Landry makes 2nd team all-american!

The only reason his numbers were down this year is because of better linebacker play.

 

And the fact that he dropped at least 5 easy picks throughout the season. I hope for much better if he is still a Tiger next year.

 

Not this season. This year LaRon was lucky to have even made 2nd team All-American.

Landry had 3 INT's this season with 39 solo tackles and 26 assists.

Ko Simpson from South Carolina had WAY more tackles (65 solo and 29 assists) and 1 INT.

and Huff from Texas had 37 tackles and 38 assits with 2 INT's.

Having said that, obviously I still believe LaRon would be a hight draft pick reguardless on if he entered the draft early this season, or stayed on for his final year. The benefit for LaRon, IMO, to stay for another season is that Pelini's defensive schemes may actually benefit him. Here me out first...

Under Saban, our defense blitzed the safeties more than Pelini. LaRon had more tackles under Saban because of that. Because of the scheme Saban used, LaRon was "crashing down" from his safety spot more. And in a conference that likes the running game, he had plenty of chances to make a tackle. Under Pelini, who changes coverages to fool the offense. Saban's defense helped show that LaRon is tough enough to play at the line of scrimmage and Pelini's defense challenges him to be a better defender in the passing game. At the next level, teams want their safeties to do both...but they want their safeties to be able to make the INT when they have the chance rather than drop them.

If LaRon stays on for another year, and has another All-American season, then that will mean that he has truely proven to be the "complete safety" that we all know he has the potential to be (if not already).

 

I think Ko Simpson of South Carolina would be the player for LaRon to beat for preseason All-American next year. Simpson is only a Soph too.

 

I think this is fair.

Laron did drop quite a few interception posibilties. Catching a few of those might have bumped him up.

 

Yeah you're right...Let's judge a player for four plays...Great idea

 

Think about it this way. How many players are there in Div 1 football? Hell, how many Defensive players are there? Even if you narrow it down to just how many Defensive backs there are, I'd still be proud of making 2nd team All-American. I would think that puts him in the top 2% of all defensive backs in the country.

 

I think LaRon definitely deserves this. He is a big time player and we'll be lucky if he's wearing purple and gold in the 2006 season.