K'Lavon Chaisson

K'Lavon Chaisson

Chaisson with the LSU Tigers in 2019
No. 45 – Carolina Panthers
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1999-07-25) July 25, 1999 (age 24) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:	North Shore (Galena Park, Texas)
College:	LSU (2017–2019)
NFL draft:	2020  / Round: 1 / Pick: 20
Career history
Jacksonville Jaguars (2020–2023) Carolina Panthers (2024–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
CFP national champion (2019) First-team All-SEC (2019)
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles: 73 Sacks: 5.0 Pass deflections: 2
Player stats at PFR

K'Lavon Chaisson (born July 25, 1999) is an American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU and was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Early years

Chaisson was born and grew up in Houston, Texas and attended North Shore Senior High School. He quit playing football as a freshman in order to focus on basketball, but returned to football as a junior. ^[1] He became an immediate starter at defensive end for the Mustangs, leading Texas high schoolers with 15.5 sacks along with 50 tackles, including 13 for loss, and forced three fumbles and helped lead North Shore to the Class 6A Division I state championship game and was named first-team All-State by the Associated Press. ^[2] Chaisson was named the defensive MVP of the game after recording two sacks, four tackles for loss, a blocked kick and a forced fumble in the game and making a game-saving tackle at fourth and goal to preserve a 21–14 win over Todd Dodge's Westlake High School. ^[3]

As a senior, Chaisson was named the 21-6A district defensive MVP as well as included on the Scout.com All-Midlands team and was invited to the 2017 Under Armour All-America Game. ^[4] In the game he recorded six tackles, five of which were for loss, and tied the game's record with three sacks. ^[5] Rated a five star recruit by Scout.com and four star by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals, Chaisson committed to play college football at LSU over offers from Florida and Texas. ^[6]

College career

Chaisson sacking the quarterback of Georgia Southern in 2019

As a true freshman, Chaisson started the first game of the Tigers' season against BYU and recorded his first two career sacks in the next game during a 45–10 win over Chattanooga. ^[7] He was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team after finishing the season with 27 tackles, two sacks, and 4.5 tackles for loss in 12 games played (three starts). ^[8] Named a starter at outside linebacker going into his sophomore season, Chaisson made five tackles with a sack, a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hurry in the season opener against Miami before suffering a knee injury in the fourth quarter. He was diagnosed with a torn ACL the following day, ending his season and forcing him to use a medical redshirt. ^[9]

Chaisson was chosen to wear the No. 18 Jersey by the Tigers' coaching staff going into his redshirt sophomore season. ^[10] He finished the season with 60 tackles and led the team with 6.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss, and six quarterback hurries along with two passes broken up and a forced fumble and was named first-team All-SEC. ^[11] Chaisson was named the Defensive MVP of the 2019 Peach Bowl after a six-tackle, two-sack performance against Oklahoma. ^[12] Chaisson had two tackles in LSU's 42–25 win over Clemson in the 2020 National Championship Game. On January 17, 2020, Chaisson announced that he would forgo his remaining two years of eligibility and enter the 2020 NFL Draft. ^[13] He finished his college career with 92 total tackles, including 19 for loss, 9.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	Wonderlic
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	254 lb (115 kg)	32+1⁄4 in (0.82 m)	9+7⁄8 in (0.25 m)	27
All values from NFL Combine [14]

Jacksonville Jaguars

Chaisson was selected with the 20th pick in the 2020 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, using a pick previously acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in a trade for Jalen Ramsey. ^[15] He made his debut in the 2020 season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, making two tackles. ^[16] Chaisson recorded the first and only sack of the season in the following week against the Tennessee Titans. ^[17]

On October 11, 2022, Chaisson was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. ^[18] He was activated on December 10. ^[19]

On May 1, 2023, the Jaguars declined the fifth-year option of Chaisson's rookie contract, making him a free agent in the 2024 offseason. ^[20]

Carolina Panthers

On March 16, 2024, Chaisson signed with the Carolina Panthers. ^[21]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold	Career high

