By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
The rash of injuries on the LSU football team through just four games has coach Lane Kiffin out of sorts as the No. 11 Tigers (3-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) prepare to play McNeese State (2-3, 1-2 Southland Conference) on Saturday at Tiger Stadium (6:45 p.m., SEC Network).
In addition to starting star position player Dashawn Spears lost for the season last week at Ole Miss with a knee injury and starting linebacker Whit Weeks possibly out for the year with a broken fibula suffered Saturday in the win over Texas A&M, Kiffin will also likely not have one of his best offensive weapons for the second straight game this week. That is junior tight end Trey’Dez Green, who also suffered a knee injury at Ole Miss. He is expected to miss the McNeese game and probably the Kentucky game on Oct. 10 if not more after that.
Also out for the season is backup linebacker Charles Ross II, who suffered a knee injury on Saturday against Texas A&M.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt is expected to play Saturday with a hamstring injury suffered against the Aggies, but Kiffin plans on being careful with him all week.
“Extremely (careful),” Kiffin said. “I’m human, I mean, with what’s happening with these freak injuries. I took our guys out earlier Saturday than I did in previous home games (which were blowout wins over Clemson and Louisiana Tech). Because of what’s been going on, and it just freaked me out. So, we’ll be extremely careful this week all around.”
Kiffin said he has considered holding some players out entirely against McNeese, which would be a heavy underdog if a betting line is released.
“I’ve been going through that all day yesterday,” he said. “I don’t know where we’re going to end up on that. We’ve got seven conference games to go.”
The Southeastern Conference is in the first year of a new nine-game league schedule after playing eight for decades.
Leavitt played through the hamstring injury, which happened in the third quarter Saturday. He stayed in the pocket more to protect the leg.
Kiffin said he told Leavitt, “You now are like the old school, pro-style passer who couldn’t run,” he said. “He better throw it on time, or he’s going to get sacked.”
Sophomore Elon transfer quarterback Landen Clark played in spots for Leavitt Saturday, rushing nine times for 41 yards and throwing five passes, but with no completions. Clark has completed 7 of 10 passes in relief on the season for 109 yards and a touchdown while rushing seven times for 42 yards and a TD.
“He does a good job,” Kiffin said. “He’s a good weapon to have regardles of Sam’s health.”
DAMIEN SHANKLIN RETURN
Freshman redshirt Damien Shanklin of Indianapolis dressed out for the Texas A&M game, but has not played this season. Kiffin announced early in preseason practice in August that Shanklin was not with the team but has confirmed that he has returned to the team. He was asked how he was able to return on Monday.
“I can’t comment much on the Shanklin situation,” Kiffin said. “Except for, we just followed what the University told us to do. Not allowed to say anything else in those situations.”
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