If you can't get playing time on a defense that barley has a second team D.

Not necessarily. Not being able to get on the field at LSU doesn't mean you can't play in the MAC or Sunbelt.

Sometimes it depends on the position. LSU may have barely had a second team D. But one of the strengths on the defense was the edge guys. Ojulari may be a 1st round pick and Gaye had a lot of experience. Jones performed well in his snaps, and LSU used Perkins in somewhat of the same role as Little would play. If you're a coach, are you going to take Ojulari and Perkins off the field very much?

Juxtapose that with a guy like Kardell Thomas. The OL was a big question mark going into the season. And even during the season the interior OL was probably about average (relative to SEC competition). If he were a great player the opportunity seemed to be there for him to get some snaps. Yet, he never sniffed the field.

Neither guy may have played a lot. But one had MUCH better players ahead of him at his position.