Free safety LaRon Landry was named a semifinalist last week for the Jim Thorpe Award. But Landry may not have been considered for college football’s top defensive back award – let alone be playing free safety – if not for his older brother Dawan.
Dawan not only started at quarterback over his younger brother but used the big brother role to teach LaRon lessons on the field.
LaRon grew up as a quarterback. When he entered middle school, Dawan already had mastered the position leaving LaRon in his shadow.
“We played together when he was in eighth grade and I was in sixth grade,” LaRon said. “It always happened he was the starting quarterback and I was the backup, so he didn’t give me much time to play.”
At Hahnville High School, coach Lou Valdin moved LaRon to defense to give him more playing time. Dawan remained quarterback throughout high school. Although they were on opposite sides of the ball, Dawan still pushed LaRon to become a better player.
“I had no work ethic,” LaRon said. “I just played off God given talent. He used to always tell me that I need to develop a work ethic. I used to never work out. Every time I worked out with him in middle school and high school he would always put weight on there he knew I couldn’t lift.”
Although LaRon did not start until his sophomore year – Dawan’s senior year – both brothers remembered the same high school game as their favorite game together.
“It was a playoff game against Sulphur,” Dawan said. “Our offense was not moving the ball well and needed the defense to stop them. They threw a pass into the end zone and LaRon intercepted it. We depended on him to get balls. Watching him always motivated me.”
Despite its 11-0 regular season record, Hahnville was eliminated from the playoffs in the second round of Dawan’s senior year.
Dawan signed with Georgia Tech out of high school and spent his first year quarterbacking the scout team. After realizing his ability, coach Chan Gailey moved Dawan to free safety to give him the opportunity to start.
With the move, LaRon taught his older brother for once.
“I think [I taught him] how to hit,” LaRon said. “I just showed him how to tackle – just being reckless, just having a nose for the ball, just being around the ball. Really, just giving effort.”
No longer on the same field and 500 miles apart, the two still make time almost every day to call and pick apart each other’s games. But it is only a portion of their conversation. Dawan said there are other things to discuss with each phone call.
“We still keep each other motivated today,” Dawan said. “We talk about what we’re going to do in the game. We don’t talk about just football. We talk about school, and he is closer to home so we can talk about that.”
After seven tackles by LaRon against Alabama, including a sack on Brodie Croyle for a loss of 10 yards, their conversation may consist more of what LaRon recalls about their phone calls.
“After every game we talk about hits we made, who made the harder hit, things we can improve upon, things like that,” LaRon said. “We critique each other all the time.”
Dawan said through all the criticizing, they still give each other positive feedback. Last week when LaRon was named one of the 12 players up for the Thorpe Award, Dawan made sure to give credit to his little brother.
The Thorpe Award will be given Dec. 8 at ESPN’s College Football Awards Show. The 12 semifinalists will be reduced to three later this month.
 ”I am proud of him,” Dawan said. “It shows that all his hard work is paying off.”