LSU Football: filling the void of defensive end Arden Key

This year’s offseason has been one full of roster and staff changes for the LSU football Tigers. The latest to join in on these changes is defensive end, Arden Key.

Key claimed to be taking a break from the team due to personal reasons, and obviously leaves a bit of a void behind him.

So where do the Tigers go to replace such a talent?

It won’t be easy, and the players LSU has to work with may not be able to fully fill the shoes of the single-season-sack-record holder, but there are options available for Aranda to solve the problem.

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New Orleans pass-rusher Sci Martin lacks experience, but has a lot of raw potential. He also has great size at the position at 240 pounds. Martin will definitely need some patience and time to develop, but he may end up being exactly what the Tigers need.

Another option LSU might pursue in Key’s absence is Micheal Divinity Jr. Aranda has already stated he is one of the team’s No. 1 options at the inside linebacker position, but that could easily be adjusted if Key is gone for an extended period. Divinity Jr. has shown in his playing time at LSU that he is just as capable on the outside as he is on the inside, and therefore may be able to take Key’s place.

Current outside linebacker Ray Thornton offers yet another solution to the hole Key has left behind him, posting 15 sacks in his last two years at Shoemaker High School (Kileen, TX). He’s the exact same body type as Key, and is capable of bringing tremendous pressure to the quarterback.

This being said, the Tigers have numerous options to further rebuild their defense after losing Key. They’re just going to need to be willing to work with raw potential and developing younger players in the 2017 season.

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