The LSU Tigers are one of the powerhouse teams in the SEC, however they need players to step up big in 2012 as the team is losing many players to the NFL Draft. One of those is Barkevious Mingo who gave the Tigers 15 sacks during his three year tenure with the program. Mingo decided to forgo his senior season and now he is projected to be a mid-first round pick in a few weeks.
Mingo was a menace on the defensive line and a model of stability–in three years the Louisiana native missed just one game and it came versus Idaho in a meaningless game in week three of the 2012 NCAAF season.
With Mingo now at the NFL level the Tigers need to to something to replace a defensive end who made a enormous impact. Head coach Les Miles has a few possible suitors, but it appears that Jemauria Rasco will be the next big thing on the Tigers defense. Rasco has played sparingly in his two years with the team and was able to get noticed despite of Mingo’s large shadow.
Rasco has a similar body type to Mingo, however the former is nearly 15 pounds heavier and does not have the speed that the latter possess. Miles is already throwing rave reviews Rasco’s way saying that “I think he will eventually be as dominant as Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo.” Montgomery is also a Tiger defensive end from the 2012 season and is slated as a late first-round or early second-round pick this coming NFL Draft.
It has been a long journey for Rasco, but he now has the opportunity to be as good if not better than the players who he is replacing.
