Whether LSU is the true "DBU" is up for debate, but there is certainly no shortage of former Tigers in the NFL that LSU coach Les Miles can name-drop to recruits, when necessary, on the practice field. Such was the case Friday as Tigers defensive backs went through a strip drill to learn how to force more fumbles, and Miles invoked the name of Tyrann Mathieu to his young charges in a practice sequence captured on video.
"The guys that understand (the importance of stripping the ball), you want me to give you one? Tyrann Mathieu. Tyrann Mathieu understood that to such a degree that he led us with forced turnovers at this school," Miles said.
Miles certainly has plenty of talent to mold into Mathieu's style. LSU will have one of the top secondaries in the nation this fall, led by cornerback Tre'Davious White, Jalen Mills,and safetyJamal Adams.NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein is especially high on White.
Mathieu, though he was later dismissed from the LSU squad, forced six fumbles and recovered five in 2011, when he was named a Heisman Trophy finalist. Although Mathieu has been a strong addition to the Arizona Cardinals defense, he might ought to go back to the Bayou for the strip drill. He has forced just one fumble in two NFL seasons.
Here are nine other things we learned from fall camps on Friday:
2. Golson takes the field. Florida State's transfer quarterback from Notre Dame, Everett Golson, took the field for the first time as a Seminole. And coach Jimbo Fisher liked what he saw, even if he wants to see a lot more. "Knowing it in the classroom and on the board is different than when it starts flying, you know what I mean," Fisher said, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. "But the good thing about it is he's played in a lot of big games, and a lot of big situations so I'm sure he'll be nervous like a freshman out there." Fisher indicated Golson has spent plenty of time prior to camp learning the FSU offense. But for all the hype about Golson's new home in Tallahassee, don't count Sean Maguire out of the hunt for the quarterback job.
3. Oakman's pets. Two words that surely don't often come up in NFL Scouting Combine interviews between clubs and draft prospects: python and octopus. Baylor star defensive end Shawn Oakman will likely hear both next February, now that he's acknowledged owning one and wanting to own the other. Here's hoping Baloo, his python, is housed in a solidly-built container.
4. Thin and getting thinner. The Alabama offensive backfield is always flush with talent, but this year, the Crimson Tide enters fall camp lacking in depth beyond starter Derrick Henry and backup Kenyan Drake. Now comes word that freshman running back Bo Scarbrough has incurred a four-game NCAA suspension, leaving the No. 3 running back job even more wide open in camp. Scarbrough is still recovering from a knee injury, but his suspension will mean more practice reps for some younger backs with zero game experience.
5. U-Dub Dismissal. The son of late rapper Nate Dogg, Naijiel Hale, has been dismissed from the Washington program. Hale's next move is unclear, but Washington's next move in the secondary will be interesting to watch. Hale was a strong candidate to start this season, and made four stops in the Huskies spring game.
6. NFL credibility. Arizona State coach **Todd Graham** has learned there is no substitute for NFL credibility on his coaching staff. New special teams coach Shawn Slocum, who came from the same role with the Green Bay Packers, has previously special teams-shy Sun Devils realizing that a job in the NFL often relies on special teams ability. "He's been a special teams coordinator for 10 years in the (NFL)," Graham said. "He explains to those guys how it works there, how guys make the team. Now all of a sudden, everybody wants to play special teams." There is no substitute for NFL credibility on a college coaching staff. It's where players want to go, and they listen to those who have been there.
7. Growing Bulldogs. One of the biggest wide receivers in the nation, Mississippi State's 6-foot-5-inch De'Runnya Wilson, is getting even bigger. Try 235 pounds, which puts him in the range of two of the larger receivers in the last two drafts: Dorial Green-Beckham and Kelvin Benjamin.
8. Cougars below par. New Houston coach Tom Herman, who was Ohio State's offensive coordinator last year, had this to say about the Cougars' opening practice: "I was disappointed in our effort level ... we made decisions to give in to the fatigue." You're not in Columbus anymore, coach. But here's guessing the Cougars will soon hear plenty about what it took to win the big one at OSU.
9. Eyeing Kam. Penn State safety Marcus Allen models his game after Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor, and while Allen weighs at least 20 pounds less than the 6-3, 232-pound member of the Legion of Boom, according to PSU assistant coach Bob Shoop, Allen has the leadership part taken care of. "He's the undisputed quarterback of the defense," Shoop said, according to PennLive.com. "He probably is a lot to the defense what (quarterback) Christian (Hackenberg) is to the offense. He's very vocal. He understands the defense inside and out."
10. Pearson returns. As expected, Tennessee announced the reinstatement of wide receiver Von Pearson, who had been suspended since April while the subject of an investigation into an alleged rape. Pearson learned Wednesday he would not face charges. The return of Pearson is a major boost for the Volunteers' offense and gives quarterback Josh Dobbs another threat to play opposite another burgeoning star at the position, Marquez North.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
