#5 Jay Ward Season 2022
2020 SEC Academic Honor Roll
Veteran defensive back who can play any position in the secondary … Leader in the secondary and serves as a coach on the field for the Tigers … Had breakout season in 2021, ranking among team leaders in tackles with 71 … Started at three different positions in the secondary a year ago – cornerback, safety and dime … Has a knack for finding the football and coming up with the big play … Tremendous hand-eye coordination and ball skills, which was evident in his highlight reel interception against Florida in 2020 when he fell out of bounds, re-established himself inbounds and then intercepted a pass on his knees … Also thrives on special teams – blocked a field goal in fourth quarter against Arkansas that helped preserve LSU win in 2020 … Also had a blocked field goal against Auburn in 2021 … For career, has appeared in 33 games with 14 starts … 104 career tackles, 13 pass breakups and 5 interceptions, returning one for a touchdown against Ole Miss in 2020 … Member of the 2020 SEC Academic Honor Roll.
JUNIOR SEASON (2021)
Played and started 11 games in 2021 … Made 7 starts at safety, 2 at cornerback and one at the dime position … Finished third on team in tackles with 71 … Led Tigers with a pair of interceptions … Added 4 pass breakups, a forced fumble and blocked a kick … Had career-best 11 tackles and blocked a 52-yard field goal attempt against Auburn … Other double-digit tackle game came against Ole Miss with 10 stops … Capped year with 9 tackles and 2 pass breakups against Kansas State in the Texas Bowl … Returned an interception 26 yards in the second quarter to setup an LSU touchdown, putting the Tigers ahead 21-6 … Other interception came in second quarter against Louisiana-Monroe and setup another Tiger touchdown, putting LSU up 10-0 … Had 6 tackles in 4 games – at Mississippi State, Florida, at Alabama and Louisiana-Monroe.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2020)
Appeared in nine games with three starts as a sophomore in 2020 … Started three of LSU’s final four games … Starts came against Texas A&M, Florida and Ole Miss … Finished year with 29 tackles, six pass breakups and three interceptions … Also blocked a field goal … Had great all-around game in win over Florida with career-best eight tackles and first career interception … Made a highlight reel interception against Florida after falling out of bounds, then re-established himself inbounds to pick off the Kyle Trask pass from his knees … That interception halted a Florida drive inside the LSU 20-yard line … In win over Arkansas, came off the edge to block a 44-yard field goal attempt that helped preserve LSU victory … At the time of the blocked field goal, LSU was clinging to a 27-24 lead with 1:20 left in the contest … Closed out season with six tackles and two interceptions in win over Ole Miss in Tiger Stadium … Returned a first quarter interception vs. Ole Miss 31 yards for a TD to give the Tigers a 10-7 lead … Picked off a pass in the third quarter against Ole Miss and returned it 16 yards to the Rebel 44-yard line setting up another LSU touchdown … Opened season with five tackles and career-best three pass breakups against Mississippi State.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2019)
Saw action in 13 games in 2019 … Recorded four tackles, broke up three passes and had a quarterback hurry … Had two pass breakups in LSU’s win over Oklahoma in the national semifinals …. One tackle each in games against Florida, Mississippi State, Alabama and Arkansas … Contributed on special teams as well … Quarterback hurry came against Florida.
HIGH SCHOOL
Another extremely athletic defensive back in LSU’s 2019 class … Led his team to a 14-1 record and an appearance in the Georgia 7A State Championship Game as a senior … Capped his senior season with 50 tackles and six interceptions … As a junior, recorded 46 tackles, 12 pass breakups and four interceptions … Capped career with 11 interceptions … Listed as a three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN … Ranked No. 50 nationally among cornerbacks by 247Sports and No. 57 nationally by Rivals … Older brother Johnny Ward played football at South Florida, where he played in 47 games with 18 starts from 2013-16 … Coached by Rush Propst.
Jay Ward’s Career Highs
Tackles: 11 vs. Auburn, 2021
Interceptions: 2 vs. Ole Miss, 2020
Pass Breakups: 3 vs. Mississippi State, 2020
Blocked field goals: 1 at Arkansas, 2020