As the No. 9 LSU football team prepares to open its home nonconference schedule against Eastern Michigan University on Saturday, the Tigers’ defensive line will be bolstered by junior defensive end Tashawn Bower’s return, LSU coach Les Miles announced during his Wednesday news conference.
After being injured in the first quarter and returning briefly in LSU’s 34-24 victory against Syracuse University, Bower practiced Wednesday and is expected to play against Eastern Michigan, Miles said.
“Tashawn Bower took snaps today,” Miles said. “I would think he would be able to play [this week].”
Through the Tigers’ first three games, Bower has been a key to the Tigers’ pass rush, tallying 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack and eight tackles.
Along with Bower, Miles said he “wouldn’t be surprised if” freshman defensive end Isaiah Washington makes his LSU debut on Saturday after he practiced Wednesday.
Washington came to Baton Rouge as a four-star recruit rated by Rivals after notching 55 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a senior at Karr High School in New Orleans.
On the offensive side of the injury report, Miles said senior tight end Dillon Gordon ran on a treadmill Wednesday and is considered “day-to-day” for Saturday’s game.
After tallying 14 penalties for 120 yards against Syracuse, Miles stressed how the Tigers took responsibility for the miscues, and the team looks to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.
Miles said he went over each penalty during the team meeting, noting that it took some time.
“Our team recognizes the opportunity to do the things we want to do we have to get better at that,” Miles said. “We talked about technique. We talked about loud environments. … The guys that took the discredit for the penalties certainly stood so and did it so in front of their team. … They have great awareness, and they recognize it now.”