beckham Jr., Leonard Fournette and Brandon LaFell meet up during 2017 Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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Former LSU football player Odell Beckham Jr. and Duke Riley meet up during 2017 Spring football game on Saturday, April 22, 2017.
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While working with the first team defense, Delpit made his presence in both the running game and passing game on Saturday.
The first was on a jet sweep to senior wide receiver D.J. Chark. Delpit came flying down from his strong safety spot and cut down Chark in space for a short gain.
The second was on a long pass to sophomore wideout Drake Davis by senior quarterback Danny Etling. Delpit did not allow the speedster to get behind him and set himself up to almost come away with the interception.
Delpit tied White with a team-high four tackles.
A “matured” White also made a few plays that drew Orgeron’s eye.
Whenever LSU tried to run a jet sweep, White was right there.
The sophomore linebacker is taking over at the rover spot for Duke Riley, where he’ll be looked upon to make significant contributions.
“I think Dave Aranda did a tremendous job of coaching all those linebackers,” Orgeron said. “Devin [White] is going to be an excellent player for us.”
Toliver was reinserted into LSU’s starting lineup after an injury-riddled sophomore year that saw him only play in seven games last year.
The junior cornerback forced the only turnover of the game when he jumped a slant route thrown by Etling.
“Kevin Toliver has had a good spring,” Orgeron said.
Toliver also made another play down the sidelines when he broke up a deep pass intended for Chark.
He is a key member of LSU’s secondary that looks to replace four starters, two of which are cornerbacks. Toliver, along with fellow junior cornerback, Donte Jackson, are the only two players who have extensive starting experience in the defensive backfield for the Tigers.
“It was the defense’s night,” Orgeron said. “The offense did a tremendous job all spring, but tonight was the defense’s night.”
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LSU freshman safety Grant Delpit (9) tackles junior running back Derrius Guice (5) during the Tigers’ spring game on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Tiger Stadium.
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LSU junior cornerback Kevin Toliver II (2) defends sophomore wide receiver Drake Davis (25) at during the Tigers’ Spring Game at Tiger Stadium on April 22, 2017.
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