Lonn Phillips Sullivan
Jan 15, 20222 min
Updated: Jan 16, 2022
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
As the site has reported already, DE Ali Gaye is expected to announce he will return for his 3rd season at LSU, with a looming deadline of Monday on the horizon.
This would be magical news for an LSU defense who somehow managed to raise their levels to elite heights as they reeled from injuries to their stars, Gaye included.
Ali Gaye must've been giving the NFL some heavy considerations, what with his 6'6 height and 263 pound weight, long arms, raw but versatile pass-rushing capabilities, alongside the Gambian-born DE's proven play-making......but the site has been informed by multiple sources within the NIL world, that LSU's highly prized and future-high-round Draft pick is going to announce his return for the 2022 season.
Secondly, there are unconfirmed whispers surrounding super senior Micah Baskerville returning, using his final season of eligibility....the extra Covid year.
After his social media accounts were hacked, announcing he would head to the NFL Draft, Micah has rubbished all reports of his exit.....and now, we have heard from these same NIL sources: LSU's 2019 National Champion & 83 tackle-machine from 2021 isn't going anywhere.
Baskerville's return would also be another major boost for a defensive unit with only 5 scholarship linebackers altogether, including 2022 freshman LB DeMario Tolan.
As you can read here in our profile on Baskerville's high caliber 2021 campaign, the linebacker could really do his NFL stock some good by coming back for yet another season at LSU....possibly even becoming the second or third all time Tiger when it comes to appearances.....if he returns for 2022 and LSU make it all the way to a National Championship Game, with Micah playing in all 15 games, Baskerville would finish with 55 Tiger appearances.
DE/LB/DT Soni Fonua is also expected to come back, following his greatest season as a Tiger, the Utah native's decision to forgo the NFL Draft would be another major assist.
Fonua played a supporting throughout 2020 before being cast as LSU's starting DE during 2021, and he responded beautifully: 28 tackles, 6.5 for loss, 0.5 sack, and 1 PD during 9 appearances.
We've also received updates on whether LT Cam Wire & DB Jay Ward would also rejoin the Tigers or enter this spring's NFL Draft:
I'm being told "expect both to return" after being convinced they need "more tape" to "satisfy scouts at the next level".
With a deadline looming on Monday, we should know very soon whether or not these Tigers return or not, however.....if they were leaving, Wire, Gaye, Baskerville and Ward would've already made an announcement, let alone in the midst of Draft preparations & workouts.
Our sources have flat out told us "all will return, though a surprise could be likely, the NIL money they'll receive will keep these defensive pillars at LSU, helping Brian Kelly bridge some of LSU's stronger past characters forward into the youth-led future.
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
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