During the past few seasons, the LSU football team has reaped the benefits from outstanding athletes who switched positions, and this year is expected to be no different.
After playing wide receiver for the Tigers in his first season, Corey Webster made the move to defensive back rather reluctantly. But after one full season at cornerback, Webster now is ranked among the best in the nation.
“He’s still learning how to play defensive back,” said LSU defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. “He’s getting better at cutting off receivers. He is focused and he’s trying to improve, and we are pleased with his progress.”
The expectations are sky-high for the junior cornerback. After leading the Southeastern Conference with seven interceptions in 2002, Webster was a consensus First-Team All-SEC selection. He is currently named to the 2003 Thorpe Award Watch List, for the award given to the nation’s best defensive back.
“I don’t really think about all the awards that much,” Webster said. “I’m just going to try and do more of what I did last year, because it must have been good. Last season I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
In the Tigers’ 36-7 win at Florida last season, Webster was in the right place at the right time on three occasions. He picked off three Rex Grossman passes, returned one for a touchdown and received national defensive player of the week honors.
Webster will head up a secondary that ranked second in the nation a year ago against the pass. Although he has played defense for only one year, he said he is feeling comfortable and is looking forward to the season.
“We’ve got some shoes to fill on defense, and we’re all mentally and physically ready to be where we need to be,” Webster said. “Me, [Randall] Gay and [Jack] Hunt have picked up the leadership role and we’re ready for good things to happen. The end of last season is still fresh in our minds, and we will never let what happened against Arkansas happen again.”
Webster said the secondary has more experience this year, and everybody is working well together. With regards to understanding coach Nick Saban’s difficult defense, Webster said it’s just like anything else you have to learn.
“It’s just like in school,” he said. “You have to study it hard. It keeps getting easier to recognize which defense to use when, and it’s almost second nature now.”
Gay will start at cornerback opposite Webster and brings experience to the secondary. The senior recorded 64 tackles a year ago and has a deep knowledge of the defense. He has started at every position in the secondary at least once.
“We feel really good and we’re working hard,” Gay said. “We have gained some depth at cornerback now that Ronnie Prude and [Kerron] Gordon have really improved.”
After not reaching his full potential in the first few years, Prude – a junior – may have had the best spring of any of the Tigers’ defensive backs and is expecting a lot of playing time this season.
“I have really stepped it up this off-season, and I want to help the team out in any way that I can,” Prude said. “The coaches see a lot in me. I look to guys like Gay and Hunt to help me adjust to the defense, and I want to play up to my capabilities. The defense is very difficult to learn, but you’ve got to take it upon yourself to learn it.”
Gay said he is looked to as the leader, mainly because he has been in the secondary the longest.
“Everybody looks up to me,” Gay said. “So when I’m tired, I’ve got to keep pushing so that they see me working hard. I’ve got to show them all that if they follow me, we will get to where we want to go.”