The 2011 football season almost became as much about who didn’t take the field for the Tigers as who actually suited up.
While senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson’s suspension grabbed the majority of national headlines, seven different players were suspended for at least one game during the season.
The problems began Aug. 19, when Jefferson and a number of other players were involved in an altercation outside Shady’s Bar.
After Baton Rouge police obtained a search warrant and took 49 pairs of Jefferson’s shoes, police charged Jefferson and sophomore linebacker Josh Johns with second-degree battery. The two players turned themselves in Aug. 26, and LSU coach Les Miles suspended them indefinitely.
Following an investigation, a grand jury convened Sept. 28 and reduced Jefferson’s charges from second-degree battery to first-degree battery, a misdemeanor, and dismissed all charges facing Johns.
Miles reinstated Jefferson and Johns immediately, and Jefferson returned to the field in LSU’s next game on Oct. 1 against Kentucky. He continued to share time with senior quarterback Jarrett Lee, who replaced Jefferson as the starting quarterback during his suspension. Jefferson didn’t receive the majority of snaps until LSU’s Nov. 5 matchup with No. 2 Alabama.
“It was a tough situation for me and definitely a learning experience,” Jefferson said after his reinstatement. “I can’t imagine anybody else in the country has gone through what I went through, but everything happens for a reason.”
Jefferson had a poor performance in the BCS National Championship loss to Alabama on Jan. 9. He completed 11 of 17 passes for 53 yards, one interception and no touchdowns. Jefferson was not selected in the 2012 NFL draft, but signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent.
Senior linebacker Ryan Baker missed the Sept. 10 game against Northwestern State for a team violation, and junior wide receiver Russell Shepard missed the first three games of the season for an NCAA violation. Shepard reportedly discussed an ongoing investigation of Willie Lyles with a teammate. Lyles was accused of charging schools to steer recruits to certain programs.
Shepard returned Sept. 24 against West Virginia and had one reception for 16 yards.
“It’s one of the hardest things I’ve been through,” Shepard said at the time. “When I see my brothers go out and give their all for this team, this city and this state – that hurt. It’s unfortunate that this happened to me, but at the same time, it’s going to make the team better, and it’s going to make me better.”
LSU grabbed national headlines again when three players were suspended before LSU’s Oct. 22 matchup with Auburn. Sophomore cornerbacks Tyrann Mathieu and Tharold Simon and sophomore running back Spencer Ware were reportedly withheld from play after failing a drug test for synthetic marijuana.
The trio returned two weeks later for the game against Alabama.
“You have to grow up fast in this business,” Mathieu said. “You’re going to make mistakes. It’s really about you putting that to the side and moving forward to the positives.”
____ Contact Hunter Paniagua at [email protected]