Mike Jones Jr provides initial thoughts on LSU freshman linebacker DeMario Tolan

Mike Jones Jr broke down the LSU focus coming into next year with a new head coach, and highlighted DeMario Tolan‘s freshman mindset. Tolan joins the LSU linebacker corps as a four-star recruit according to the On3 Consensus Rankings, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. Jones spoke about the newest additions to the LSU linebacker locker room, including Tolan’s fellow top recruit Harold Perkins.

Mike Jones Jr. on DeMario Tolan

“DeMario was here in the spring so I got to watch him play a good little bit — just like I said, really locked in on the mental side of it,” said Jones. “It’s really crazy to me to see these guys come in with such a veteran mentality when it comes to learning the game. I just thought it was football, I was like ‘I’m an athlete’ and I just go play and that kept me off the field my freshman year. But these guys [Tolan and Perkins] have come in with the right mindset. They work hard, kept their head down and kept pushing it. Both of those guys, super athletic, super talented and gonna have great careers here.

As Jones explained, the incoming mental focus of Tolan and Perkins is what has impressed him the most early in their college careers. Jones himself joined Clemson as a four-star recruit in 2017 and only saw playing time in one game during his first season with the team. Last season, Jones joined the Tigers and became a key member of the defense with his veteran presence — a trait that he feels Tolan is on the fast track to show off.

The Tigers are beginning a new era of the program as they shift to new head coach Brian Kelly after his exit from Notre Dame and the departure of Ed Orgeron. With recruits like Tolan and Perkins, the linebackers at LSU are one of the most talented positions on the team.