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It appears as though the rush from Baton Rouge to the NFL has leveled off somewhat. There doesn’t appear to be the kind of mass exodus like 2013 and 2014, when 18 LSU players still with eligibility remaining opted instead for the NFL draft.
That’s a good thing for LSU fans and coaches alike, especially when you consider that coach Les Miles has vowed to make a concerted effort to tweak a stagnant offense. He’ll need all the veteran players he can get if the Tigers are to transition into a broader playbook.
Still, there are still some key players who haven’t decided yet whether they will stay at LSU or head off to the NFL. Two in particular will be key, both are talented and veteran offensive linemen who, if they remain, would be among the driving forces for any tweaking done to that side of the football.
The Tigers are already going to lose one significant player along the line. Senior veteran Vadal Alexander, an All-SEC first team and an All-America second-team selection who made the decision last year to stay one more season at LSU, will be sorely missed.
He told ESPN that his decision to stay one more year at the college level is one he doesn’t regret.
“It’s probably one of the best experiences you’ll ever have in your whole life,” Alexander said. “High school’s great, but being a senior in college, there’s nothing like it. It’s obviously more of a business at the next level, so if you’re able to come back, I would always say come back.”
There’s no doubt he enhanced his stock in the NFL draft with the additional year of experience at the college level, and that’s why it is crucial for junior linemen Jerald Hawkins and Ethan Pocic to do the same and remain in Baton Rouge.
Hawkins is a versatile talent. He started at left tackle this season after starting at right tackle his freshman and sophomore years. The 6-foot-6, 305-pounder helped pave the way for LSU RB Leonard Fournette’s single-season school-record 1,741 yards rushing. He is a major reason why the Tigers ranked among the nation’s top 10 teams in rushing with an average of 245.9 yards per game.
More than a few people are hoping that Hawkins’ last game with the Tigers isn’t the upcoming Advocare V100 Texas Bowl on Dec. 29 in Houston.
The same goes for LSU’s 6-foot-7, 309-pound center. Pocic is also an extremely versatile athlete along the offensive line. He started all 11 games this season at center after starting nine games last year at right guard, before moving to center late in the season.
He was credited with a team-leading 128.5 knockdown blocks this season, the most by an LSU offensive lineman since at least 2010. Pocic also played the most snaps (730) of any lineman for LSU this season.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. lists both Hawkins and Pocic among the top 10 prospects at their respective positions. They are projected early- to middle-round prospects.
Both requested evaluations from the NFL College Advisory Committee, which offers players advice on how they stack up against the rest of those headed for the draft. As a third-year sophomore, Hawkins sought their guidance last season as well but opted to play another year at LSU.
The decisions Hawkins and Pocic make will have a big impact on the progress on what Miles promises to be an improved upon offense.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
