5 Freshmen of Influence

Who do you guys have as your five freshmen of influence?

I figured I might get some grief for Mills at 1 over Alexander and Hill, but the kid has started in all 8 games and hasn't proven to be a huge liability yet (no more than Simon has gotten picked on, at least). Tied for team-lead in INTs and is fourth on the team in tackles. Kid just came in ready to play.

If Micah Eugene had made a few more plays, he might have been in my top 5.

Kwon Alexander would have been on there had he not gotten injured for the season.

You know it bud:)

I agree on 1-3. I think I would pull Turner at 4 and Eugene at 5 (Kwon would be in there if hadn't been injured), but Collins would be 5B.

1) Alexander (just because he has played solid at very difficult position for a Fr to play)
2) Mills (another tough position to play)
3) Hill (could be number 1, but needs to continue to have the same kind of impact. Too small of a sample size)
4) Turner (again Fr on the Oline)
5) Reid Fergusen
6) Collins or Eugene
8) Deon Jones or Kwon
10) Lamar Louis
11) Nic Jacobs

I've been very pleased with the play of both Mills and Collins at CB. Not many freshmen could come into any college system and do as well. To come into LSU's where they are expected to man up on the athletes the SEC throws out every week is really pretty stunning. They haven't been perfect but there has been no drop in the defense's overall excellence.

As LSU fans we have gotten used to near perfect play on the defensive line and in the secondary. One of the guys these two replaced was a first round drat pick and the other was a Heisman finalist. The year before two first round draft picks were manning the corner positions and the Heisman guy was the nickel guy..That's some big shoes to fill. These guys may not be jumping through all of the hoops their predecessors were, but those shoes haven't fallen off of their young feet. The defense is still winning games for LSU and these two freshmen have been a big part of it.

Agree with Shea's picks, however, I thought Kwon was playing great ball until his broken ankle issue... Kwon and Debo's speed at LB really has helped the D this year...