DKW 86 7,429 Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/3504011...owAll=y&c=y Five LSU football newcomers ineligible By CARL DUBOIS Advocate sportswriter Published: Aug 7, 2006 Advocate staff photo by PATRICK DENNIS LSU equipment managers Greg Stringfellow, left, and Nick Miller fit, helmets for players Brett Helms and Herman Johnson Sunday. ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS LSU football recruits who are trying to become eligible to play or will not be part of the team this season: ELIGIBILITY STILL PENDING Tyson Andrus, DB, Lafayette (Fr., Ole Miss transfer) Richard Murphy, RB, Rayville (Fr.) Steven Singleton, OL, Buford, Ga. (Fr.) Keiland Williams, RB, Lafayette (Fr.) Al Woods, DL, Elton (Fr.) NOT ELIGIBLE / NOT AT LSU Shomari Clemons, S, West Monroe (Fr.) Charles Deas, DT, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Fr.) Philip Loadholt, OL, Fort Carson, Colo. (Soph.) Jason Teague, DB, Carthage, Texas (Fr.) “Summer’s over,†LSU football coach Les Miles said Sunday after welcoming his 2006 team, “and the Tigers have reported.†Well, not all of them. Five projected newcomers, including a transfer from Ole Miss, have asterisks next to their names on the 105-player roster for preseason practice, which begins today. Those five are ineligible pending approval by the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse. Among that group is tailback Keiland Williams of Lafayette, whom Miles projected as a player capable of competing for regular playing time at tailback as a freshman. Four other members of LSU’s latest recruiting class, including massive junior college offensive lineman Philip Loadholt, won’t be with the Tigers this season after failing to become academically eligible, Miles said. The rest will begin practice today. Miles said he knew about everyone other than Loadholt well before Sunday’s official reporting date for fall camp. Miles said Loadholt was a late-summer surprise after he seemed to be doing well in a junior college math class weeks ago. Loadholt, Miles said, fell one class short of a Southeastern Conference rule requiring junior college transfers to pass two math classes before they can play at an SEC school. Miles said he thinks Loadholt will retake the math course he failed this summer before reconsidering his options, including signing again with LSU in 2007. Miles said he hadn’t heard reports saying Loadholt committed to Oklahoma after failing the course. “I’m not certain that he’s got a real grasp on it himself,†Miles said of Loadholt’s future. Loadholt, who was listed at 6-foot-9, 345 pounds last season at Garden City (Kansas) Community College, made an impression upon Miles during the 2006 recruiting season. “He’s the largest human being I’ve ever seen,†Miles said on signing day in February. “He stood next to Herman Johnson, and Herman Johnson looked like a guard next to a tackle. When you see him you’ll know why he’s called Load … holt.†LSU lists Johnson, a sophomore offensive lineman, at 6-7, 339 pounds. Miles said LSU wasn’t planning on Loadholt playing early, but he said he hoped he could provide depth this season and add competition along the offensive line. Miles said most conferences don’t have a rule requiring two math classes for junior college transfers. “There’s a guy,†Miles said of Loadholt, “that has some decisions to make in the short term that will really affect where he attends college.†Joining Williams on the list of players still awaiting approval from the clearinghouse is highly regarded defensive lineman Al Woods from Elton. LSU coaches consider him a player capable of making an immediate impact. Miles said it’s hard to project the effects of being late for a player such as Woods. “We don’t know how late ‘late’ is,†Miles said, “and we wouldn’t want to suppose what he could get accomplished in a short term, but the key would be getting him on campus and getting him ready to play.†The more experience in camp, he said, the better. “You can’t put a price on it,†Miles said. “You don’t know how long it takes. For certain guys, that won’t be an issue. Other guys, that will be a significant issue. “You won’t know until you get them.†The others whose eligibility is pending are running back Richard Murphy of Rayville, offensive lineman Steven Singleton of Buford, Ga., and Ole Miss transfer Tyson Andrus, a defensive back from Lafayette. Miles said the clearinghouse follows its own timetable. Each case is different, he said, so it’s hard to predict when each player’s case will be resolved. “We’re not certain how it will all fare,†Miles said before adding he expects a favorable ruling for all concerned. Other members of the recruiting class are headed elsewhere. Cornerback Jason Teague said last month he will stay in his home state and attend Tyler (Texas) Community College with the idea of coming to LSU in a year or two. Attempts to contact Charles Deas, a defensive tackle from Florida, and Shomari Clemons, a safety from West Monroe, were unsuccessful. Their plans are unknown. Miles said LSU “over-signed†recruits in February knowing several would probably not be eligible. Teams cannot open the fall semester with more than the NCAA maximum of 25 players from the most recent recruiting class. LSU will open camp with 18 members of the recruiting class it announced in February. Miles said he hopes everyone in the program is ready for the start of practice. He said there are only so many crawfish boils and rounds of golf one can enjoy before it’s time for football again. “We’re excited,†Miles said. “It’s a new year. Summer’s over.†Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saniflush 0 Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 Where are the Toonces on the board? What about these guys? Normally I would the absent of ANY freshman is not going to hurt that year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TitanTiger 20,499 Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 Wasn't Deas one of the big boys we were recruiting too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
otterinbham 0 Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Cracks are already appearing in the strong foundation that Sabin laid down in Baton Rouge. Stay tuned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wardamneagle 0 Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Yep, Deas was down to LSU and AU and chose the corndogs... He chose unwisely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geauxscott 0 Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 ELIGIBILITY STILL PENDINGTyson Andrus, DB, Lafayette (Fr., Ole Miss transfer) Richard Murphy, RB, Rayville (Fr.) Steven Singleton, OL, Buford, Ga. (Fr.) Keiland Williams, RB, Lafayette (Fr.) Al Woods, DL, Elton (Fr.) NOT ELIGIBLE / NOT AT LSU Shomari Clemons, S, West Monroe (Fr.) Charles Deas, DT, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Fr.) Philip Loadholt, OL, Fort Carson, Colo. (Soph.) Jason Teague, DB, Carthage, Texas (Fr.) Tyson Andrus has been cleared and started practice Tuesday The other 4 "pending" are expected to be cleared, but due to LSU filing paperwork late they have yet to be officially cleared. On the "not eligible" Loadholt- signed with Oklahoma, he was short one of 2 math class that the SEC requires. Big 12 does not require this. Clemmons- will be at LSU doing coursework, just not on the team for the fall semester, he should join the team in the spring. (not exactly sure of his situation) Deas- Going to prep school and should sign with LSU in the Spring. Probably will be good for him to get some PT somewhere as he would have not seen the field this year. Teague- not sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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