Senior Justin Vincent enters the 2006 football season with a chance to justify his lack of statistical success the past two years.
After rushing for a freshman school record of 1,001 yards in 2003, Vincent lost momentum, rushing for a combined 810 yards in two seasons including 322 yards in 2004 and 488 yards in 2005.
As a 20-year-old freshman, Vincent said he came to LSU knowing he was not going to see much playing time during his first season.
“I was behind Joe [Addai] and Shyrone [Carey] and I was young, and I really didn’t know too much,” Vincent said. “I just had my mind set that they had me on special teams, and I thought that was going to do. At the same time I still kept my nose in the playbook, just in case, and as we all know it all paid off.”
Vincent was called on for his first collegiate start Oct. 18, 2003, against the University of South Carolina, after injuries to former running backs Addai and Carey sidelined them for consecutive games. He rushed for 77 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries in the game.
“I just stepped up when it was my time to play,” Vincent said. “I knew what my role on the team was, and I knew I could go out there and perform.”
Vincent rushed for more than 100 yards in five of the last seven games, including a Southeastern Conference Championship game record of 201 yards against the University of Georgia on Dec. 6, 2003.
Vincent said becoming the team’s starter that season was an honor and something that took a lot of work to maintain.
“I was like man, just don’t mess up, here’s your time to shine, don’t mess up,” Vincent said. “I was basically running off of pure adrenaline – not knowing what to expect, not wanting to get hit, so what you saw was a scared freshman running with the ball.”
Vincent finished the season earning Most Valuable Player in the Bowl Championship Series national title game after rushing for 117 yards and one touchdown against Oklahoma University on Jan. 4, 2004.
LSU junior running back Alley Broussard said Vincent was a pleasant surprise to have on the team.
“He didn’t even look human at some times, how he made people miss and how he broke tackles and stuff,” Broussard said. “I really enjoyed watching Justin.”
Vincent was named the opening day starter in 2004 but lost the job to Broussard after recording just 39 yards on nine carries against Mississippi State University in week four. Broussard, on the other hand, scored three touchdowns and rushed for 79 yards in the 51-0 win in Tiger stadium.
After losing the starting position, Vincent carried only 27 times for 101 yards in the final eight games.
“I might not have been doing as well as expected in the beginning, and they felt like they needed to make a change,” Vincent said. “I’m not the one to say I think the coaches were wrong, but at the same time I don’t think someone can get into a rhythm if you’re only getting a couple of carries a game.”
Vincent said losing the starting position was a learning experience that only made him work harder. He also said losing the starting spot allowed him to focus more on special teams.
“I could have easily tanked it and said, ‘ to hell with it,’ but I didn’t let it get to me,” Vincent said. “I just kind of went out there and put all my energy towards making big plays on special teams.”
Although Vincent did not put up the rushing numbers he wanted in 2004, he was named the special teams’ Most Valuable Player at the end of the season by the LSU coaching staff.
Vincent began last season by rushing for 139 yards on 29 carries in the first six games of the year.
After former LSU running back Joseph Addai injured his ankle midway through the season, Vincent saw more action. He rushed for 328 yards and five touchdowns in the Tigers’ final five regular season games.
He recorded more carries than any other running back over the course of the final six games but could not shoulder the load Dec. 30 against the University of Miami in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Vincent tore his anterior cruciate ligament, one of four major ligaments that connects and holds the femur and tibia together, in his left knee during kickoff coverage early in the first half of the game.
After spending most of the off-season rehabilitating, Vincent and the coaching staff said they are confident he is fully recovered and ready to play.
LSU coach Les Miles said even though Vincent was injured while playing special teams, he will continue to play him there.
“That would be a compliment to Justin to let him take snaps in special teams,” Miles said. “We are going to play the best players, and he may be getting the ball a bit more at tailback. That will all play into how many snaps you will see him take in special teams. It will be hard for me to tell you that somebody would be taking Justin Vincent’s place there.”
Vincent said the injury made him realize he was part of “something special,” and he worked throughout the offseason to be ready for the season. He also said he looks forward to being the opening day starter for the Tigers.
“At this time I am starting and that’s a good feeling, but I won’t let that overshadow too much `cause it could easily be taken away from me at any given time,” Vincent said. “I learned that in [2004], so I just go in there with the attitude that I have to rise above the competition and put my best foot forward everyday.”
Vincent enters his fourth and final season at LSU with 1,811 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns during his collegiate career.
Vincent said he has had many good memories while playing for the Tigers and hopes to end his career on a good note.
“This is it, this is the last go around,” Vincent said. “I’ve been here forever. They call me the old man around here, and I want to go out with a bang.”
—–Contact Jay St. Pierre at jstpierre@lsureveille.com