#93 Chad Lavalais Season 2025
2003 Nagurski Award Finalist
2003 Outland Trophy Finalist
2003 National Defensive Player of the Year (Sporting News)
2003 First Team All-America (Walter Camp, Football Writers, Sporting News, SI.com, ESPN.com)
2003 SEC Defensive Player of the Year (Coaches)
2003 First Team All-SEC (AP, Coaches, ESPN.com, Collegefootballnews.com)
2002 First-Team All-SEC (Sporting News)
2002 Second-Team All-SEC (AP)
2000 Third-Team Freshman All-America (Sporting News)
SENIOR SEASON (2003)
The anchor for LSU’s defense, one that ranks among the best in the nation in nearly every category … A finalist for both the Nagurski and Outland Awards and was named to just about every First-Team All-America squad … Named the National Defensive Player of the Year by the Sporting News … Put together as fine a season for any interior defensive lineman in LSU history … Started all 14 games for the Tigers, posting 61 tackles, 16 of which went for 85 yards in losses … Added 7 sacks for 52-yards in losses … Added 23 quarterback hurries and 6 pass breakups … Led a Tiger defense that allowed only one team to score more than 20 points (Arkansas, 24) and only two teams to rush for over 100 yards in a game (Arkansas, 201; Louisiana Tech, 121) in 2003 … Plays with a non-stop motor and has the quickest first step around …Spends most of the game in opposing backfields … Had at least 1 tackle for a loss in 9 of LSU’s 14 games … Had 3 tackles for losses in wins over Western Illinois (minus 17-yards) and Auburn (minus 24-yards) and in the loss to Florida (minus 19-yards) … Had 2 sacks vs. Florida … Had 6 tackles, 5 quarterback hurries and an interception in road win over Alabama … Recorded season-best of 8 tackles, three for losses, and a sack, in 31-7 win over Auburn … Helped the Tigers rank first in the nation in scoring defense (11.0) and total defense (252.0) and third in rushing defense (67.0) … For career, had 32.5 tackles for losses and 11 sacks … Finally saw first action for LSU in 2000 after originally signing with the Tigers in 1998 and then again in 1999 … Finally enrolled in school in August of 2000 and proved to be worth the wait … While waiting to gain eligibility, spent a year as a prison guard at a correctional facility near his hometown of Marksville.
JUNIOR SEASON (2002)
One of the top interior linemen in the SEC … Started and played in all 13 games for the Tigers … Led all LSU linemen with 66 tackles, including 8.5 for 26 yards in losses … Added a pair of sacks and a team-best 21 quarterback hurries … Recovered one fumble and broke up two passes … Started the year on the Lombardi Watch List … Finished season strong has he recorded at least one tackle for loss in four of LSU’s final five games, including two each against both Kentucky and Alabama … Had one tackle for a 4-yard loss against Texas in the Cotton Bowl … Opened season with 11 tackles, including two for losses, vs. Virginia Tech … Had nine tackles in win over Mississippi State and eight tackles against South Carolina.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2001)
LSU’s starter at right defensive tackle in 12 of 13 games … Key member of LSU’s defensive front … Had 16 quarterback hurries to his credit … Outstanding against both the run or the pass … Had one tackle, a pair of quarterback hurries and batted down a pass against Illinois in the Sugar Bowl … Missed Middle Tennessee with an injury (hamstring) … Injured hamstring in first half vs. Alabama … Returned to action vs. Arkansas and recorded six tackles, including one for a loss … Followed that with four tackles, including one for a 3-yard loss vs. Auburn … Took over as a starter in 2000 vs. Alabama and has been there ever since … Led all LSU defensive linemen with 53 tackles, including 5 for 15 yards in losses … Had one sack … Had seven tackles vs. both Tennessee and Florida and 6 vs. Ole Miss.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2000)
A true freshman who burst on to the scene in the second half of the season to become a defensive stalwart … Made the first start of his career against Alabama and immediately responded with eight tackles while coming up with his first career sack … For his efforts against Alabama he was named LSU’s Defensive Player of the Week along with Lionel Thomas … Started the final three games of the regular-season as well as the Peach Bowl … In all, played in 12 games with four starts … Finished the year with 22 tackles including three for losses … Registered two tackles, both for losses and a sack to go with one fumble recovery vs. Georgia Tech in the Peach Bowl … Named a Third-Team Freshman All-American by The Sporting News.
HIGH SCHOOL
Class 3A All-State as a tight end his senior year of 1997 … All-District on offense and defense … All-Parish Defensive MVP … All-District Defensive MVP his senior season … Member of The Advocate Super Dozen and Purple & Gold’s Great Eight … Rated as the South’s 16th best linebacker according to PrepStar magazine … He made 76 tackles, including 10 behind the line of scrimmage, two interceptions (one for a TD), one fumble recovery and one blocked punt … On offense, he grabbed 12 receptions for 331 yards and five touchdowns … He also rushed for 301 yards and five touchdowns … Averaged 34.5 yards per kickoff return and had 14 punts for a 36.7 yard average … District champion in javelin and shot put … Led Marksville to an 8-2 record in 1997 … Ran the 40 in 4.8 … Coached in high school by Benny Brouillette.
PERSONAL
Full name is Chad Douglas Lavalais … Born on Aug. 15, 1979 in Marksville, La. … Mother is Carol Lavalais … Has one brother, Petey … Majoring in education.
Lavalais’ Career Defensive Stats
Year
G-GS
UT
AT
TT
TFL
Sacks
Int
2000 Fr.
11-3
16
6
22
3-3
1-0
0
2001 So.
11-11
34
19
53
5-15
1-7
0
2002 Jr.
13-13
43
23
66
8.5-26
2-6
0
2003 Sr.
14-14
34
27
61
16-85
7-52
1-0
Totals
49-41
127
75
202
3235-129
11-65
1-0