LSU will have to replace one of their leaders in the back-end of the secondary in Jay Ward as he has declared for the 2023 NFL Draft. Even with the loss, the Tigers will return talent at the safety position as Greg Brooks Jr., Major Burns and Sage Ryan will be returning for the 2023 season. LSU was also able to reload at the position by adding Javien Toviano, Ryan Yaites and Kylin Jackson in the recruiting trail. The back-end of the Tiger defense is set to be strong heading into the new season. Check out how the safety depth chart is shaping out prior to the start of spring practices that will begin on Thursday:
Sage Ryan:
Ryan was one of the nation’s top defensive backs for the class of 2021 from Lafayette Christian Academy and had high expectations when coming to LSU. In his first season in Baton Rouge during the 2021 season, Ryan would appear in four games with the Tigers.
He would struggle to stay healthy during his debut season with LSU as he battled through several injuries during the year. When healthy, he served a vital role in the secondary. Ryan would make his collegiate debut against Kentucky. His best game during his freshman campaign came against Ole Miss where he would register a career-best three tackles against the Rebels.
Ryan would finish his freshman season with six tackles and two pass breakups. He showed his versatility during his freshman year as he can play both the safety and nickel position. The Lafayette native has the ability for locating the football and can cover well. During the 2022 season, Ryan racked up 23 total tackles, one fumble forced, two fumble recoveries and one pass defended. His best game of the season would come against Ole Miss where he registered five tackles and three assists against a high-powered offensive attack.
Greg Brooks Jr.:
Brooks Jr. spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career at Arkansas before transferring to LSU prior to the start of the 2022 season. In his debut season with the Razorbacks, Brooks Jr. would start in all 12 games for Arkansas at the nickel back position. He played in 515 snaps while recording 25 tackles, three pass breakups, a quarterback hurry and an interception.
The Harvey, Louisiana native would continue to serve a vital role for Arkansas’ defense heading into this sophomore season. He would make eight starts at nickel back while logging 39 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions, one pass breakup and two quarterback hurries. Brooks Jr. would quickly become a leader in the back-end of the Razorback secondary heading into his final year with the program.
In 2021, Brooks Jr. finished the year with 48 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and an interception. Brooks Jr. would decide to take his talents back to his home state where he would transfer to LSU. In his first season with the Tigers, Brooks Jr. would register 63 total tackles, one sack, one fumble forced, one fumble recovery, two interceptions and three passes defended.
Major Burns:
Burns spent his first collegiate season at Georgia before transferring to LSU prior to the start of the 2021 season. At his lone season with the Bulldogs, Burns appeared in six games and finished the year with five tackles. He would have a season-best in tackles (3) against Florida. The Baton Rouge native decided to take his talents back to his home city where he would quickly become a veteran for the Tigers.
Burns would take over a starter in the secondary during LSU’s fall camp and he would see action in the first five games of the 2021 season. In those five games, Burns recorded 25 tackles and an interception. An injury would effectively end his season as he suffered a foot injury against Auburn. Injuries would continue to derail Burns going into the 2022 season as he would start in the first three games for the purple and gold.
The Baton Rouge native would miss the next five games of the season due to an injury, but unlike the 2021 season he was able to return to action against Alabama. During his collegiate career, Burns has appeared in 20 games with 10 starts. He has recorded 68 career tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and an interception. Burns is able to use his leadership on and off the playing field. The veteran in the secondary has been able to play with confidence and be a role model for other Tigers on the roster.
Javien Toviano:
Toviano is one of the prized possessions for LSU’s Class of 2023 that ranks at the top of all major recruiting sites. He is regarded as one of the nation’s top defensive backs in the Class of 2023. The Arlington, Texas native is ranked as the top player in the Dallas Metro area.
Toviano was able to help his team to a 10-2 record and a second-round appearance in the playoffs. During his senior season, Toviano registered 38 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He would also be a difference maker on the offensive side of the ball where he added 41 carries for 415 yards and eight touchdowns. Toviano would cap off his high school career with 105 tackles, three interceptions, 19 pass breakups and five forced fumbles.
Ryan Yaites:
Yaites is one of the top players in the Class of 2023 and in the state of Texas. In 2022, Yaites finished his final season with 63 tackles, 11 pass breakups and two interceptions. He was able to show his versatility during his high school career as he played both corner and safety.
In 2022, Yaites was able to help his team go 14-1 on the season, before falling in the state semifinals during the 2022 season. During his junior season in 2021, Yaites recorded 42 tackles and eight pass breakups. For his performance on the field in 2021, Yaites was was awarded all-district honors as his team reached the Texas 6A Division II State Championship game.
Kylin Jackson:
Jackson ranks as one of the nation’s top safety prospects in the Class of 2023. Hailing from Zachary High School, Jackson has shown he is an all-around athlete that had a dominating high school career. The Clinton, Louisiana native was named Most Outstanding Player in the Baton Rouge Advocate All-Metro Team for Class 5A and 4A in 2022.
During his senior season in 2022, Jackson registered 72 tackles, five tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two blocked kicks and an interception. In 2021, Jackson recorded 74 tackles, 11 pass breakups, an interception and a fumble recovery. Jackson would help Zachary to a 15-0 mark and a Louisiana Division I state title in 2021. He would cap off his high school career with an appearance in the Division I semifinals in 2022.
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