Top Louisiana defensive performers from LSU’s first skills camp

Approximately 1,400 student athletes visited LSU for the program’s first summer camps since winning the 2019 national championship Jan. 13, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic scrapped the typical 2020 offseason and limited coaches and players to fully virtual recruitments. So both the recruiters and recruits have opened the summer as enthusiastic and hungry as ever to make their mark. And the lineman camp and skills camp the first weekend of the month — each held by the Tigers in conjunction with staffs from all their fellow in-state programs — produced a slew of good performances. Here are a couple notes on seven of the best. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136627" first="Laterrance" last="Welch"] — 6-1, 180 DB — Acadiana (2022)</strong> The 2022 LSU commitment continues to look more and more special every time out. He was sidelined most of 2020, until mid-December, as he recovered from a knee injury, and took a little time to work back to full strength and confidence during the spring. He was really good from the beginning, but is nonstop lock-down now with a combination of speed, quickness, length, strength and intelligence that gives receivers of all sizes and skillsets fits. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136632" first="Brylan" last="Green"] — 5-9, 165 DB — Lafayette Christian (2022)</strong> Just as he had throughout his junior season, the quick safety flew all over the center of the field with instincts and quick diagnosis and reactions, including jumping a pass for an interception. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138307" first="Jordan" last="Matthews"] — 6-2, 175 DB — Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) (2023)</strong> Just a few days removed from his LSU offer, the young Baton Rouge native was among the best cornerbacks on hand at the Tigers’ camp, blanketing receivers down the left sidelines and snatching a sideline interception during seven-on-seven drills. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136628" first="Rayshawn" last="Pleasant"] — 6-0, 180 DB — West Monroe (2022)</strong> The Rebels’ star’s story bears some resemblance to Welch’s after an injury ended his junior season early and cost him the bulk of this spring. Pleasant is a long, athletic, quick and physical cornerback who made at least one leaping interception at the camp and was rarely satisfied with pass break-ups that he thought he should have hauled in as well. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138306" first="Curley" last="Reed"] — 6-2, 185 DB — Lake Charles College Prep (2023)</strong> The Lake Charles College Prep star picked up his LSU offer the same day as Matthews and backed up that confidence with a strong camp performance. The long, rangy Reed didn’t run the 40 to start the day, but appeared to be one of the faster athletes on hand and looked smooth as he continues developing his craft on the perimeter. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136635" first="Ja’dais" last="Richard"] — 6-1, 185 DB — West Monroe (2022)</strong> Yet another long, physical West Monroe defensive back climbed the ranks with his impressive work in the slot. Pleasant, Richard and [player_tooltip player_id="138317" first="Paul" last="Manning"] have the Rebels looking like they may have a case for the state’s best secondary in 2021. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="144905" first="Keylan" last="Moses"] — 6-1, 215 ATH — University Lab (2025)</strong> The younger brother of one-time LSU commitment and eventual Alabama star Dylan Moses showed up bigger and faster than many older athletes and showed enough fluidity in space as a linebacker to garner his first scholarship offer.