Q&A: Veteran Jacobian Guillory gives perspective on LSU's D-Line talent
Jacobian Guillory enters year four at LSU with expectations to be one of the top interior defensive linemen on the roster in 2023. The veteran of a group with loads of talent, including two All-SEC players in Mekhi Wingo and Maason Smith, Guillory understands his role and what he needs to do this year to help this defense take the next step forward.
He was asked about several key topics and new faces in his time with the media on Monday afternoon and here’s everything he said.
On building depth at D-Line
“Great additions for the defensive line. We want to be able to play at a high level, play in and play out, so to have those guys ready to rotate and have everyone fresh for four quarters, we can bring it home.”
On stepping up this season
“Even with Mekhi and Maason out there, I’m still the old guy in the group. Coming to work with those guys everyday, I come in with a smile on my face every day. I’m not in my head as much because I was holding myself back out there. Now it’s me vs. me and I’m confident in myself. I’m just really excited for them to put the ball down.”
On playing against Will Campbell
“We have our own 318 group and we have pride. Going against Will is crazy because his dad and my dad played together in college, so just continuing their tradition is great.”
On the value of added D-Line depth
“It lets everybody play at 100 percent all the way through. Mekhi taking 88 snaps, that will never happen again. It lets everybody be 100 percent and it lowers the risk of injuries. To have everybody rotating all game, they’re going to bring us through the roof. That’s something we can really lean on because there are guys getting better every day. Like Paris [Shand], he’s gotten better from spring to now, we didn’t have Jordan [Jefferson] in the spring, but he’s been really good now. Just having those guys we can count on, it’s going to be a good year for the defensive line.”
On Maason Smith
“If you see him, he’s bigger. Not like a fat thing, he’s just huge now. He’s in that 315-320 range and he’s put on real lean muscle. We knew it would work out for him because he doesn’t take stuff lightly, he wants to be 100 percent, so when he came back bigger and stronger, we were excited. Maason is a great teammate and a great person. He just wants to work and be the best player he can be.”
On the edge rushers
“We got Ovie [Oghoufo] playing Jack position, Bradyn Swinson, then Quincy and Saivion out there. Even though we had legit pass rushers at JACK, this year we can change it up. BJ and Ali were amazing guys, but to have that versatility now. If we’re oin a situation where the JACK needs to be more of a run-stopper, we have the pieces to do that.”
On Harold Perkins
“Harold can play wherever he wants. He’s just that type of guy. He’s the perfect size so you can play him anywhere. Wherever coach house wants Harold to be on that specific play, that’s where Harold will be.
On Charles Turner
“I’ve always known Charles. When he got here, they wanted him to play tight end or some sh**, but now he’s 300 and it’s all muscle and he’s a big technical guy, so having that strength behind him, he’s going to be amazing this season.”
On Fitzgerald West
“When he came here, he didn’t want to play O-Line, but they made him, then we got into a situation last year where we needed him to make the switch, so he changed over. You could tell that he wanted to play D-Line, but it was ingrained in his head that he was [brought here] to play O-line, so once he broke out of that, he’s come a really long way.”
On Dashawn Womack
“Womack is not from here, so you think he’s talking cocky, but he’s from Baltimore, so that’s just him. He looks like a unit. When I got here, I was like ‘who is this guy we got from Baltimore?’, but that’s another guy that’s getting better everyday. He’s just trying to do whatever he has to do to get on the field.”
