Huey Leon Spell, 77, Hixson Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home.
White leaving LSU for NFL
Published 7:00 pm Tuesday, January 15, 2019
BATON ROUGE — It was no surprise except that it took LSU’s Devin White right up until the last minute to make a final decision.
But the Tigers’ two-time first-team All-American linebacker will indeed forgo his senior season to enter the NFL draft, where he is projected to be a top ten overall pick.
White, who this year became the first LSU player to win the Butkus award as the nation’s top linebacker, announced his decision just before Monday’s noon deadline for college players to make themselves available for the draft.
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White’s decision means the Tigers will lose three players with remaining eligibility to the draft this year. Cornerback Greedy Williams skipped LSU’s Fiesta Bowl victory over Central Florida and is also projected as a top ten pick.
The other, defensive tackle Ed Alexander, was a little more surprise early entry.
But it’s fairly mild draft damage for LSU compared to recent years.
Several others contemplated taking the leap but opted to stay with the program, including defensive end Rashard Lawrence, cornerback Kristian Fulton defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko and linebacker Michael Divinity.
Unlike Williams and Alexander, White played in the bowl game and insisted during the build-up that it wasn’t a forgone conclusion that he’d be leaving.
It will be tough to replace the only player in SEC history to be named the conference’s defensive player of the week four times in one season.
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But depth and experience there gives LSU has some options.
Junior Jacob Phillips started at the other inside spot last season and could take on a larger role. Patrick Queen, another junior-to-be was White’s backup last season, although late in the year he also started some at an outside linebacker spot.
Micah Baskerville also saw considerable time as a true freshman last season.
It has also been reported that LSU defensive backs coach Corey Raymond, a former Tiger players who’s also known as one of the Tigers’ top recruiters, will be staying with the program after a flirtation with joining the staff at Georgia.
LSU linebacker Devin White (40) in the first half during the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against UCF, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in Glendale, AZ. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)