A New Chapter for LSU's Secondary
LSU’s defensive backfield has long been a cornerstone of its identity, a reputation that earned the program the moniker DBU in the early 2010s when stars such as Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne emerged.
The departure of All‑American cornerback Mansoor Delane to the NFL has left a noticeable gap, but the Tigers are not starting from scratch.
Enter DJ Pickett and PJ Woodland, who are slated to man the starting corner spots for the upcoming season. Both have already demonstrated the ability to compete at the SEC level, and the coaching staff believes they can carry the unit forward.
Pickett’s coverage profile is especially noteworthy; he lined up in man coverage on 41.9 percent of his snaps, the highest rate among SEC corners, and his 76.2 coverage grade placed him fifth in the conference.
Woodland, meanwhile, proved to be a Swiss‑army knife in the secondary, seeing action at corner, slot and safety throughout the previous campaign, and he posted a 74.0 PFF defensive grade as a sophomore.
The team’s depth at the position remains a question mark, meaning the onus will fall heavily on Pickett and Woodland to preserve LSU’s lofty defensive aspirations.
If the duo can replicate, or even surpass, the performances that helped the Tigers secure a top‑five ranking in recent PFF evaluations, the defense could still contend for a national elite status despite the loss of Delane.