SEC Notebook: Miles Won't Speculate On Mathieu; Auburn Looks Young On O-Line

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SEC Notebook: Miles Won't Speculate On Mathieu; Auburn Looks Young On O-Line

by Jim Harris on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012 2:50 pm

Les Miles' only certainty for 2012 is that he won't have the Honey Badger.

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu is expected to reveal his future plans on Wednesday after being booted from the program by Coach Les Miles.

Speculation on Monday had the "Honey Badger" enrolling at Jackson State, a Southwestern Athletic Conference, Football Championship-level program that would allow him immediate eligibility. Enrollment at a Southland Conference school such as McNeese State or Nicholls — rivals of Central Arkansas — would also allow Mathieu to play this fall and then enter the NFL Draft next spring.

But on Tuesday, LSU's Miles was so vague that it was hard to tell if Mathieu is certain to leave LSU.

All Miles was certain of was that the Honey Badger wouldn't be suiting out for the Tigers this season, according to a NOLA.com report (with accompanying video):

"I am certainly rooting for Ty and whatever his future is, but I'm not focused on that," Miles told a media gathering at a post-practice briefing. "I've got games to play, 104 guys I have to be ready for. This is a key time in his life. I hope the decisions he makes are in his best interests for the long term. We'll help any way we can."

When asked if there was a chance of Mthieu returning in 2013, Miles responded, "I am not in any way speculating. He will not be on this team this year. That's a fact. I have no idea beyond that."

A source close to Mathieu has said it has never been an option for Mathieu to return to LSU as a student this year with hopes of rejoining the team in 2013. Mathieu, who was dismissed from the team Friday for failing a drug test, will decide where he will transfer on Wednesday, the source has said.

But ESPN reported Monday that Mathieu was interested and has inquired about doing just that. A report in the Shreveport Times quoted an LSU official as saying Mathieu is "permanently ineligible."

Redshirt freshman Jalen Collins was backup to both Mathieu and Tharold Simon, the starter at the other cornerback position. True freshmen Dwayne Thomas and Jalen Mills now move up into key backup roles.

LINING UP YOUNG
The presence of quarterback Cam Newton wasn't the only reason Auburn had such a high-powered offense in its 2010 national championship run, and his absence last year wasn't the only reason the Tigers struggled to seven regular-season wins.

Four out of five offensive line starters in 2010 were seniors, including Rogers' Lee Ziemba, and all had paid their dues. It showed in 2010, the way they were able to dominate up front and give Newton lots of room to ramble. Last season, though, the inexperience up front was just one of the reasons why Newton's successors at quarterback struggled.

Auburn is still rebuilding its offensive line. Coach Gene Chizik and his staff made recruiting O-linemen a priority this past winter, and a few incoming freshmen could figure in the starting lineup — which is not an easy thing to do in the SEC, but these players are reportedly that talented to step in immediately. According to the Birmingham News' Joel Erickson, only two line positions are settled with 2 1/2 weeks before the season opener with Clemson in Atlanta. Sophomore center Reese Dismukes learned the ropes last year, and redshirt freshman Greg Robinson is considered a rising star at left tackle. Returning starting guard John Sullen has been out with an injury but has returned, and Chad Slade, who made 10 starts last year, could play guard or tackle.

After that, it's wide open, according to the News:

[True freshman Alex] Kozan has played a heavy amount of first-team snaps at left guard in Sullen's absence. So has Jordan Diamond, who has worked on both sides of Dismukes at times in camp.

On the outside, true freshman Avery Young earned first-team snaps at right tackle during Saturday's scrimmage. Early enrollee Patrick Miller also could be a factor at tackle after playing with the starters on A-Day.

"We're really excited about that whole class," offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler said. "Every single thing that the (recruiting analysts) thought of them, they were right, and that's not always the case."