LaRon Landry

Infobox NFLactive
currentteam=Washington Redskins
currentnumber=30
currentpositionplain=Safety
birthdate=birth date and age|1984|10|14
birthplace=Ama, Louisiana


heightft=6
heightin=0
weight=202
debutyear=2007
debutteam=Washington Redskins
highlights=
* 2006 First-Team All-American (AP, AFCA)
* 2006 Second-Team All-American (Walter Camp Foundation)
*2006 First-Team All-SEC (AP, SEC Coaches)
college=Louisiana State
draftyear=2007
draftround=1
draftpick=6
pastteams=
* Washington Redskins (2007-present)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=95
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=1.5
statlabel3=Interceptions
statvalue3=0
nfl=LAN165690

LaRon Louis "Dirty Thirty" Landry (born October 14, 1984 in Ama, Louisiana) is an American football safety for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins sixth overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisiana State.

LaRon's brother Dawan plays for the Baltimore Ravens.

Early years

His parents are Frank and Rhonda Landry, and he has two siblings, Derik, and Dawan, who was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2006 draft, and now starts at strong safety. Landry attended Hahnville High School in Boutte, Louisiana where he was ranked the #5 high school athlete in the United States by Rivals.com. [cite web| title=LaRon Landry Bio| work=LSUSports.net| url=http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=174956| accessdate=2007-03-16]

College career

Landry attended Louisiana State University, where he majored in communication studies. Credited with 48 straight starts for the Tigers, Landry finished his career with 315 tackles and 12 interceptions. His 12 interceptions left him with the third-highest total in school history, while his 315 tackles rank seventh in LSU history.

Freshman

Landry made an immediate impact at LSU, starting 10 games as a true freshman in 2003 while helping the Tigers win the BCS National Championship. He recorded 80 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions, four pass-breakups, and one blocked kick.cite web| url=http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?id=10878&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfldraft%2fdraft%2ftracker%2fplayer%3fid%3d10878| accessdate=2007-03-16| title=Laron Landry| work=NFL DraftTracker| publisher=ESPN] Landry was named to the Freshman All-SEC team, Second Team All-SEC and the First-Team Freshman All-American Team.

ophomore

During his sophomore season the Tigers finished 16th in the nation, but Landry's standing remained high again. He was named to the Second-Team All-SEC and he made the SEC Academic Honor Roll. He started all 12 games, finishing the season with 92 total tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, four interceptions, six pass-breakups, and one forced fumble.

Junior

In 2005, LSU won the SEC Western Division and the Peach Bowl over Miami. Landry registered 70 total tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions, and eight pass-breakups. Landry was named a First-Team All-SEC and Third-Team All-American by the Associated Press and First-Team All-SEC by the SEC coaches.

enior

He chose to forgo the lure of the NFL to return to LSU for his senior season even though many analysts projected him as a high draft pick. He was considered the top free safety in the nation and a potential All American for the season. [cite web| title=Landry brings talent, leadership to LSU defense| url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview06/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=2559509&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos2| accessdate=2007-03-16| last=Maisel| first=Ivan| work=ESPN.com] Landry lived up to these expectations, starting all 13 games, earning first team All-American and first team All-SEC honors after collecting 74 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, one blocked kick, and three interceptions. One of his greatest hits in his collegiate career occurred his senior season against the University of Alabama when he blitzed quarterback John Parker Wilson and leveled him only a few seconds after taking the snap and a second after releasing the ball. [ [http://youtube.com/watch?v=R211e6JdVew YouTube - LaRon Landry Hit ] ] His senior season was capped with an invitation to the Senior Bowl and as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.

Professional career

NFL Draft

LaRon Landry was selected in the 1st round (6th overall) by the Washington Redskins in the 2007 NFL Draft. He was one of four LSU players taken in the first round of the 2007 draft, along with quarterback JaMarcus Russell, and wide receivers Dwayne Bowe and Craig Davis.On July 22, The Redskins signed Landry to a 5-year, $41.5 million contract that included $17.5 million in guarantees.

Washington Redskins

2007 Season

At the beginning of the 2007 season, Landry was immediately named the starting strong safety, opposite of Pro Bowl free safety Sean Taylor. The combination at the safety position would be known to Redskins fans as "Area 51", a name derived from the combination of the numbers "21" and "30", the numbers of Taylor and Landry respectively [ [http://misterirrelevant.com/index.php/2007/08/31/sean-taylor-laron-landry-area-51/] ] . Landry proved his worth throughout the year without collecting an interception during the regular season, though he was noted for having a problem with disregarding coverage and going for the big hit. He recorded his first [half] sack in just the second week of the season and recorded his first unassisted sack on November 4 during a week 9 game against the New York Jets after a clean, full force hit behind the line of scrimmage on quarterback Kellen Clemens. He wouldn't record his first interception until the postseason in a Wild Card Playoff game versus the Seattle Seahawks. He had an outstanding performance, recording 5 total/solo tackles and 2 key interceptions which the Redskins offense weren't able to capitalize on and loss the game, 35-14, ending an impressive rookie season.

During Sean Taylor's injury absence which began after week 10 and after his untimely death, Landry was moved to the free safety position. He would remain there for the rest of the season alongside strong safety Reed Doughty, being used for his coverage skills; during plays, Landry would often be lined up 15 to 20 yards away from the line of scrimmage as opposed to the usual 10 to 12 yards for safeties. Landry started all 16 games, recording 95 total tackles (65 solo tackles, 32 assisted tackles), 1.5 sacks and 6 passes deflected. His impressive rookie season earned him a 2007 Pro Bowl alternate selection and was selected to the 2007 NFL All-Rookie Defensive Team. He also became the first Redskins rookie defensive player to start all 16 games since Champ Bailey in 1999 [ [http://www.redskins.com/gen/players/LaRon_Landry.jsp] ] .

Honors

*2007 NFC Pro Bowl Alternate
*2007 First-Team All NFL Rookie Defense
*2006 First-Team All-American (AP)
*2006 First-Team All-SEC (AP)
*2006 First-Team All-SEC (SEC Coaches)
*2006 Thorpe Award Semifinalist
*2006 Senior Bowl
*2005 Third-Team All-American (AP)
*2005 First-Team All-SEC (SEC Coaches)
*2005 Second-Team All-SEC (AP)
*2004 Second-Team All-SEC (SEC Coaches)
*2004 SEC Academic Honor Roll
*2003 First-Team Freshmen All-American (Football Writers Association of America, Collegefootballnews.com)
*2003 Second-Team All-SEC (AP)
*2003 Freshmen All-SEC Team (SEC Coaches, "Knoxville News Sentinel", "The Sporting News")

References

External links

* [http://www.nfl.com/players/laronlandry/profile?id=LAN165690 NFL.com Bio]
* [http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=174956&Q_SEASON=2006 LSUsports.net Bio]