A rock-solid middle linebacker is a good place to start when you’re building a defense.

And while it won’t be a total rebuilding job next season for LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis, the Tigers do have to replace seven starters. What’s more, nine of the players LSU lost on defense are scheduled to be in NFL camps this summer.

So to say that Kelvin Sheppard will be an integral part of LSU’s defense in 2010 is one of those Tiger Stadium-sized understatements.

In a lot of ways, the Tigers will go on defense next season as Sheppard goes, and he’s more than ready to take on that responsibility.

The 6-3, 239-pound senior returns as one of the top linebackers in the league after ranking third in the SEC a year ago with 103 tackles.

If anything, he’s been underrated -- and with the likes of Rolando McClain, Brandon Spikes, Eric Norwood and Rennie Curran all moving on to the NFL -- Sheppard may finally get his due.

But even if he doesn’t, he has more pressing concerns.

“I look at it more as me trying to help out the young guys on my team, being a leader any way I can for my team,” said Sheppard, who recorded at least seven tackles in all but two games last season.

“If I’m out there contributing to my team as much as I can, all that other stuff will fall into place just like it did for McClain and Spikes.”

Sheppard was the emotional leader of LSU’s defense last season and made plays time and time again that changed the complexion of games for the Tigers.

He had 13 tackles in three straight games against Florida, Auburn and Tulane. His interception in the Alabama game snuffed out a drive deep in LSU territory just before halftime. He forced a key fumble against Ole Miss.

But as Sheppard himself will tell you, the only one of those SEC games the Tigers won last season was against Auburn.

“Especially with some new guys stepping in on defense, it’s on the older guys to set the tone, guys like me and Patrick (Peterson) and Drake (Nevis), and make sure we’re doing the things it takes to get off the field on third down and the little things that make the difference in those close games,” Sheppard said. “This will be our second year in coach Chavis’ system. It’s going to be a lot more second nature to us.

“I think you’re going to see everybody moving and playing a lot faster next year.”

Sheppard is one of the few players still around who actually played on LSU’s 2007 national championship team. He knows what it takes to get back there.

“We talk about that every day,” he said. “I’m ready to taste it again. I can taste it again. Looking at that schedule, we go against some very good teams this season. There are no off weeks or weeks where we can be down and expect to win. It starts the very first game against North Carolina, and I know we’ll be ready.”