College football’s title of Defensive Back University (or DBU) is one of the most hotly contested debates among a particular group of fans. LSU says it owns the mantle, as do Florida, Texas, and Virginia Tech. But if the Tigers want to reign supreme as the king of the DBUs, players like Jacoby Stevens will help the Tigers lay claim to that throne.
How 5-star safety Jacoby Stevens can boost LSU’s ‘DBU’ claims even more
He’ll fit right in at LSU.
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Stevens is the No. 1 safety in the country and the No. 16 player overall, per the 247Sports Composite. Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda finds creative uses for his safeties and has excelled putting walk-ons in the right position; one can only imagine what he can do with a 5-star player like Stevens.
Stevens is also an early-enrollee, a benefit for college players who can get on campus early and get adjusted to campus life as well as the rigors of being a college athlete in general. It also gives him a chance to get a jump on learning Aranda’s scheme.
He’s 6’1, 200-pounds and fits the mold of the new breed of bigger-bodied defensive backs, and when you see him on film you see a thick-bodied athlete. But don’t let the frame distract you from the fact that Stevens can absolutely move. Most importantly it’s how he moves that makes him such an intriguing prospect.
The key with Stevens is fluidity in his motion.
I don’t mean this is as disrespect, but his speed is not necessarily overly explosive, or blinding. It is constant, and it’s consistently very good. He doesn’t lose speed when changing directions in and out of cuts.
If you were running with him you wouldn’t notice it, but just like that he’d be way out in front of you leaving you in the dust. Just take a look at the kickoff coverage guy who tries to go stride for stride with Stevens starting at right about the 30-yard line.
Class will remain in session at DBU.
Primarily because this isn’t LSU’s first talented safety prospect in this class, it’s their second. If everything pans out like the Tigers hope, Stevens will combine with Grant Delpit in the secondary. At the time of his commitment, our LSU blog was also pumped because of who he’ll replace in the back-end of the secondary.
Stevens gives this class a second top-tier safety that will be arriving to Baton Rouge in December as early enrollees. This is huge for LSU due to the fact that both starting safeties in Rickey Jefferson and Jamal Adams are likely departing after this season. In watching his highlights posted above, Stevens has elite athleticism and he combines that with quick decision making to make him a huge center field threat.
There were multiple schools who wanted Stevens as a wide receiver as well. He played that position and is on his highlight tape showing out as a wildcat QB and return man as well. The versatility helps with his ball skills and makes him even more dangerous on the back-end of LSU’s secondary.
