CFN Bloggers: SEC DBs

quote:

---

Staying out west, LSU’s Morris Claiborne must carry the leadership role without superstar Patrick Peterson. However, the talented 6-1, 180 pound senior cornerback finds himself surrounded by a score of younger players who hold all-star promise of their own, so he has plenty of support.

Carolina’s 6-1, 195 junior cornerback Stephon Gilmore returns after securing 3rd team All American honors as a sophomore in 2010. Gilmore had 79 tackles, six for a loss, and 3 interceptions, and will be needed to lead a secondary that struggled at times last season.

Honorable Mention: Dre Kirkpatrick, JR, Alabama; Casey Hayward, SR, Vanderbilt; Brandon Boykin, SR, Georgia; Winston Guy, SR, Kentucky; Tyrann Mathieu, SO, LSU; Janzen Jackson, JR, Tennessee.


Billy Gomila: On who will be the next breakout defensive back?

LSU’s defensive backfield has any number of possible breakout stars, including last year’s freshman All-American, Tyrann Mathieu. But two of his classmates were pressed into duty late in the 2010 season and passed with fairly high marks -- cornerback Tharold Simon and safety Eric Reid.

Reid, a monster hitter, came off the bench when Brandon Taylor suffered an injury in the Alabama game and closed out the season with 23 of his 32 tackles, plus a pass break-up, tackle for loss and two interceptions in just those final five games. At 6-2, 210 pounds, the sophomore almost appeared to be a candidate to grow into linebacker, but showed the ability to hit the field and have an impact at either the free or strong safety positions.

Simon played much more sparingly down the stretch, but held his own when pressed into service. Against Alabama, he stepped in on Julio Jones and managed to hold the future first-rounder in check on a handful of plays, even batting away a pass. He later picked off his first career INT in the Cotton Bowl.

At 6-4, Simon brings some freakish size to the position, and showed that off in LSU’s spring, using his long arms and height to bat down some very well-thrown passes in the Tigers spring game. Look for Simon to rotate in early and often for LSU, both to give the 5-9 Mathieu some relief against taller receivers, and to allow him to move into the slot position that he was so dominant as a true freshman.

---

quote:

---

LSU’s Morris Claiborne must carry the leadership role without superstar Patrick Peterson. However, the talented 6-1, 180 pound senior cornerback

---

quote:

---

Morris Claiborne

---

quote:

---

sophomore dumbass

---

quote:

---

sophomore dumbass

---

quote:

---

He will be a Junior slick

---

quote:

---

Boom.. DB U baby

---

quote:

---

On who will be the conference's next first round NFL DB? There are many to choose from. Alabama's Barron and Kirkpatrick, LSU's Mathieu, South Carolina's Gilmore and Tennessee's Jackson are all worthy candidates. But the next first round DB out of the SEC will be LSU's Claiborne.

---

quote:

---

but a little too obvious so instead little known Kevin Minter is going to get some love as this year’s Breakout LB.

---