To see a video of Miles’ press conference, click here.
The No. 13 Tigers will be close to full health Saturday against No. 7 Georgia — bolstered by the expected return of starting defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois.Jean-Francois left the Mississippi State game with a groin injury and subsequently missed action against Florida and South Carolina. “Everybody played, and everybody practiced,” Miles said Wednesday after practice. “Ricky Jean-Francois practiced the entire week, and going into Thursday we would anticipate that he would play.”Jean-Francois started four games before his injury, recording six tackles and one sack.Redshirt freshman center T-Bob Hebert sustained a season-ending knee injury against South Carolina, prompting some questions about the Tigers’ depth at center if senior starter Brett Helms suffered an injury.Miles said true freshman P.J. Lonergan will suit up for Saturday’s game in case of an emergency.ON THE TRAILWillie Ferrell, a FAMU High School linebacker from Tallahassee, Fla., generated buzz Tuesday with reports suggesting he de-committed from LSU.Ferrell denied the report Tuesday to The Daily Reveille, saying his commitment was still firm.Rivals.com ranks the 6-foot-1, 220-pound inside linebacker as a three-star recruit. Schools such as Alabama, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Florida State and Michigan have offered scholarships to Ferrell.Miles said he doesn’t place much weight on commitments and de-commitments at this point in the year. LSU will host nine recruits on official visits Saturday and about 30 unofficial visits, Miles said.
“We’re going to have a great group of prospects,” he said. “They’ll be here and see one of the greatest gameday environments in college football. That’s why you have those visitations.”Miles said he will have “limited interaction” with the recruits before the game but spend “extensive” time with them afterward.Ferrell is expected to visit LSU for the Alabama game Nov. 8.YOUTH FACTORBattered by injuries and challenged with youth, Georgia’s offensive line could easily be a key factor in Saturday’s game.The group has three freshmen and two sophomores.Former LSU offensive line coach Stacy Searels, who joined Georgia’s staff last season, has rotated about four groups of starters and seems to be turning the corner with success.The Bulldogs have not given up a sack in their last two games. —-Amy Brittain at [email protected]