Coming full circle

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Aug 19, 2009 - Page: 1C

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Under different circumstances, LSU linebackers Kelvin Sheppard and Perry Riley might have gotten to know defensive coordinator John Chavis a lot better before now.

But the two veteran Tigers broke Chavis and Tennessee’s hearts on National Signing Day in 2006 and signed national letters of intent with LSU.

Fate has a habit of coming full circle, though, and now both players not only get the chance to play for one of the top defensive coordinators in recent Southeastern Conference history, but Sheppard and Riley figure to play major roles if Chavis’ impact is as powerful as some expect.

Sheppard and Riley will be counted on for more consistent and game-changing big plays under Chavis, whose scheme emphasizes linebackers more than most coordinators.

Those two are the cornerstones of the linebacking corps that also features senior Jacob Cutrera — finally getting a chance after spending three seasons as Darry Beckwith’s understudy — and hard-hitting Harry Coleman, who moved to the position after starting all 13 games at strong safety in 2008.

For Sheppard and Riley, this debut season under Chavis might have arrived a lot sooner.

The former teammates at Stephenson High School in suburban Atlanta both committed to LSU in the fall of 2005. But the pair kept UT in mind, in large part because of the desire to play for Chavis.

“Tennessee had recruited us both real hard, so I think it was a surprise to them when we chose LSU,” Riley said after referring to the last-ditch change of heart as ‘the Tennessee incident.’

“When you commit to a school and then wind up not going there, it becomes an incident.”

Riley ended the drama quickly on signing day, penning his national letter of intent as soon as he got to school. He said Sheppard was still torn and didn’t make a final decision until later in the day.

“They were pretty disappointed when they lost both of us,” Riley said.

If Chavis, now in his first year at LSU, is holding a grudge, he’s hidden it well since he arrived in Baton Rouge in January.

While Chavis shifted Coleman and has lauded Cutrera, he consistently mentions Riley and Sheppard as keys to the defense. He also made sure in spring practice and fall camp that all three veteran linebackers trained at different spots.