LSU football coach Les Miles said after Wednesday’s practice that the starting quarterback remains undecided for Saturday’s game against South Carolina.
Sophomore Ryan Perrilloux started against Middle Tennessee in place of senior quarterback Matt Flynn, who was sidelined with a high ankle sprain.
“It’s encouraging to see Flynn out there taking a lion’s share of the snaps,” Miles said. “He looked to have mobility. He looked to have a little throw on the ball … He’s much closer to 100 percent at this point than he was anywhere near last week.”
Miles said it is “probably safe to say” senior left guard Will Arnold, who has a viral infection affecting his knees, will not play Saturday.
He also said it is likely senior receiver Early Doucet will not play. Earlier in the week, Miles characterized Doucet’s injury as “pretty significant” but declined to comment on the specific problem.
Miles was asked about whether South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier’s recent comments downplaying the importance of Saturday’s game were perhaps a reverse-psychology strategy for the Gamecocks.
“We don’t have to beat LSU to still be in contention, you know that?” Spurrier said, according to an Associated Press article. “And I told our guys that. We’re not going to go down there and if we get beat, hang our heads. There’s a lot of ball left.”
Miles said perhaps Spurrier may have “felt the same way” before defeating then-No. 11 Georgia in Athens, Ga.
“The only thing that we’re going to do is prepare for their very best shot and look forward to it,” Miles said.
—Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]