According to numerous sources, LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu has been dismissed from the Tigers due to a violation of team rules.
Initially, sources are also saying that Mathieu’s dismissal stems from three failed drug tests, but that is just a rumor right now.
Mathieu, whom I had at the top of my big board of cornerbacks, is assured to fall out of the first round at this point. The undersized playmaker won’t have the opportunity to play football this next season at the FBS level, so FCS football looks like the Honey Badger’s next frontier.
One of college football’s most controversial players for his on-the-field play and trash talking tendencies, this star SECer will now have to deal with the dreaded ‘off-the-field issues’ label when draft season comes around.
While this cornerback should dominate the FCS level and could follow a path similar to ex-Gator defensive back Janoris Jenkins.
Jenkins, who was dismissed from the University of Florida due to drug violations, caught on with FCS school North Alabama and now figures to start for the St. Louis Rams (who drafted him in the second round) in his rookie season.
Unlike Jenkins, Mathieu is a smaller cornerback who can be bullied by large receivers. If he is to stay at cornerback in the NFL, he’ll need to move into the slot.
Former NFLer LeCharles Bentley tweeted that Mathieu doesn’t need the NFL if the stories about his drug problems are true, which is worth monitoring going forward.
As for LSU, this leaves the team with less certainty in the defensive backfield. Either way, though, safety Eric Reid should be able to keep everything under control.
The ‘Honey Badger’, as he was known to college football fans across the nation, has a reputation for toeing the line. He may have just crossed that line, though.
Look for this situation to get more interesting over the next few days.