When the spring semester began, LSU senior offensive lineman Josh Dworaczyk was preparing for a potential Pro Day workout and even looking for a job.
Instead, Dworaczyk is back with the Tigers at spring practice, hoping to ensure his first national championship ring won’t be his last.
The New Iberia product redshirted on LSU’s 2007 national championship team and suffered a season-ending ACL injury in August 2011, seemingly ending his collegiate career.
But the NCAA granted Dworaczyk - who is the only remaining player from that two-loss title squad - a sixth year of eligibility on Feb. 8, reigniting his purple-and-gold prospects.
“Applying for a sixth year, you had to meet with team staff, doctors and
compliance staff and get checked out,” said the 6-foot-1, 301-pound left guard. “It was a dicey process. They say it gets reviewed by a panel, but I had no idea who was deciding my future. That’s stressful.”
Less than 48 hours after LSU submitted the proper paperwork, Dworaczyk sat in class and read the official e-mail from the compliance office.
He was back.
“I breathed a huge sigh of relief,” he said.
Teammates say that relief quickly became giddiness, and junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger recalled Dworaczyk excitedly screaming his way across campus.
Seven weeks and nearly all of spring practice later, that enthusiasm hasn’t subsided, as an exuberant Dworaczyk still can’t contain his smile when discussing his comeback.
“The last time I played, guys that are in the NFL, or will be, were next to me,” Dworaczyk said. “A line’s ability depends on chemistry, and I’m developing that right now with some guys. I’m glad I made it back for spring, so I can knock off the rust now.”
Dworaczyk rehabbed his knee throughout the fall and wasn’t cleared to practice until mere days before spring practice began on March 2.
While he shed the green, no-contact practice jersey only 11 days ago, LSU coach Les Miles said Dworaczyk’s health is not an issue.
“He’s seven months away from the injury, so we’re comfortable letting him go,” Miles said. “He’s had two knees [injuries]. Both knees responded well [this spring].”
Dworaczyk’s reconstructed knees may not be a problem, but the former offensive line mainstay has another obstacle en route to playing time.
Sophomore guard La’el Collins, a Redemptorist product, has impressed all spring, taking the first-team reps at left guard, where Dworaczyk once started 26 consecutive games from 2009-10.
“That just pushes me that much more,” Dworaczyk acknowledged. “We have so much talent at every position here. Two-deep guys could pretty much play anywhere in the country. But I’m not going to be ignorant about it and try to go out there and do too much.”
While his preference is to see the field often next fall, the sideline became Dworaczyk’s office during LSU’s undefeated 2011 regular season.
With offensive line coach Greg Studrawa inheriting offensive coordinator duties just weeks before the season opener, there was no longer an on-field coaching presence for the unit.
Enter Dworaczyk, whose
experience made him a prime player-coach candidate. The injured Dworaczyk emerged as Studrawa’s enforcer, prowling the sidelines and essentially coaching the offensive line during games.
“Josh knew all the positions and their responsibilities, the checks, the plays,” said senior tight end Chase Clement. “He knew what Coach Stud was thinking and wasn’t afraid to get in our faces after a play. It helped the young guys out the most.”
Dworaczyk jokingly called coaching a “natural” progression for his seemingly eternal rollercoaster ride at LSU.
The senior has experienced two rumored Miles-to-Michigan sagas, watched a pair of LSU teams make BCS title games while sidelined, experienced the Tigers’ only two bowl losses under Miles and played with two Thorpe Award winners and a Heisman finalist.
“He knows everything there is to know,” Miles said. “He’s old. Josh’s probably forgotten stuff that the young guys haven’t even learned yet.”
Dworaczyk has ensured that knowledge carried into the classroom too, as he is on pace to graduate in December with a second bachelor’s degree in sports administration.
He completed his first degree last May in general studies and will earn a business minor with both.
While the senior may already have a championship ring that he occasionally flashes - ”only when I put a suit on,” Dworaczyk said – the senior said 2011’s close call and 2007’s redshirt status feed a hunger for a title he can truly claim as his.
“We were one game away last year, and it’s still bitter,” Dworaczyk said. “I don’t think there’ll be a seventh year for me, so no lucky number seven. Not many guys even get six. I want to leave the program the way I started way back then - with
the title.”
 
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Contact Chris Abshire at [email protected]