Javien Toviano ready to step into lead role for LSU secondary
LSU defensive back Javien Toviano is excited about the changes with the defense in Baton Rouge. He talked with reporters about what’s next for him as a sophomore.
On taking a bigger role for LSU this year: “Honestly, it’s a tremendous honor just being a part of Year 2 here at LSU. Obviously the staff changing and stuff so still being here and being able to compete at the highest level here is still a great honor for me. I mean, just looking forward to getting better each day and learning something new every single day.”
On adjusting to the new defensive staff: “It took a little while. Everybody’s kind of nervous, up tight at first, but I mean soon enough you get to feel them out and I mean we’re learning a lot. The tradition here that’s been here for the past and just understanding how to play the position and really, that’s pretty much it.”
On what he can bring to the LSU defense: “Just being (the) ultimate competitor. In every rep, I just like to be in guys’ face. I like to be physical. I like to play against their best guys, so just being ultra competitive. I think that (press) is my strong suit as well. Just being able to really match guys pretty well and just impose my will really.”
On Corey Raymond being back at LSU: “I think it’s great for us. Being able to just learn from the guy who’s produced so many great talented DBs so I think it’s tremendous for us. I learned a lot. Just really had to hone in and you know techniques and different types of coverages that you play and different types of styles and stuff. I’m learning a lot a lot from him. He teaches you exactly how it’s supposed to be played. I think that’s what we need.”
On what he needs to improve on after playing last year due to injuries: “As you said, it was due to injuries, it was kind of unexpected. I kind of played in the background for most of the season, but I still came to practice, practiced hard. When it was my time to really go out there, I felt prepared and really felt ready to go. Then one thing that I’m kind of looking forward to build off of last season is just being competitive and showing I can really go out there and compete and play with the best of the best.”
On LSU being more aggressive on defense: “LSU is known to play man-to-man. We all know that. We all see those great DBs that played here and you know that get up there and get in those guys’ faces. I think that is our main philosophy. We’re just going to be challenging up front at the line and being able to defend everybody’s grass.”