Regular Season

Year	Team	Games		Tackles				Fumbles				Interceptions
		GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	FF	FR	Yds	TD	PD	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
2020	JAX	16	3	19	12	7	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0.0	0	0
2021	JAX	15	8	31	20	11	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0
2022	JAX	9	0	10	7	3	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0
2023	JAX	17	0	13	9	4	2.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0.0	0	0
Career		57	11	73	48	25	5.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0

Postseason

Year	Team	Games		Tackles				Fumbles				Interceptions
		GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	FF	FR	Yds	TD	PD	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
2022	JAX	2	0	3	1	2	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0
Career		2	0	3	1	2	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Personal life

Chaisson's father, Kelvin Chaisson, played linebacker at Baylor University. Kelvin Chaisson was shot and killed in 2014 at the age of 33 when K'Lavon was a sophomore in high school. ^[22]

References

1. Dellenger, Ross (May 26, 2017). "How LSU found superstar 2017 signee K'Lavon Chaisson and the story behind his quick football ascent". The Advocate . Retrieved November 8, 2019.
2. "Texas defensive end K'Lavon Chaisson goes from relative unknown to Under Armour All-American". USATodayHSS.com . October 17, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
3. Brooks, Gabe (December 22, 2015). "K'Lavon Chaisson Dominates State Title Game". 247Sports.com . Retrieved November 8, 2019.
4. Powers, Greg (January 16, 2017). "LSU Visit Off the Scale for No. 1 Texas DE". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
5. Boudwin, Julie (January 15, 2017). "LSU, Texas lead for elite pass rusher K'Lavon Chaisson, but he will also visit USC, Colorado". The Times-Picayune . Retrieved November 8, 2019.
6. Johnson, Chris (January 31, 2017). "LSU wins recruiting battle for five-star defensive end K'Lavon Chaisson". SI.com . Retrieved November 8, 2019.
7. Martell, Brett (September 10, 2017). "Guice scores twice, No. 12 LSU pounds Chattanooga 45–10". APNews.com . Retrieved April 26, 2020.
8. Suss, Nick (December 7, 2017). "4 LSU youngsters named to SEC All-Freshman team". Dayton Daily News . Retrieved November 8, 2019.
9. Khan Jr., Sam (September 4, 2018). "LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson out for season". ESPN.com . Retrieved November 8, 2019.
10. Martel, Brett (August 22, 2019). "No. 6 LSU hoping Chaisson's return has transformative effect". Yahoo Sports . Associated Press . Retrieved November 8, 2019.
11. Just, Amie (January 11, 2020). "How LSU's K'Lavon Chaisson fought back from ACL tear, turned checkers into 'game of chess'". The Advocate. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
12. Adam, Brandon (December 28, 2019). "LSU crushes Oklahoma 63–28 in Peach Bowl; Tigers will play in New Orleans for National Championship". The Daily Reveille . Retrieved January 14, 2020.
13. "Thaddeus Moss, K'Lavon Chaisson latest to leave LSU". ESPN.com . January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
14. "K'Lavon Chaisson Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
15. Gantt, Darin (April 23, 2020). "Jaguars take K'Lavon Chaisson with the 20th pick". NBC Sports . Retrieved April 23, 2020.
16. Patra, Kevin (September 14, 2020). "Gardner Minshew after win over Colts: Young Jaguars 'got that swag about them'". NFL.com. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
17. Ricks, Robert (September 20, 2020). "The Good, the bad, and the ugly from the Jags' 33–30 loss vs. Titans". Jaguars Wire. USA Today . Retrieved September 21, 2020.
18. Stites, Adam (October 11, 2022). "Jaguars place G Ben Bartch, OLB K'Lavon Chaisson on injured reserve". Jaguars Wire. USA Today. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
19. "Roster Moves: Jaguars elevate linebacker Ty Summers and activate outside linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson to the active roster". Jaguars.com. December 10, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
20. Stites, Adam (May 1, 2023). "Bucs Pick up Tristan Wirfs' Fifth-Year Option". USAToday.com. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
21. Gantt, Darin (March 16, 2024). "Panthers agree to terms with K'Lavon Chaisson". Panthers.com.
22. Sayles, Damon (April 15, 2016). "4-Star Recruit K'Lavon Chaisson Honors His Late Father Through Football". Bleacher Report . Retrieved November 8, 2019.

External links

• Jacksonville Jaguars bio
• LSU Tigers bio