LSU football coach Les Miles said after Wednesday’s practice that he stands by his decision to keep twice-arrested reserve linebacker Derrick Odom III on the team.
Odom was arrested Monday night on a misdemeanor charge of simple criminal damage to property stemming from a Sept. 1 alleged incident in the West Campus Apartments parking lot.
“I’ve got to look exactly at what appears to be the right call … what actually transpired and not necessarily what the charge was,” Miles said.
In the same incident, an arrest warrant has been issued for former LSU football and current U.S. track athlete Xavier Carter. Maj. Lawrence Rabalais of the LSU Police Department said Carter is in Newark, N.J., and plans to turn himself in within a few days.
Carter has an endorsement deal with Nike, as the corporation sponsors Carter’s footwear and apparel when he competes.
“We are not aware of the [arrest warrant] situation but looking into it immediately,” said Erica Pedreguera, Nike public relations manager.
Miles originally suspended Odom in late August after charges of simple assault, attempted unauthorized entry into an inhabited dwelling and two counts of simple criminal damage to property. Miles became aware of Odom’s alleged Sept. 1 disturbance shortly after it occurred and extended Odom’s suspension by two weeks.
The decision to keep Odom on the team differs from Miles’ actions in April, when he dismissed Troy Giddens, Zhamal Thomas and Kyle Anderson from the team after each was arrested on criminal charges.
“I looked into both of the two incidents that [Odom] was involved in, and he’s been disciplined,” Miles said. “I think the discipline is commensurate with what’s gone on with him, and I think at this point and time he’s got to defend himself. I think he understands that he needs to weigh his decisions very seriously from this point forward.”
University student Steven Williams, who is accused of breaking the victim’s window in the Sept. 1 incident, was issued a misdemeanor summons Wednesday night on one charge of simple criminal damage to property.
—Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]