Mike Jones Jr. provides his thoughts on LSU summer workouts under Brian Kelly

Heading into his second season with the LSU Tigers, former Clemson linebacker Mike Jones Jr. joined the Bengal Tiger podcast to chat about Brian Kelly, Matt House, spring football and summer workouts.

“Summer’s going great. Coach (Jake) Flint and the whole weight staff have us in their grinding day in and day out. I feel like that summer grind is when you really make a team, a team. Getting ready for fall camp and the season,” Jones said.

“Coach Flint always brings the energy. He’s very intentional about our exercises. The whole staff is really great. They’re going to be a big reason why we play well this year. They focus on accountability.”

In 10 games played last season, Jones tallied a career-high 34 tackles with 14 solo and a sack. In his first three seasons at Clemson, including a redshirt year, he posted 46 tackles. With Kelly and House revamping the defense, the Tennessee native has every opportunity to step up for more reps in 2022.

Matt House revamping LSU defense

The LSU Tigers are counting on the development of guys like Maason Smith, Jaquelin Roy and BJ Ojulari to field a better defense in 2022. They went out and added Greg Brooks Jr. and Joe Foucha from Arkansas, All-Big 12 corner Jarrick Bernard-Converse from Oklahoma State, corner Mekhi Garner from Louisiana-Lafayette and versatile DE/DT Mehki Wingo from Missouri.

In 2021, LSU allowed an SEC-high 29 touchdowns and ranked 10th in the conference in overall defense.

The linebacker group has a more inexperienced flavor to it than the DL or secondary, but with Jones and returning leading tackler Micah Baskerville, they have some solid leadership. Greg Penn III could make a big sophomore jump and 5-star freshman Harold Perkins Jr. could contribute early as well.

After finishing last in the SEC West last season, LSU has a lot to regain from their 2019 glory days. The Tigers open the season with Florida State on Sept. 4. On the schedule as well are road games at Texas A&M, Florida, Arkansas and Auburn. The Tigers host Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Tennessee.