The linebackers on LSU’s 2010 roster have 17 career starts combined. Senior Kelvin Sheppard accounts for all 17. Inexperienced linebackers already posed a major problem for LSU, but junior Ryan Baker’s injury only worsened the issue. Baker, who will be sidelined for at least three weeks with a broken jaw, was expected to start, and the injury left coaches with a position to fill in the starting lineup.”Any time you prepare a team, you risk injury,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “We certainly do that every time we take the field.”Miles did not announce who will replace Baker, but he mentioned two possibilities.  Redshirt freshman Lamin Barrow, who was one of the top Louisiana recruits in the class of 2009, could take over. Or Sheppard, who played all three linebacker positions in 2009, could move over and play on the outside with redshirt freshman Kevin Minter playing the middle.  “There will probably be a time where Kelvin will step into a different role,” Miles said. “Just because the Mike backers behind him can really play. Yet there are some other very, very fast, agile guys on the perimeter we can go to that would keep Kelvin in his normal spot.”Minter impressed coaches with strong play in the spring and cemented a spot as Sheppard’s backup at middle linebacker. As impressive as he and Barrow have been in practice, neither one has played a down in an LSU uniform. The unproven players surrounding Sheppard could seriously test his leadership ability, but defensive coordinator John Chavis has no concerns.”He’s a great leader,” Chavis said. “I don’t know that I’ve coached a young man smarter than Sheppard. I could walk out today, and he could take them and coach them as well as I can.”Sheppard led the team with 110 tackles last season and earned a spot on the 2010 first team All-Southeastern Conference. But his impact off the field means just as much as his impact on it.”He’ll write down some plays for me,” said true freshman linebacker Luke Muncie. “Right now he’s probably my biggest mentor and helping me out a lot with the whole scheme.”Junior Stefoin Francois will replace former linebacker Harry Coleman as the third starter. Just like Coleman did last year, Francois will make the switch from safety to linebacker.The Reserve native played safety in high school. Rivals.com ranked him as the No. 4 safety recruit in the state. Now, Francois will try to make his mark as a linebacker.”He gives us the flexibility in terms of not having to play a lot of nickel,” Chavis said. “He also brings speed for our blitz package. He gives us a guy that can turn the corner and get there a lot quicker.”Redshirt freshman Tahj Jones and true freshmen Muncie, D.J. Welter and Justin Maclin could see significant playing time on defense and special teams.”We’ve got a bunch of young guys that really feel like they have to prove something,” Chavis said. “There’s a lot of competition.”Despite Baker’s injury and overall linebacker inexperience, Miles remains optimistic. “I’m looking at these linebackers, and I want to make sure they’re ready to play. I think we’re going to be real happy.”-Contact Hunter Paniagua at [email protected]