By Caroline Domecq
LSU Sports Information
For several seniors on the LSU defense, they may be able to stop opposing offenses, but they can’t prevent their final year as a Tiger from coming to a close.
Three of LSU’s linebackers will be capping their college career this season in Kenneth Hollis, E.J. Kuale and Cameron Vaughn. And in the secondary, both Ronnie Prude and Mario Stevenson will see their careers as Tigers end shortly.
But none are parting without leaving marks on the program.
Stevenson, for example, may not see too many game minutes, but he made a special teams play in this year’s season-opener at Arizona State that fans will remember for some time to come.
Leading 17-7 with 14:47 remaining in the contest, the Sun Devils lined up to kick another field goal that would have put them up by 13. But Claude Wroten got a piece of the ball, and it was blocked right into the hands of Stevenson, who took it all the way to the end zone for a touchdown. That play was the start of a Tigers’ comeback allowing them to win a very emotional game.
“We needed any big play we could get in that game,” running back Joseph Addai commented on Stevenson’s accomplishment. “Mario was in the right place at the right time and was able to take advantage of that situation.”
The other LSU senior in the secondary, Prude welcomed the NCAA’s decision to grant him another year of eligibility after coming up short as a qualifier his freshman year.
“Getting that year back that I missed my freshman year was great,” the Shreveport, La., native explained. “I feel great knowing that I made that accomplishment in academics and had the opportunity to come back and play with this group of guys that I’d been with for my senior year.”
Two other guys Prude played with a great deal are former standout LSU cornerbacks Travis Daniels and Corey Webster, now both in the NFL. He said he still talks to them both and they continue to help him become a better player every day.
“They both call me and tell me what I’m doing wrong and what I’m doing well,” Prude said. “Some of the advice they give to me is just to let the game come to me. Don’t go out and try to pressure too hard. Take each play at a time, work hard, and great things are going to happen.”
For linebacker Kuale, he made some great things happen for the LSU defense last season after transferring from Georgia Tech, recording two sacks and 22 tackles in his junior campaign.
But this has been a tough year for Kuale, who saw his first action of the year last week against North Texas after suffering an ankle injury during pre-season drills.
Hollis proved to be another transfer to make an impact as a Tigers linebacker. The Adamsville, Ala., native came to LSU for his junior year after playing for East Mississippi Junior College, where he was named to the Mississippi Junior College Athletic Conference All-State and All-Region teams.
“It was a dramatic change,” Hollis explained. “I came from a fan base of about 50 people to one of about 90,000.”
When asked about being rumored to be one of the hardest-hitting players on the team, he responded, “I wouldn’t say that. I just go out there and do my job like everybody else.”
But Addai has been hit by Hollis in practice and said he should not be so modest.
“Sometimes when other players hit me, people in the stands might think it’s a big hit, but it really doesn’t hurt,” he commented. “But when Kenny hits you, you feel it.”
Vaughn has also inflicted his fair share of pain on opposing offenses. And he’s been able to do so for four straight years, right from the start of his career. While many players wait a few years for their chance, the Terrytown, La., native made an immediate impact. He participated in all 13 games his true freshman year, earning the distinction as an All-Freshman SEC team member.
His contributions have continued to grow, as he has played in every single game where his name was listed on the roster. But as much as his football abilities have improved, Vaughn said he also has seen his personality progress into one of a senior leader.
“As a freshman, I really didn’t talk too much on or off the field,” he explained. “I pretty much just did what I was told. But now I’m definitely a lot more outspoken. I try to tell people what to do a little more and help them out.”
The LSU defense experienced a rocky start to the 2005 season. It gave up 31 points to Arizona State in the season-opener, including allowing quarterback Sam Keller 461 yards passing on 35 completions. It allowed Tennessee 30 points after the first-half en route to erasing a 21-point deficit and surging back to beat the Tigers at home.
People were quick to discredit the defense, but it had other plans. Its performance has improved drastically since the opening weeks of the year, helping a struggling offense at times to win games.
“The defense has stepped up a lot since the first game,” Hollis said. “We had first-game jitters and were also dealing with the hurricane and everything that came with it. But I think that we all kept our composure, and we always knew what we had from the start and we always believed in each other.”
That belief in one another is crucial, and according to Vaughn, so is support from fans in Tiger Stadium.
“The energy we get from the crowd is incredible,” he said in describing the lively atmosphere. “It helps us out so much as a defense and as a whole team. It gets our blood pumping and our energy up.”
Hollis added, “There’s no greater feeling in the world than becoming a senior and playing for LSU and for the guys beside you and knowing that they’re going to give 110 percent effort no matter what.”
Seniors only have two games left in that storied stadium. Has it set in? Not for Vaughn, at least.
“I was having a conversation with someone the other day, and we started talking about how I only had a few games left in Tiger Stadium,” he commented. “And I realized that it hasn’t set in yet. I think toward the end, probably on senior day, it will be very emotional for me.”
That day is rapidly approaching, but until then, these seniors will enjoy their final appearances for a premier program in college football.