LSU’s spring football practices began in rainy 40-degree conditions March 1 and finished four weeks later with the National L Club Spring Game.LSU welcomed new running backs coach Frank Wilson, wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator Billy Gonzales and tight ends coach Steve Ensminger to the team and invited the competition of both young players and veterans throughout the month.In April and May, however, a few LSU football players made news for incidents off the field.Senior wide receiver Terrence Toliver was cited March 7 for interfering with a police officer, disturbing the peace and public intoxication after a fight outside Fred’s Bar & Grill. Toliver was tased when he refused to follow police orders and broke his left hand.Toliver issued a public apology three days later, and LSU coach Les Miles did not let Toliver’s hand injury prevent him from practicing.”It was an embarrassment to the team, the coaching staff, to the players and my family,” Toliver said. “It was also embarrassing to me. I want to tell everybody I’m sorry and tell the fans I’m sorry and forgive me for what happened.”Junior center T-Bob Hebert, who missed the majority of spring practice with a broken ankle, was charged May 1 with driving while intoxicated after hitting a parked car in the South Fraternity lot. Miles has suspended Hebert indefinitely from all football-related activities.Not all of the football players garnered negative headlines this spring.Russell Shepard made the transition from quarterback to wide receiver, a change the sophomore embraced as a new opportunity to impact the team.”Here at LSU, I can benefit the team more at the receiver position as well as on special teams,” Shepard said after the first practice. “The Florida game [in 2009] really opened my eyes that I needed to make the switch, and I talked to Coach Miles two days later. I don’t want to be in games for just five or 10 plays. I want to play 60 snaps a game.”Another wrinkle in LSU’s spring practices was the introduction of the Big Cat drill. Players and Miles were pumped up about executing the drill, which involves an offensive player and a defensive player hitting each other one-on-one. On the snap of the ball, the players try to drive each other out of the designated area.”It’s when you lock up, pad under pad. It’s strength and brute force,” Miles said. “If I take your body back, I won. If you take my body back, you won.”Ensminger returned to his hometown of Baton Rouge after he was hired Feb. 25. Ensminger played quarterback at LSU from 1976-79 for legendary coach Charlie McClendon, and he said he couldn’t have pictured a better scenario for him and his family.”I’ve coached for 28 years, and I’ve coached at some great schools,” Ensminger said. “But probably every coach in the country who’s coached on the college level would love to get back to the school they played at, so this is really exciting.”Junior running back Stevan Ridley made a big splash in the spring game, rushing for 104 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown. Redshirt freshman Michael Ford also broke the century mark with 139 yards.The most veteran running back for the Tigers, senior Richard Murphy, returned to the practice field in March, though he did not participate in contact drills after returning from a knee injury he suffered Sept. 12 against Vanderbilt.”I’m doing everything I need to do, taking my time and working to get better at everything — pass protection, running between the tackles,” Murphy said after the first practice. “I’m a little disappointed wearing a green jersey all the time, but I know [the coaches] are looking out for me.”Miles said the quarterback play in the spring game was not one for the highlight reels, but junior Jordan Jefferson is improving his mechanics, including throwing the ball away when under pressure.Redshirt freshman safety Craig Loston also accounted for a momentum-changing play in the game — an interception of junior quarterback Jarrett Lee that he returned for a 22-yard touchdown.Loston was granted a medical redshirt for the 2009-10 year after missing the season with a hand injury.More recent story lines include the 2010 NFL Draft, which featured no LSU players selected in the first round for the first time in six years, but six former Tigers were drafted.The first player drafted was Chad Jones, LSU’s only underclassman who declared for the draft. Jones was chosen in the third round by the New York Giants as the No. 76 overall pick. Wide receiver Brandon LaFell followed two picks later to the Carolina Panthers.Linebacker Perry Riley and defensive tackle Al Woods landed in the fourth round to the Washington Redskins and New Orleans Saints, respectively. Wide receiver/return specialist Trindon Holliday was drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth round, and the Philadelphia Eagles selected running back Charles Scott with the No. 200 overall pick.Eight other Tigers signed free-agent contracts with NFL teams, including former safety/linebacker Harry Coleman with the Saints.
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