On Thursday, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell was requested, but once more, in regards to the defensive finish place. Campbell gave a comparatively boiler plate reply—noting that he likes that unit’s size this 12 months—he did handle to sneak in a reputation that almost all followers and analysts aren’t speaking about.
“However we’ve got bought some guys now, between (DJ) Wonnum and (Payton) Turner and this pup (Anthony) Lucas, clearly (Derrick) Moore,” Campbell stated. “We’ve bought some size now, we’ve bought some dimension and size and athletic capacity on the perimeter.”
The truth that Campbell got here up with undrafted rookie Anthony Lucas’ identify earlier than second-round choose Derrick Moore might imply one thing. It could imply nothing. However it actually caught the ear of the media in attendance. Minutes later, when defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard met stepped to the lectern, he was requested particularly about Lucas, and the crew’s intrigue in that participant was confirmed.
“I turned on his junior movie and USC and legitimately it was towards LSU and he was a recreation wrecker,” Sheppard stated.
When you have been to take a look at the field rating of that recreation, Lucas’ efficiency wouldn’t stand out. He was credited with simply two tackles within the Trojans’ 27-20 come-from-behind victory over the Tigers. Nonetheless, the tape exhibits one thing completely different. Usually lined up towards LSU left deal with Will Campbell—who grew to become the fourth general choose within the 2025 NFL Draft—Lucas produced three quarterback pressures and compelled Campbell to have the second-worst PFF grade of his three-year faculty profession (50.9).
“If individuals return, these two tackles that performed at LSU that 12 months, they each–one in all them [Campbell] was the quantity 4 choose and the opposite [Emery Jones] went within the third spherical,” Sheppard stated. “These are some fairly good gamers and he wrecked that recreation. So, as a man I had my radar up on how did we get this man undrafted?”
To be honest, Lucas’ general faculty profession past that recreation hasn’t been as notable. After transferring from Texas A&M to USC in 2023, he produced simply 63 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, and three.0 sacks over three seasons with the Trojans. It’s a far cry from expectations of a five-star recruit, however Detroit is hoping they will extract the potential out of a participant who as soon as had such excessive promise and comes with an NFL-prototypical construct (6-foot-5 1/2 with an 85 1/8-inch wingspan).
It’s far too early within the offseason program to see how he’ll compete on the NFL degree. There’s no full contact allowed but and the pads haven’t come on, both. Moreover, he’s bought a revamped defensive finish room to contend towards. Complementing Aidan Hutchinson this 12 months will likely be DJ Wonnum, Derrick Moore, Payton Turner, and Ahmed Hassanein, amongst others. It received’t be straightforward to crack the roster, however Detroit is thought for truly handing the job to those that earn it, so don’t depend out Lucas this summer season.
