BATON ROUGE – One of the winningest senior classes in school history will take the field in Tiger Stadium one final time on Saturday as fifth-ranked LSU hosts Ole Miss at 2:30 p.m. in a game that will be televised nationally by CBS.
This year’s group of 16 seniors, nine of which originally came to LSU on scholarship, includes six walkon’s and one student-athlete in Daniel Graff who was rewarded with a scholarship last year. The biggest highlight for this group was winning the 2007 BCS National Championship and the 2007 SEC title.
“This is a great group of young men who will be very successful in life, no matter which path they choose,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “It’s been a pleasure to have coached them and been part of some great moments in LSU history with them.
“When they walk off that field for the last time, it’s then that it will probably strike them. The good news is their memories are as strong as there is in college football. There is not a guy that will leave his experience here and ever think that there was a better venue, better stadium, better place to go to school, better place to be cheered for. There is only one Tiger Stadium and we are certainly going to miss them.”
This year’s group of seniors has been a part of the most successful 10-year stretch of football in LSU history as the Tigers have won 100 games since the start of the 2001 season. LSU’s 100 victories over the past 10 years make the Tigers the winningest program in the SEC over that span, ahead of Florida (96 wins), Georgia (95), Auburn (90) and Alabama (85).
With a victory over Ole Miss, this year’s group will become the sixth straight senior class to win at least 50 games at LSU, joining classes from 2005 (52 wins), 2006 (52), 2007 (56), 2008 (51) and 2009 (51). By the time this year’s over, they will have also played in five bowl games and with one more victory, have averaged 10 victories a season.
LSU’s 2010 Senior Class
Joseph Barksdale
Offensive Tackle * Detroit, Mich.
Three-year starter on offensive line
Richard Dugas
Fullback * Lincoln, Neb.
3-time member of SEC Academic Honor Roll
Zach Elkins
Defensive Back * Bay St. Louis, Miss.
Squad member for three years
Jai Eugene
Defensive Back * St. Rose, La.
Starter in secondary for past two years
Paul Felio
Linebacker * League City, Texas
Member of team for past three years
Daniel Graff
Defensive Back * Metairie, La.
Former walkon who earned scholarship with outstanding special teams play
Ian Harding
Wide Reciever * New Orleans, La.
Member of team for past three years
Derek Helton
Punter * Hoyt, Kan.
one of the top punters in school history with a 41.6 career average
Josh Jasper
Punter/Placekicker * Memphis, Tenn.
Leading kicker in SEC this year with 20 field goals
(Pep) Lazarius Levingston
Defensive Tackle * Ruston, La.
Two-year starter on defensive line with 67 tackles and 14.5 tackles for loss
Richard Murphy
Running Back * Rayville, La.
512 career rushing yards with 2 TD
Drake Nevis
Defensive Tackle * Marrero, La.
Four-time SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week in 2010
Jordan Newell
Wide Receiver * Homer, La.
Squad member for three years
Jonathan Nixon
Defensive End * Little Rock, Ark.
Squad member for three years
Kelvin Sheppard
Linebacker * Stone Mountain, Ga.
Three-year starter with 283 career tackles and 24.5 tackles for losses
Terrence Toliver
Wide Receiver * Hempstead, Texas.
Three-year starter with 116 catches for 1,636 yards and 9 TDs