LSU Football: Ed Orgeron identifies Tigers’ defensive leader

If LSU football is going to be successful in 2021, they’re going to need great team leaders.

Of course, that’s not something that’s unique to the Tigers.

Every college football team needs great team leaders to be successful.

But finding those team leaders is usually easier said than done. A lot of players want to be leaders, but not every player truly is a leader.

The quarterback is typically the leader of the offense. Defensively, however, it can be tougher to identify a leader.

LSU football has its defensive leader

Fortunately for LSU, the team has a clear defensive leader heading into 2021.

According to Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron, it’s outside linebacker Andre Anthony.

“Andre Anthony is clearly the leader on defense,” said Orgeron on Tuesday during an appearance on 104.5 in Baton Rouge.

Anthony, a former four-star recruit from New Orleans, is returning to LSU in 2021 for a sixth year of eligibility (the NCAA didn’t count the 2020 season toward eligibility).

In 2020, Anthony played in all 10 games for the Tigers, compiling 24 total tackles and 5.5 sacks.

Anthony may be the obvious leader of the defense, but he wasn’t the only defender that Orgeron mentioned as having great leadership skills.

“Ali Gaye is coming along,” said Orgeron. “They’re looking at Damone Clark a bunch. Those guys are showing tremendous leadership skills.”

Gaye was a starter for LSU in 2020. He thought about entering his name into the 2021 NFL Draft, but Gaye ultimately decided to return to Baton Rouge for the 2021 season.

Clark had 63 tackles as a junior in 2020. He’ll be one of the Tigers’ starting linebackers in 2021.

Having great team leaders gives LSU a better chance for success in 2021. And it certainly makes Coach O’s job a lot easier.