By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
LSU defensive back Tamarcus Cooley had one of the best views of the Tigers’ crushing of the Clemson offense last week in a 51-10 season opening victory at Tiger Stadium.
-He saw edge rusher Jordan Ross return an interception 30 yards for a touchdown.
-He watched linebacker Whit Weeks make six tackles with 1.5 for lost yardage.
-And there was edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen making six tackles with two sacks.
LSU’s top nine tacklers in the game do not play in the secondary.
That’s how it should be. Defenses are designed for the linemen and linebackers to make most of the tackles. If cornerbacks and safeties are making a lot of tackles, that means running backs are getting to the last line of defense. Or too many passes are being completed.
“I mean, I play safety, so I didn’t get no tackles, no nothing. They made all the plays,” Cooley said of the teammates in front of him. “So that’s good, but no plays.”
Cooley had all of one assist in the game. That after the junior returning starting safety finished fourth on the team last season with 70 tackles along with two interceptions.
He would prefer a little more action when the No. 8 Tigers (1-0) host Louisiana Tech (1-0) on Saturday in Tiger Stadium (6:30 p.m., ESPN+, SEC Network+). Chances are, though, he may only get another light workout as the Tigers are 32-point favorites.
But he’s good with it overall. Because that’s what happens when a defense holds an opponent to eight first downs, 1.5 yards a rush and 3.0 yards a play overall as Clemson ran only 48 plays for 145 yards to LSU’s 94 plays for 644 yards.
“We got some guys, man,” Cooley said. “Whit Weeks, Ty Benefield – everybody for real. We just all match energy.”
Benefield, a senior transfer from Boise State, made three tackles and broke up a pass at the other safety spot. But that was light duty for him as well as he made 107 tackles last season with 8.5 for loss and two interceptions.
“It felt amazing,” Cooley said of the Tiger defense’s performance. “I remember Whit saying he wanted the nasty defense back, and that’s what it looked like.”
LSU’s defense was solid in 2025 in coordinator Blake Baker’s second year. The Tigers finished No. 27 in the nation and No. 6 in the SEC in total defense with 328.7 yards allowed a game. But Cooley sees greater things.
“We’re more disciplined now,” he said. “We listen to each other. Last year, we were just like everywhere. So, now it’s all coming as a team. I don’t know. It’s just perfect now I guess. We go against a tempo team every day with our offense in practice, so I feel like it’s played out good for us. We just have to stay where our feet are.”
On a field full of playmakers, Cooley is just going to have to try harder. He was in position to make an interception in the first quarter. But that’s when Ross dropped into coverage right in front of him.
“It’s crazy, because I thought I was going to get on it,” Cooley said. “He came out of nowhere, picked the ball. And I was just shocked. But Jordan’s got it in him for sure.”
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