By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
LSU starting quarterback Sam Leavitt was upgraded from “doubtful” to “questionable” for Saturday’s game at Ole Miss by coach Lane Kiffin in his availability report on Thursday night released by the Southeastern Conference after Leavitt practiced on Thursday morning.
And the LSU Nation breathed a sigh of relief.
On Wednesday, Leavitt was listed as doubtful by Kiffin in the SEC’s first eligibility report of the week. That was after he did not practice on Wednesday because of an unconfirmed injury. And it meant his chances of playing for the No. 7 Tigers (2-0) against No. 8 Ole Miss (2-0) on Saturday were slim.
Questionable as defined by the SEC policy is “uncertain to play,” but with “a 50 percent chance to play.”
Kickoff on Saturday is at 6:30 p.m. on ABC in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi.
“Well, we’ll see,” Kiffin said when asked about Leavitt during halftime of the University High game at Plaquemine on the LHSAA (Louisiana High School Athletic Association) Network Thursday night. “We’re still not there yet. So, we’re still looking at everything. And hopefully, everything will be good.”
Kiffin was watching his son Knox Kiffin – the quarterback for U-High – play.
“First time I’m out of the building all week,” he said.
His son threw four touchdowns all to Kevin Smith Jr., son of LSU running backs coach and assistant head coach Kevin Smith, in U-High’s 31-21 win over Plaquemine.
The Thursday practice Leavitt participated in was the lightest session of the week as usual after the Tuesday and Wednesday practices are the most physical. The Tigers will do a walk-through on Friday before leaving for Oxford in the afternoon. LSU will not work out at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Friday.
Leavitt, a redshirt junior transfer from Arizona State, is 41-of-66 passing for 574 yards and two touchdowns around four interceptions and five sacks on the season through two games. He has rushed 23 times for 135 yards and five touchdowns.
Kiffin did his weekly coach’s radio show on the LSU Radio Network at the Court To Table restaurant near LSU shortly before the SEC released the availability report. He was not asked about Leavitt by the show’s host Chris Blair, the voice of LSU football, nor by any of the fan questions. In fact, Leavitt was not even brought up.
OTHER INJURIES
LSU starting linebacker TJ Dottery was listed as questionable for the second straight day on the availability report. Starting linebacker Whit Weeks and starting tight end Trey’Dez Green were not on Thursday’s availability report, which means they were upgraded to available. They were listed as probable on Wednesday.
Starting right guard Aliou Bah remained listed as probable along with backup linebackers Davhon Keys and Tylen Singleton. Three reserves – wide receiver Phillip Wright III, Jaideen Baker and Raycine Guillory – were ruled out of the game on Wednesday with injuries.
Ole Miss senior starting offensive tackle Tommy Kinsler IV was listed as questionable for the second straight day, and senior starting linebacker Keaton Thomas remained listed as probable.
Backup running back Maki Frazier was upgraded from questionable to probable for the Rebels, while backup cornerback Cedrick Rogers remained probable. Ruled out are backup cornerback Victor Lincoln and offensive lineman Emanuel Faulkner.
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