LSU might open its season against North " data-canon="Texas Longhorns" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_TEAM" id="shortcode0"> on Saturday without its leading rusher from last year and minus a key contributor at outside linebacker, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported on Monday night.
According to the Picayune, running back Michael Ford and linebacker Tahj Jones, both juniors, have some academic eligibility issues to resolve before they can play this season.
LSU coach Les Miles confirmed that there was some hurdles for the two players to overcome:
"There is some appeal process that's being undertaken for those guys, and we'll kind of have to wait to see how that all turns out as we get closer to the game," Miles said.
Not that it'll make much difference on the outcome of the game against North Texas on Saturday. While the 5-foot-11, 220-pound Ford led the Tigers with 756 yards on the ground in 2011, he's part of perhaps the deepest running back corps in college football. In fact, Ford entered opening week third on the depth chart behind projected co-starters Kenny Hilliard and Alfred Blue. Even if Ford misses the entire season, the net result would just mean more carries for Hilliard--the best prospect of the bunch--with the relentless Tiger ground game barely skipping a beat.
LSU will probably miss Jones more. He had 27 tackles and an interception in a reserve role last season and heading into fall camp was thought to be the favorite to start at the strongside linebacker spot. Even though he was surpassed on the depth chart by junior Luke Muncie during camp, he was likely to play a lot as a reserve regardless.
Over the course of a long, grueling season, the loss of Jones could sap LSU's strength in the front seven, but it's certainly possible that both he and Ford will resolve their issues in time to contribute to another SEC title run for the Tigers.
