With Mayes moving to LB and Gilbert likely to leave, who's in the mix at strong safety? Are we looking at Clayton, T. Daniels, Chad White and the freshmen? Anybody have any inside info?
For now it looks like the SS is Travis Daniels. Ryan Gilbert was getting some attention at SS but it looks like he may transfer. Chad White has been practicing as the #2 SS. I don't see Clayton as a SS unless he plays it in passing situations. He's too valuable to have him charging the line trying to tackle running backs (not that he can't do it, because he can). Its probably a little too early to say if any frosh DBs will play SS. I suppose LaRon Landry and Jessie Daniels have the best chance, but they seem to be more suited as CBs and FS. Daryll Johnson was the SS of the frosh class, but it looks like he may not qualify in time. For now, it looks like Travis Daniels' job to lose.
Max, It was on LSUsports.net in Saban's comments following today's practice. He said that Gilbert was thinking it over, but I saw that he had already been removed from the roster.
The info is legit; its not a secret or anything. Notice I said "may". He could decide he wants to stick it out at LSU and try to contribute as a DB.
I wonder if they could move Cameron Vaughn to SS. He has great size at 6-4 220. I don't know about his speed. We seem thin at SS. Daniels is only 200 pounds and injury prone. White is a walk on.
I suppose its possible, but not probable. Vaughn is closer to 230 than 220. He's got decent speed, but It'd be like starting all over again for him. Switching would take time, which he doesn't have. Bottom line is he's a LB, not a DB. He'll be counted on to contribute this year as a LB. They'd move Mayes back to SS before Vaughn. I wouldn't worry about Travis Daniels. He had injuries last year, but I wouldn't exactly tag him with the "injury prone" tag just yet. He's definitely a talented DB, and LSU's too deep at the CB position. This way, both he and Prude will see a lot of PT. The only worry I have about him is run support. However, this team is solid up front and should not have a problem stopping the run. He'll be excellent in passing situations. The #2 SS after him is a bit of a concern. White just isn't athletic enough to play SS in the SEC. He's a great special teams player, but he doesn't have the size/speed to play with the talented WRs in the SEC. I'd look for Saban to either keep Mayes as a backup or groom one of the frosh DBs to be a safety. Another possibility is Vernon Russell, the redshirt frosh from Curtis. I saw him put some pretty impressive hits on people in that Spring Game...
