No. 2 LSU Suspends Three Players for Auburn Game
John Nestor
Baton Rouge, LA
No. 2 LSU will reportedly be without three key players for Saturday's key Southeastern Conference showdown with No. 23 Auburn.
The Times-Picayune is reporting that according to source cornerbacks Tyrann Mathieu and Tharold Simon and running back Spencer Ware, all sophomores, will be held out of the game after allegedly testing positive for synthetic marijuana.
The LSU school newspaper, The Daily Reveille, first reported Mathieu and Ware were suspended.
LSU coach Les Miles did not deny the suspensions but did not address if they were true either, saying it was an internal matter.
"I'm not inclined to be forthcoming in information," he said. "I'm not reactionary to needs of media and things external to this building. There's a process I go through, and it's not going to be shortcutted for the need to communicate.
"When there's information that I can share, I will. I'm doing this for the best of our football team, to maintain a deportment and procedure that I'm true to and a process I'm comfortable with."
Mathieu is the biggest loss as he has been mentioned as a Heisman Trophy candidate because of his playmaking abilities. Ranked among the team's leading tacklers, Mathieu has two interceptions, three fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles. He also has scored two touchdowns this season.
Ware is the team's leading rusher with 512 yards and six touchdowns on 128 carries and Simon is LSU's third cornerback and has seen extensive playing time in the nickel defense. Miles said no one was held out of practice Wednesday.
The news of the suspensions is the latest in a long list of off-the-field issues for the Tigers (7-0).
Just after the start of camp, Miles promoted offensive line coach Greg Studrawa to offensive coordinator in place of newly hired Steve Kragthorpe, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
Starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson and linebacker Josh Johns were arrested on felony second-degree battery charges and suspended from the team in August. Both were reinstated Sept. 28 when the charge against Johns was dropped and the one against Jefferson was reduced to simple battery, a misdemeanor.
LSU wide receiver Russell Shepard was suspended for the first three games of the season for tipping off teammate and cousin Craig Loston about an NCAA investigation into street agent Willie Lyles.
LSU addresses suspensions
CFB Preview: Week 8 matchups
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