LSU started celebrating the New Year when defensive junior Ali Gaye tweeted that he would be back on the show for a second season.
Of all the potential players who were in doubt about returning to school or looking for the NFL, Gaye was the highest priority. Gaye was the second All-SEC team after accumulating 38 tackles and four sacks in 2020.
Gaye came to LSU as one of the top-ranked JUCO players in the 2020 class and had a spectacular debut against the State of Mississippi. Gaye had 11 tackles in total, added nine additional runs and hit a pair of passes. He finished 2020 on a high against Ole Miss. Gaye made six tackles, dismissed Matt Corral twice, caught Corral and forced the final fumble in the fourth period.
With Gaye planning to return, LSU should have one of the best defensive lines in the country. A front of four (three?) De Gaye, BJ Ojulari, Jaquelin Roy and Maason Smith looks very good on paper.
Gaye is the second impact player who decided to return to LSU. Center Liam Shanahan tweeted on Christmas Eve that he would be taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility that the NCAA has awarded all autumn athletes.