There’s a clear-cut king of the LSU linebacking corps — senior outside linebacker Ryan Baker.
Baker has more total career tackles (115) at the position than the 11 other linebackers on the roster combined, and he has shown his veteran wisdom through six spring practices.
“Baker’s playing like you’d expect him to,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “[He’s] in the position in my mind to be that guy [to lead].”
Baker, senior outside linebacker Stefoin Francois and senior Karnell Hatcher, who just switched from safety to linebacker, are the only linebackers with more than two years of experience.
“We like him a lot as a linebacker now,” redshirt freshman linebacker D.J. Welter said about Hatcher. “He’s done a good job making the switch.”
Hatcher has been working with the outside linebackers during spring practice.
Francois, who recorded 36 tackles last season, remains with the first team opposite Baker on the strong side.
The intrigue during spring has come from the middle of the linebacker corps.
A fellow Georgia native will fill the 6-foot-3-inch, 250-pound void left by former LSU middle linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, who grew up in Stone Mountain, Ga.
Sophomore linebacker Kevin Minter, 2 inches shorter and 25 pounds lighter than his predecessor, has moved to the starter’s role in the middle of LSU’s defense this spring.
The Suwanee, Ga., native shadowed Sheppard last season and saw the most action in a six-tackle performance against North Carolina in the opener, but Minter only had nine more tackles the rest of the season.
“He’s trying to fill the shoes that Kelvin left,” Baker said. “He didn’t have as much confidence as he should have had last year.”
Miles has yet to anoint Minter as the second coming of Sheppard even though he’s running with the first team during spring practices.
“[Minter needs to] just be consistent,” Miles said. “He’s very physical. … He needs to demonstrate the ability to do the job.”
An alumnus of Peachtree Ridge High School, Minter said he’s open to accepting leadership.
“I’ve done it before in high school,” Minter said. “I know this is a totally different game, but I feel like I can do the job. I have to take more of a commanding spot and be that leader everyone expects of me.”
The linebacker position doesn’t solely belong to Minter.
Welter and sophomore linebacker Lamin Barrow are waiting in the wing.
Barrow, who played in 11 games last season and started against North Carolina, has more experience, but Welter has turned some heads in his first spring with the team.
“He’s a guy that’s really caught my eye,” Baker said. “His work ethic has changed a lot, and we’ll see where this ends up.”
Still, the Crowley native trails Minter for the starting job.
“He’s been to three springs so he’s a little bit ahead of me right now,” Welter said. “That’s my ultimate goal — to be the starter.”
The 6-foot, 226-pound linebacker said he still has much to learn from defensive coordinator John Chavis.
“I need to definitely dig into the playbook, really get with [Chavis] and watch more film, learn the schemes and learn all the checks,” Welter said.
Baker insists he will remain at outside linebacker, but Miles left the door open for the veteran to move if necessary.
“Baker knows enough about football that he could play that position comfortably,” Miles said.
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