LaRon Landry

LaRon Louis Landry (born October 14, 1984) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL).

He played college football for LSU Tigers, and earned consensus All-American honors.

He also became the first Redskins rookie defensive player to start all 16 games since Champ Bailey in 1999.

Landry made his first regular season interception in Week 12 against the Seattle Seahawks.

He recorded his second regular season interception against the Baltimore Ravens.

Landry finished the season with 65 total tackles and half a sack.

Landry appeared in fifteen games for the Redskins and recorded his only interception in a victory over the Oakland Raiders in Week 14.

His best statistical performance was in an overtime loss to the then undefeated New Orleans Saints in Week 13.

Landry recorded 12 solo tackles including a sack.

Landry also had three pass defenses in that game.

Landry attended Louisiana State University, where he majored in communication studies and played for coach Nick Saban and coach Les Miles's LSU Tigers football teams from 2003 to 2006.

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.

Landry made an immediate impact at LSU, starting ten 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.

Landry was named to the Freshman All-SEC team, Second-team All-SEC and the First-team Freshman All-American Team.

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.

The Washington Redskins selected him with the sixth overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.

He also played for the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts.

Landry was born in Metairie, Louisiana to parents Frank and Rhonda Landry.

He has two siblings, Derik and Dawan; who was a former NFL safety.

Landry was raised in Ama, Louisiana, and attended Hahnville High School in Boutte.

Rivals.com ranked him the No. 5 high school athlete in the country.

The Washington Redskins selected Landry in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft with the sixth overall pick.

He was one of four LSU players taken in the first round of that draft, along with quarterback JaMarcus Russell, and wide receivers Dwayne Bowe and Craig Davis.

On July 22, the Redskins signed Landry to a five-year, $41.5 million contract that included $17.5 million in guarantees.

At the beginning of the 2007 season, Landry was immediately named the starting strong safety opposite 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.

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 recorded his first interception in a Wild Card Playoff game versus the Seattle Seahawks, in which he recorded five tackles and two interceptions.

Taylor suffered an injury which kept him out of action in Week 11 and 12, and Landry was moved to the free safety position in his place.

After Taylor was murdered at his home in Miami on November 27, Landry remained in the free safety position across from strong safety Reed Doughty.

Landry started all 16 games, recording 95 total tackles (65 solo tackles, 32 assisted tackles), 1.5 sacks and six 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.

During his sophomore season, the Tigers finished 16th in the nation, but Landry's standing remained high again.

He was named to the All-SEC second-team and the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

Landry started all twelve games, finishing the season with 92 total tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, four interceptions, six pass-breakups, and one forced fumble.