In a 2024 season where first-year players have largely led the bulk of the news cycle for LSU football, freshman defensive back Dashawn Spears has somewhat flown under the radar, yet could still possess some of the top potential on this entire roster.
The next step for LSU freshman defensive back Dashawn Spears is allowing his confidence to take over
When the LSU football class of 2024 recruiting cycle finally came to a close, there were a few immediate candidates who stood out as potential impact players.
For many, their three five-star signings – defensive lineman Dominick McKinley, tight end Trey’Dez Green and offensive tackle Weston Davis – were the players to keep a closest eye on.
However, while those three names are undoubtedly expected to leave a significant impact down the line for the purple and gold, they just so happened to hop into some of the Tigers’ deepest position groups. In turn, this opened the door for some of the four-stars to make their mark.
Among the top players who have found early snaps include running back Caden Durham and defensive lineman Ahmad Breaux. Both players received plenty of attention throughout the offseason, and have quickly found their way into the spotlight through five games in 2024.
With that said, one player who hasn’t exactly led in the headline department, but has still managed to make his way into the starting lineup, is LSU freshman defensive back Dashawn Spears.
The 6-foot-3, 208-pound safety out of Denham Springs, LA, has ideal length for the safety position, but also possesses the kind of athleticism and tackling ability to line up at just about any defensive back position.
“Spears is a good tackler,” LSU football head coach Brian Kelly said Tuesday. “He’s long, he’s rangy, he’s in the right place at the right time. He’s feeling his way through it a little bit as a freshman, but when he gains even more confidence, you’re gonna see him continue to grow.”
One of the hardest parts about seeing the field early as a freshman at the college level is the fact that you’re almost expected to learn on the fly. While everyone around you has more than likely been in the system – and college – for at least a year, you’re somewhat figuring things out in the middle of game action, and while that often leads to freshman mistakes, it can also be a source of incredible experience.
For Spears, it’s yet to be seen just how this will impact him heading into the remainder of 2024, but as the Tiger head coach said, he certainly has all the tools to be successful. If anything, it’s just a matter of building that confidence and trusting oneself.
Having started in three of the Tigers’ first five games, Spears has now recorded 15 total tackles and a pass deflection in limited snaps.
The 2024 season is still young, and if LSU wants to make a run at some postseason play, it’s likely that they’ll need at least a couple of freshmen to step up earlier than expected. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see if the Louisiana-based defensive back can make himself one of said players.
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