1996 Freshman All-SEC by the Knoxville News Sentinel
A veteran on the Tiger defense who has played in every game the last 3 seasons … Has started 22 games in his career … Missed entire fall practice prior to 1998 season after suffering burns on his arms in a car mishap, but he recovered to see extensive action last year … Freshman All-SEC in 1996 … Redshirted true freshman season of 1995.
JUNIOR SEASON (1998)
Played in all 11 games and started 3 at inside linebacker … Saw extensive action in every game … Finished as team’s fifth leading tackler with 61 stops, including 36 solos … Made 6 tackles behind the line and 1 QB sack … High tackle game of 9 vs. Mississippi State and at Arkansas … Starts came at Ole Miss, vs. Alabama, at Notre Dame … Made 8 tackles vs. Kentucky, at Ole Miss … Best game was vs. Mississippi State: 9 tackles, 2 tackles behind the line, 1 QB sack … Missed all of fall two-a-days after suffering burns on his arms in a car mishap just prior to the beginning of fall practice … Saw action on 356 defensive plays from scrimmage … Also saw limited action on special teams with punt return and PAT/FG block team.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (1997)
Started all 11 games at linebacker alongside J Wesley in 1997 … LSU’s second-leading tackler with 79 tackles … Made 12 tackles behind the line and 3 QB sacks … Had 3 double-figure tackle games: 14 at Miss. State, 12 vs. Notre Dame, 10 vs. Akron … Made 1 QB sack each vs. Auburn, Akron, at Alabama … Freshman All-SEC in 1996 … Tied J Wesley for team lead in tackles with 14 at Miss. State … Led LSU with 10 tackles vs. Akron, a game in which he also had 2 tackles behind the line and 1 QB sack … Also started Independence Bowl and made 7 tackles, including 1 behind the line.
REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON (1996)
Named a linebacker on the Freshman All-SEC Team by the Knoxville News Sentinel … Tigers’ starting MLB … Redshirt freshman who had fine season … Moved into starting role second game of season after senior starter Mike Calais tore ACL in opener … Started 8 of the 9 games in which LSU started a middle linebacker (LSU opened with 5 DBs at Ole Miss and vs. Tulane which eliminated MLB as starter) … Recorded back-to-back double digit tackle games with 15 vs. Kentucky and 14 vs. Miss. State … The Tigers’ seventh leading tackler with 60 tackles, including 6 TBLs and 2 QB sacks … Fine game at Ole Miss with 4 tackles and 1 QB sack … Also recorded 2 TBLs vs. Kentucky … Solid performance in first start, making 3 tackles in win at Auburn.
HIGH SCHOOL
First-team Class 5A All-State in Louisiana … Made 98 tackles his senior year with 8 sacks, 24 tackles for losses, 4 interceptions and 1 safety … recorded a total of 330 tackles during his career and 27 sacks with 8 interceptions … member of New Orleans Times-Picayune Top 16 … honorable mention on the Baton Rouge Advocate’s Super Dozen Team … also an all-metro selection .. member of Tiger Rag’s Dirty Dozen … coached in high school by Robert Welch.
Mother: Every Jean Smith
Brothers and sisters: Pam, Saul, Leslie, Sharone, Charlie
Place of birth: New Orleans, La. (September 3, 1975)