Now-linebacker Ladarius Tennison likes everything about new Ole Miss defense under Pete Golding
Ole Miss’ Ladarius Tennison played a “tight” safety position last season.
Sometimes he lined up in press coverage of the slot receiver. Other times covering a tight end, but always lining up closer to the line of scrimmage than the deep safeties.
It was almost as if he was a linebacker with more coverage responsibilities.
The result for 2022 for Tennison was 54 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 1 QB sack and 2 fumble recoveries returned a combined 30 yards.
In spring, he and John Saunders, Jr, were battling for that same position. It was a healthy battle that see-sawed back and forth between them. Saunders looked to be the leader at the end of spring. However, Tennison was nicked up part of the spring session, limiting what he could do.
But a funny thing happened between spring training and fall camp.
Tennison is now doing drills and lining up as a true linebacker.
We’ve certainly noticed it looks like first-year Defensive Coordinator Pete Golding prefers speed over bulk at times and that would certainly make sense when it comes to Ladarius.
And while this is – through five fall camp practices – indeed a position change for Tennison, one thing hasn’t change – he always has a big smile on his face and is always a team player to the max.
Ladarius came to Ole Miss from Auburn a season ago. He quickly made his mark as a sure tackler and excellent blitzer, hence the large number of tackles behind the LOS, so it was odd to hear him explain the things he worked on in the offseason.
“Tackling, first and foremost,” he grinned. “Then my coverage skills and recognition ability, the ability to recognize scheme.”
Always with the positive, Tennison said it is not a big deal for him to have gone through changing defensive schemes as many times as he has.
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“Having played in different schemes has helped me adapt quickly to this one,” he said, with his usual optimism.
RELATED: Ole Miss’ move of Ladarius Tennison to linebacker looking permanent
Some have suggested the Rebels lost their edge last year due to a lack of chemistry.
Tennison refuted that notion.
“Everyone played as one. We all bought into the scheme and tried to do everything we could do to play within that scheme,” said Tennison. “I do not agree we were not bought in.
“And we are buying in to this new scheme now. It’s just a matter of learning and doing our best to get better day by day.”
Tennison, it almost goes without saying, is a fan of Golding’s scheme.
“I like everything about it. Everything,” he closed. “It sets everyone up to make plays and that’s what every defensive player wants – the opportunity to make plays.”
Tennison is in a crowded linebacker room and at 5-9 200 pounds, he is the smallest in that room.
But don’t count him out. Whether he stays at LB, which seems very likely now, or moves back to safety or just has a package to run against certain sets, Ladarius Tennison will make his presence known.
It’s just what he does.
