DEUCE GERALDS: STRAIGHT UP HISTORIC

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by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

One second.....wait a minute.....do we even realize just how crazy this all is???

How rarified???

How brilliant???

Already established as a Week 1 starter as a debutant, recording 5 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, 11 QB pressures, 14 tackles (10 of which charted by PFF as no gain "stops"), stripping the ball out for 1 forced fumble, while also punching in a rushing touchdown, yes you read that right, LSU's true freshman defensive tackle Deuce Geralds is making history:

After 5 games, Geralds is already 2.5 sacks away from tying the program's freshman sack record (set by Harold Perkins in 2022), delivering 2 sacks in 2 different games (vs A&M and Louisiana Tech, alongside 1 vs McNeese), and he just did the unthinkable: achieving one of the rarest feats in the game for a defender by scoring on an offensive play....

Rushing in from the 1 yard line on a direct snap vs McNeese, Geralds joins only Tigers DT Booger McFarland as the 2nd ever LSU Tiger defender to sack a quarterback & score an offensive touchdown during the same game....but given his tremendous & dextrous athleticism alongside his hulking physicality, should we really be surprised???

Not only is it rare to find a freshman starting at defensive tackle in the SEC right outta the gates, I'm also stunned by Deuce's intimidating presence when facing veterans at such a tender age, his voluminous backfield production at his position, and his commanding maturity at such a young age (remember, Geralds should also have a 2nd forced fumble & fumble recovery on the stat sheet, as well, ripping out another ball and recovering his own fumble on the same play vs A&M, but the referees inexplicably missed it, and the play went untallied).

"He's giving me Booger McFarland vibes..." SEC Network commentator Cole Cubelic said following Deuce's authoritative sack vs McNeese, comparing the young Geralds to the LSU Legend and NFL Hall of Fame DT.

This past weekend, we also saw the freshman display his leadership, joining senior LB TJ Dottery in chastising the backup defense for giving up the shutout after 3 quarters....and nobody questioned whether a first year Tiger was speaking out of turn....because everyone understands Deuce belongs right where he's at: among the most valuable defenders on Lane Kiffin's LSU roster.

"The Grave Digger" (nicknamed after his awesome celebration) is powering Blake Baker's incredible LSU defense from the interior front, making plays all over the place, getting into the backfield on a weekly basis, proving to be increasinglystout against the run with 10 stuffing stops for no gain, also drawing double teams & allowing others around him to flourish (DE Princewill Umanmielen leads the country with 8 sacks already), bulldozing his way around, under or through guards or centers like a blow torch through butter, helping Blake Baker's ravenous #2 nationally ranked defense pile up 22 sacks & 40 tackles for loss over 5 games (LSU's 2025 defense only sacked QBs 27 times in 13 games last fall).

The rise of Deuce Geralds' freight train of pain and saga of dominion remains a key reason why LSU's #1 SEC ranked defense only gives up roughly 220 total yards, 58 rushing yards (4th nationally), and just 15.2 points per game...with the Georgia native often grading out in the top 1-3 defenders in each game thus far.

Keep your eyes on this young stunner up front....something tells me Geralds is only going to get better with each passing game.

LSU Tiger fans have waited a long time for a player like Deuce Geralds to come around....it's been a long time since the days of Glenn Dorsey, Booger McFarland, Claude Wroten, and Kyle Williams....but something about Deuce feels vintage despite his young age, as if the young man knows exactly what kind of ancient Tiger DT spells he's conjuring before us all...and we are undoubtedly hypnotized.

By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

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