Already thin line gets thinner

<p class="p1">LSU was one player shy of a full load when the Tigers reported for August football camp on Friday.</p><p class="p3">But it was a big one.</p><p class="p3">Head coach Ed Orgeron announced that returning starting right guard Ed Ingram was suspended indefinitely and will not take part when drills begin today.</p><p class="p3">The move came two days after Orgeron, speaking at a Baton Rouge Rotary Club, had listed the 6-foot-4, 314-pound Ingram as a starter while also raving that the Tigers had an eventful offseason off the field.</p><p class="p3">Something obviously changed, leaving the Tigers with three returning starters on the offensive line.</p><p class="p3">Orgeron said Friday he had no idea when or if Ingram might return, adding that it was out of his hands as the undisclosed violation ran afoul of university as well as team policy.</p><p class="p3">Ingram was forced into action as a true freshman last year due to injuries and started the last 12 games.</p><p class="p3">In his absence, Orgeron said Northwest Mississippi Junior College transfer Damien Lewis (6-3, 326), who turned heads after enrolling early for spring practice, would start at right guard when practice begins.</p><p class="p3">Lewis was set to back up both guard spots.</p><p class="p3">“I think he would’ve wound up with a starting spot on the line anyway,” Orgeron said of Lewis.</p><p class="p3">“We won’t blink.”</p><p class="p3">Maybe not at right guard.</p><p class="p3">But one of the possible August scenarios had Lewis eventually taking over as the starter at left guard, which would have allowed Garrett Brumfield to move from there to center.</p><p class="p3">Now Lloyd Cushenberry will have to step up at center.</p><p class="p3">While that plays out, most eyes will be on what Orgeron insisted will be an equal-opportunity, four-man battle for the quarterback position.</p><p class="p3">One of them, senior Justin McMillan, graduated from LSU on Friday and would be eligible elsewhere immediately should he chose to transfer.</p><p class="p3">But Orgeron said McMillan will be there today in a crowded rotation dueling with touted Joe Burrows, a graduate transfer from Ohio State, along with sophomore Myles Brennan and redshirt freshman Lowell Narcisse.</p><p class="p3">Orgeron said the staff will go to great pains to make sure all four get enough to reps to show what they can do.</p><p class="p3">And what is that?</p><p class="p3">“Everything,” Orgeron said.</p><p class="p3">“Show it on a daily basis. Leadership, the classroom, being able to run the offense and make the throws. Do the right things that a quarterback does and be really consistent every day and stack good days together. Obviously all four of those guys have an equal chance, and let’s see what happens.”</p><p class="p3">Orgeron said quarterbacks coach Steve Ensminger will obviously have a lot of input, but in the end Orgeron will make the final decision — and he hasn’t ruled out using two, at least to start the season.</p><p class="p3">“I can see the difference in all four guys,” Orgeron said. “Everyone has his own demeanor and everyone has their own way … some guys are being more vocal leaders. They have stepped up their workouts, just like I thought they would.”</p><p class="p3">A key date in LSU’s August could come Thursday when cornerback Kristian Fulton has his appeal heard by the NCAA.</p><p class="p3">He’ll be seeking to have the second season of a two-year NCAA suspension lifted. It’s based on what his attorney says is new evidence in the case, in which Fulton was found to have tampered with a drug test he was administered.</p><p class="p3">Fulton, who was nation’s top-rated high school cornerback coming out of New Orleans, played sparingly due to injury as a true freshman in 2016 and had to sit out last season, although he has continued to work with the team.</p><p class="p3">Orgeron, who said he thinks Fulton could be the starting corner opposite Greedy Williams, doesn’t know how the case will play out.</p><p class="p3">But he said Fulton “will be getting reps with the first and second team. It’ll be quality reps until we have a decision. We’re going to go forward giving him quality reps.</p><p class="p3">“We don’t know what’s going to happen, but he’s going to be out at practice like we’ve always done. Hopefully he gets a chance, but I don’t know. If he does, I’m excited to see him.”</p><p class="p3">Orgeron also said Texas Tech transfer defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko will move from end to nose guard.</p><p class="p3">The move was prompted by nose guard Ed Alexander being slowed by injury to start camp and the progress of sophomore Glenn Logan to man the end spot. Orgeron said he expects Alexander will be ready by the season.</p><p class="p3">“He’s played that before,” Orgeron said of Fehoko. “It’s not like he hasn’t played that. It’s kind of the same technique, just a little bit different with more double teams. He’s a big strong guy. Physical. He can handle it.”</p>

McMillan was one of three Tigers to graduate Friday, including tight end Jacory Washington from Westlake and fullback Trey Gallman.

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">As of last week, was suspended indefinitely has been suspended indefinitely from the LSU football team.</span></p>Courtesy of lsusports.net