Gibson, Jenkins leave football team

Two more backup defensive backs — sophomore safety Sam Gibson and redshirt freshman cornerback David Jenkins — have left the LSU football program, sports information director Michael Bonnette confirmed Tuesday.

Gibson, who’s from Prattville, Ala., played in five games last season, making one unassisted tackle and two assisted tackles. He redshirted as a freshman in 2010. Jenkins, who’s from Jena. La., and played at Hebron High School in Carrollton, Texas, did not play for LSU.

Though three of the Tigers’ top defensive backs from
last season — starting cornerback Morris Claiborne, starting strong safety Brandon Taylor and backup cornerback Ron Brooks — ran out of eligibility, Gibson and Jenkins
were expected to remain backups at one of the deepest
areas of the Tigers team next season.

Junior Craig Loston is expected to replace Taylor as the starter alongside junior free safety Eric Reid, and redshirt freshman Micah Eugene and sophomore Ronald Martin were two of the team’s most improved players in the spring.

Junior Tharold Simon is expected to replace Claiborne and start opposite junior Tyrann Mathieu at cornerback, and redshirt freshman Jalen Collins emerged as the likely No. 3 corner during spring practice.

It wasn’t immediately known where the players were headed. Another backup DB, sophomore Ronnie Vinson, transferred to Southeastern Louisiana in May.