The departure of redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Garrett took many LSU fans by surprise.They were left with more questions than answers on why the seemingly talented quarterback decided to leave the LSU program.LSU coach Les Miles attempted to clear up the Garrett situation and a few other question marks that remain with other players Friday at SEC Media Days.”It’s unfortunate,” Miles said. “Chris Garrett, really a talented quarterback, a good person, just did not, for whatever reason, have the want to fight and compete at LSU.”LSU announced July 9 that Garrett was transferring.”We wish him the very best,” Miles said. “There’s reasons for people to make transfers, to go in other directions. I certainly understand those reasons.”The quarterback initially committed to Mississippi State out of Tupelo High School in Tupelo, Miss., but he changed his mind and signed with the Tigers in 2009.Garrett never saw the field for LSU aside from the two spring games.”It was a surprise to me [to hear he was leaving],” said junior quarterback Jordan Jefferson. “I thought Chris was a great quarterback. I really thought he would be a great fit for LSU later on in the future.”Jefferson said Garrett’s struggles could have been attributed to lack of game experience.”He was still learning,” Jefferson said. “He didn’t really grasp the playbook. He wasn’t really a master of our playbook yet.”The 6-foot-4-inch, 235-pound quarterback was third on the depth chart behind Jefferson and junior Jarrett Lee.”It’s hard when you don’t have much experience,” Jefferson said. “For somebody to ask you to fully know these plays when you don’t get any reps, that’s kind of tough. He’s only been in college for one year.”Jefferson said Garrett could be a starting quarterback for another team.”Once he gets the opportunity to play, he’ll probably be a whole different type of Chris,” Jefferson said.MILES UPBEAT ABOUT LEEGarrett’s choice to part ways with LSU leaves the Tigers searching for future quarterbacks.Miles said he likes his team’s chances of holding on to 2010 signee Zach Lee, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in June’s MLB draft.”When he came on campus, he was drafted 28th by the Dodger organization,” Miles said. “Then that night, [he] fielded phone calls about, ‘Would you like to come out to California, see a game, spend some time?’ He says, ‘That’s not the plan. The plan is to be in Baton Rouge tomorrow, get enrolled in school, get going in college.'”Lee has been in summer classes at LSU and has trained with the football team.”He’s a workman,” Miles said. “What he’s done is he’s gone and got the young receivers, continues to develop his throwing motion, throwing them balls.”Miles didn’t rule out the possibility of the Dodgers offering the McKinney, Texas, native a lucrative contract.”There’s still a chance certainly that the Dodger organization could pursue him financially, but I think the odds are with us,” Miles said. “I think he wants to be a college student and wants the opportunity to chase a championship in both baseball and football.”Jefferson said he has been impressed with Lee in their limited time this summer.”He’s a quick learner,” Jefferson said. “He’ll have a great future at LSU, going off his strive to learn and him being a student of the game.”Lee has until Aug. 16 to make his decision.Miles said the Tigers have a need at quarterback for the 2011 class, which has 13 commitments but no quarterbacks so far.”This next class, certainly there’s a void,” Miles said. “We need a strong quarterback in the 2011 class. We’re recruiting aggressively at that position.”LSU’s targets include C.J. Uzomah from Suwanee, Ga., and Florida natives Phillip Ely and Jacoby Brissett, according to Scout.com.MILES UPDATES STATUSES OF HEBERT, ALLENSophomore fullback Dominique Allen was suspended indefinitely from the team this summer for “violating team rules.”LSU announced the suspension July 15, and Miles commented on the fullback’s status at SEC Media Days.”Dominique Allen has broken team rules and is disciplined and therefore suspended from the team indefinitely,” Miles said. “I’ll be more forthcoming when I have more information as time goes on.”Allen started against Auburn last season but didn’t record any carries.Miles also mentioned junior center T-Bob Hebert, who was suspended indefinitely from the team after being arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated May 1.Hebert also suffered a broken bone in his lower leg during spring practices.”T-Bob Hebert is healthy and getting better,” Miles said. “He’s not back to 100 percent at this point, but he can see 100 percent in his near future. I think as the two-a-day season begins and he continues to work, he’ll be fine.”Hebert was LSU’s starting center for 11 games last season.
 
 
 
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