Skyler Green is well under six feet tall and weighs less than 200 pounds. But despite his small frame, his graduation has left the LSU football team with a large hole to fill in its return game. During his four year career at LSU, the 5-foot-10-inch, 180 pound Green set the school record for punt return touchdowns with four. He also ranks second in career punt return yards at LSU with 1,064. He was named the Southeastern Conference Special Teams Player of the Year in 2005, and he was also a first-team All-American in 2003- the same season that his 24-yard touchdown run gave LSU an early advantage in the National Championship game against Oklahoma University. Yet as the season inches closer to starting, no one on the LSU return unit is expected to completely make fans forget Green’s accomplishments. They said they are just trying to create their own identity. “Hopefully I can bring something to the table in that area that will help the team,” said junior wide receiver Early Doucet. “Skyler Green was a great returner, and hopefully, I can do some of the things that he did to bring a little spark to the special teams.” Doucet is slated to get a chance to replace Green this season. While he has no collegiate game experience returning kicks, Doucet said he is familiar with the position. “I did a little bit of returning in high school,” he said. “Last year, I was on the front line doing some blocking, but this year, hopefully I get the opportunity to be a major factor in the return game.” Another player who is being relied upon is senior defensive back Daniel Francis. Francis has been a contributor on special teams his entire career, especially last season when he led the team with 12 special teams tackles. Like Doucet, Francis has no collegiate game experience returning kicks, but he said he is looking forward to doing whatever he can to aid the team in his last season as a Tiger. “It’s going to be special,” he said. “And I’ll feel sick when it’s over. I want to give it my all.” Coach Les Miles said several freshmen also have an opportunity to vie for playing time in the return game. Among those Miles mentioned are true freshmen Chris Mitchell and Trindon Holliday. While at John Ehret High School in Marrero, Mitchell proved that he is a superb athlete. Playing several positions his senior year, including kick returner and wide receiver, Mitchell accounted for 15 touchdowns in a six game season. One reason Mitchell is receiving so much attention is his speed. While at Ehret, Mitchell was a track standout, posting times of 10.7 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 21.6 seconds in the 200-meter dash. Like Mitchell, Trindon Holliday also has an impressive high school resume. During his last two seasons at Northeast High School in Zachary, Holliday rushed for more than 4,000 yards and scored 60 touchdowns. One thing the LSU coaching staff said they love about Holliday is his natural ability to make things happen on the field. As a punt returner in high school, Holliday averaged more than 27 yards a return. Holliday also enjoyed an outstanding career as a track athlete. At Northeast, Holliday was a four-time state champion in the 200-meter dash and a three-time state champion in the 100-meter dash. Standing only 5 feet 5 inches, Miles said he believes Holliday’s running style resembles that of Skyler Green. But when asked if he feels pressured to be the next Tiger returner, Holliday said he is not competing with the past. “I don’t feel any pressure. I just want to come out and help finish what [Green] started,” he said. Because of his size, Holliday said that many people question whether or not he can handle the daily punishment that is required from an SEC football player. When asked about his size disadvantage, Holliday said he relishes the role of underdog. “It gives me a lot of motivation because they say I’m too small, and I won’t be able to do it,” Holliday said. “So I go out and do it, just so they can see what I can do at my size.” Since no current LSU player has much collegiate experience returning kicks, more opposing teams will likely be willing to give returners opportunities than in years past. Opposing teams consistently kicked the ball away from Green because of his big play ability. Green was only able to return 45 of the 138 kickoffs and punts sent his way last season, a number that Doucet said he expects to rise steadily this season. Despite the loss of one of the most celebrated returners in school history, Miles said he wants the rest of the country to know he is confident in his team. “We will be fine,” Miles said. “It will be difficult to replace the return man that we sent to the NFL, but I think we have talent there to do so.”
—–Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]