LSU junior linebacker Kendell Beckwith and junior cornerback Tre’Davious White announced Monday they will forgo the 2016 NFL Draft to return to Baton Rouge for their senior seasons.
“These are special guys,” LSU coach Les Miles said of Beckwith and White in a news release. “They have a real fondness and enjoyment for this football team. They are leaders; Kendell makes all the calls from the Mike linebacker spot and Tre’Davious wears No. 18, which has always been the mark of a leader.”
The duo of defensive playmakers are the latest juniors to rejoin the Tigers’ 2016 senior class along with wide receiver Travin Dural, center Ethan Pocic, defensive end Lewis Neal and defensive tackle Christian LaCouture.
Beckwith finished 2015 as the Tigers’ second-leading tackler with 84 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. The Clinton, Louisiana native was named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award for the nation’s best linebacker in just his first full season as the starting middle linebacker.
During his three-year LSU career, Beckwith has tallied 172 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
“I feel as if I have a lot of unfinished business here at LSU,” Beckwith said in the news release. “I want to give a special thank you to my family and friends who have been extremely supportive in helping me achieve my goals and especially during this decision. They’ll continue to be an important part of my journey, and I’m so grateful for their guidance and love.
“I have made friendships and memories that will last a lifetime here at LSU, and I’m so humbled to even be in the position that I am today.”
In his third-season as a starting cornerback, White earned national accolades as a Thorpe Award semifinalist for the nation’s top defensive back and an Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference second-team selection. White notched 44 tackles and a team-leading seven pass break ups in 2015.
Along with lining up against top wide receivers, White averaged 11.4 yards per return as the Tigers’ punt returner. The Shreveport, Louisiana native recorded his second career punt return for a touchdown against Syracuse on Sept. 26.
White has tallied 132 tackles, 20 pass break ups and four interceptions in 37 games as a Tiger.
“After careful consideration and gathering as much information as possible about the draft process, I feel that it’s in my best interest to return to LSU for my senior season,” White said in the news release. “I want to thank my family, Coach Miles and the LSU staff for their support during this process. Decisions like this are never easy to make.
“Getting a college degree and becoming the first member of my family to graduate from a school like LSU has always been important to me. Playing in Tiger Stadium in front of our great fans is something that I just wasn’t ready to say good bye to.”

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Javier Fernández

LSU junior linebacker Kendell Beckwith (52) tackles Western Kentucky senior wide receiver Jared Dangerfield (21) during the Tigers’ 48- 20 victory against on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015 in Tiger Stadium.