Former LSU left tackle Ciron Black was the definition of stability as a Tiger, lining up 3,423 times in a record-setting 53 straight starts during his four seasons.Now Black is gearing up for a chance to be a mainstay in the NFL — even though he may have to move from anchoring the blind side of most quarterbacks.”They want me to be able to switch positions,” Black said. “Some [scouts] like me at right tackle. Some like me at left guard, right guard.”Black also said he’s been training at right tackle since he spent his entire college career at left tackle.Mike Detillier, NFL draft analyst, said the Tyler, Texas, native will probably have to switch to guard in the NFL.”He’s got to play inside in the NFL,” Detillier said. “He doesn’t have the foot quickness or speed to play left tackle.”Detillier said Black looked comfortable as a left guard in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 30 and is projected to be picked in the middle of the NFL draft, which begins Thursday night.”I have him rated as the eighth offensive guard, which carries a late fourth-, early fifth-round grade,” Detillier said. “He’s got the chance to maybe be a starter in the NFL.”The 6-foot-4-inch, 327-pound lineman’s stock has fallen after a disappointing senior season, Detillier said.Black said he made strides at the end of his senior campaign.”I didn’t do as good as I wanted to be toward the beginning of the season,” Black said. “I improved toward the late end of the season.”Black ran a 5.49 second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and recorded 23 reps on the 225-pound bench press.”His extra weight has affected his quickness and movement skills,” Detillier said. “He’s got to keep his weight down.”Rene Nadeau, college football analyst for ESPN and TigerVision, said Black could be a good addition for an NFL team.”He could be solid for a team, but I don’t know he would be indispensable,” Nadeau said.The 2009 First-Team All-SEC lineman made history in purple and gold. Black was the 2009 Southeastern Conference Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner, the first Tiger since Alan Faneca to claim the award.”The Jacobs award is definitely going to be a safety net,” Nadeau said.The high level of play in the Southeastern Conference will help Black out in the eyes of NFL teams, Nadeau said.”The fact that he played against top flight competition week in and week out helps,” Nadeau said. “He didn’t play in a conference where you play only one or two good teams. That kind of thing will elevate him a little bit.”Black played a school-record 1,031 snaps in 2007.”He’s done a great job at a solid program,” Detillier said. “If you’ve started that many games, you’ve done a good job.”Black has solely focused on preparing for the draft since graduating with a general studies degree in December.”It’s a surreal feeling,” Black said. “Sometimes it kind of gets to you. You hardly have time to see your family. You have to suck it up and get it done.”Black was a captain for LSU and represented the Tigers at the 2009 SEC Media Day.”Character is a major deal,” Nadeau said. “There’s an old saying that Vince Lombardi used to say — ‘You’re not the best players, but you’re the best team.’ Black’s character is going to help him.” LSU has contributed a slew of elite offensive linemen to the NFL. Former Tigers Andrew Whitworth, Rudy Niswanger, Kevin Mawae and Faneca have all produced in the pros.”LSU’s not usually looked as an offensive line school, but they have done well in that category,” Detillier said.—————Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]