Lazarius Levingston Has Fun Disrupting Opposing Offenses
Over the past decade, one could simply rename LSU football D-Line U.
The 2003 and 2007 National Championship teams were led by stout defenses that featured disruptive defensive linemen such as Marcus Spears, Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson. Entering the new decade, nothing has changed.
The 2010 Tigers thrive on creating quarterback pressure and stopping the run. The team would have a hard time doing so if not for fifth-year senior defensive tackle Lazarius ‘Pep’ Levingston occupying double teams and wreaking havoc in the middle with fellow defensive tackle Drake Nevis.
Levingston is confident that this year’s Tiger defense rivals the 2007 National Championship defense and could possibly be the best defense he has played for.
“This is the most exciting year for the defense in my five years,” Levingston said. “Everyone looks forward to going to practice. We’re on the right route. We progress every day. We’re just looking forward to getting to the big dance at the end of the year.”
Levingston, a native of Ruston, La., knows the secret to success through what he learned from his former teammates and predecessors.
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“I learned a lot from those guys, especially Kirston Pittman, Tyson Jackson, Glenn Dorsey and Tremaine Johnson,” Levingston said. “They told me to just have fun at what you do. We’re out here for long hours, and we’re out here every day year round. You’ve got to have fun at what you do. You don’t want to just come out and play the game. You’ve got to have fun in order to be successful.”
Enjoying going to practice and having fun in one’s profession is something the Tigers don’t take for granted. A few jokes to lighten up the mood is key to a successful team.
“Pep is one of the funniest men I know,” Nevis said. “He keeps me laughing all day, every day. That makes going to work with him a lot more fun.”
Nevis and Levingston are two veterans on the defensive line and know they need to make sure the younger defensive linemen continue the history of success.
“We tell the younger guys to watch everybody play,” Levingston said. “I watched the older guys play when I got here, and I was able to learn from those guys. I hope the young guys are watching Drake and I play, and are able to learn from us. We want them to be able to keep the tradition going.”
To Levingston, football at LSU is more than just competition on the field. One of the reasons he has enjoyed his time at LSU is the positive influence that swarms the Tiger football program.
“We emphasize academics here at LSU,” Levingston said. “When we come in throughout the week, Coach (Les) Miles will emphasize academics. Academics are very important because if you don’t have the grades, you can’t play football. That is a big issue for us. It’s also about being a great person and having great character. Coach Miles recruits great character guys and in order to have a good team you have to have good discipline and character.”
One can look back to Levingston’s home life to learn more about his desire to have fun playing football, attain a good education and surround himself with great character people.
“My family has always been a good role model for me,” Levingston said. “My brother texts me before every game and tells me to just make everybody proud and keep playing hard. He and I always battled each other in basketball. My mom always motivates us to be the best that we can be. Our dad emphasizes the same thing as well.”
A strong background and positive experience in college has prepared Levingston for the future and life after football. However, he refuses to take anything for granted.
“I take it one day at a time,” Levingston said. “I can’t predict the future. You never know what might happen. You only live once and who knows what happens tomorrow.”
Levingston doesn’t know what will happen tomorrow, but he does know that nobody comes into Tiger Stadium and disrespects the Eye of the Tiger at midfield.
“The one memory that will stick with me for a while happened recently in the Mississippi State game,” Levingston said. “Those guys came out talking a lot of noise, and we don’t talk a lot of noise. We like to show it on film. They disrespected us by stepping on our eye. We had a moment with the team and discussed that nobody comes into our house and disrespects us. You’ve got to protect your house, and we just took it to heart. It was an emotional game for us, and we came out with a victory.”