LSU’s Next Man Up: Rickey Jefferson
By Scotty Nola
Tiger fans were disappointed to hear that Jalen Mills is going to be out for at least 4-6 weeks with a serious lower leg injury. This is the first piece of really bad news in this years football season, but it isn’t exactly time to push the panic button.
I don’t want to downplay the significance of this injury from Jalen Mills standpoint. As a senior this year is his last chance to make an impression on NFL scouts. It’s also a chance to cap a career that has seen him make 39 starts in 3 seasons playing both corner and safety. 4 year starters are rare in this day and age.
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The expected recovery time for Mills injury is 4-6 weeks, but that may not be a rock solid estimate. Ankle injuries can be difficult to predict, and it could be longer than 6 weeks before Mills is back to 100% game speed.
I don’t expect the team to suffer too much from the injury, especially if Mills can make it back early. His backup is Rickey Jefferson. Some thought Jefferson could push Mills for the starting job this spring, and while this contest didn’t get the attention the QB competition did it has been close.
Oct 11, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; LSU Tigers center Elliott Porter (55) and LSU Tigers safety Rickey Jefferson (29) congratulate each other after they beat the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. LSU Tigers defeated the Florida Gators 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Rickey Jefferson has played in 20 games over the last two years, mostly in nickel and dime packages and tied for the team lead in 2014 with 2 interceptions. He has been groomed for this starting role since he got on campus and he should be ready to step right in and play.
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Covering Jalen Mills starting Safety spot until he returns isn’t a problem, in other words. The place this gets really interesting is seeing who will take Jefferson’s place as Mills primary backup and who will be inserted into the nickel and dime packages Jefferson played in last year.
The Top backup at Safety behind Jefferson is Corey Thompson. Thompson was a highly rated recruit coming out of high school (Rivals listed him as the #18 Safety his senior year) but hasn’t seen much action as a Tiger.
Nov 9, 2013; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back T.J. Yeldon (4) is hit by LSU Tigers safety Corey Thompson (12), Lamin Barrow (18), Craig Loston (6) and linebacker D.J. Welter (31) during the fourth quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated LSU 38-17. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
He played primarily as a special teamer his first two seasons and took a medical redshirt last year. He’s an unknown quantity.
It’s unlikely the Tigers will move backup Strong Safety John Battle over, so the other option behind Corey Thompson is True Freshman Xavier Lewis.
Lewis is one of the incoming freshmen who was immediately moved into practices with the veterans in camp and has been mentioned as a freshman we can expect to see a lot of this fall.
Lewis and Thompson could both see time in the Tigers nickel and dime packages, but several corners are also available to fill that role with Jefferson now moved into the starting lineup.
Talented freshman Kevin Tolliver II can play a role in those packages, as can returning players Dwayne Thomas and Russel Gage.
Gage hasn’t seen a lot of game time but coaches have always been high on his potential. Dwayne Thomas missed most of last year with a knee injury but really impressed during the spring, where he won awards for overcoming adversity and for outstanding performance in the offseason program.
One thing is clear here: the Tigers have a lot of options for filling out all their defensive packages and for special teams.
They don’t call LSU DBU for nothing, all the players who have a chance to contribute are NFL prospects looking to make a name for themselves.
Oct 11, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; LSU Tigers safety Rickey Jefferson (29) running back Leonard Fournette (7) and defensive back Tre’Davious White (16) celebrate after they beat the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. LSU Tigers defeated the Florida Gators 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The team will be fine here, and I suspect Jalen Mills will be too.
As disappointing as his injury is it can also be an opportunity. NFL teams know that injuries are part of football, and seeing how a player responds to adversity and works through rehab to get back on the field can be just as important as a good scouting combine performance.
Jalen Mills might not make it back in time for Auburn and Miss. St. but he should be in the lineup down the homestretch, with more experienced depth behind and around him in the secondary…..
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