A pipeline is forming from one traditional purple and gold powerhouse to another.
LSU and St. Augustine High School in New Orleans have more in common than their storied football programs and the same school colors — they are sharing football players.
Freshman cornerback Tyrann Mathieu has made a quick transition from the Purple Knights to the Tigers.
“I expect to be great,” Mathieu said at LSU Media Day. “I’m ready to take on the challenge.”
The cornerback may have even exceeded his own lofty expectations, playing in all four games for the Tigers and racking up 16 tackles.
The most influential defensive player from LSU’s 2010 recruiting class recorded his best game Saturday against West Virginia, earning team MVP honors.
Mathieu pounced on a fumble forced by senior defensive tackle Drake Nevis and picked off Mountaineer sophomore quarterback Geno Smith on the second play of the second quarter.
“He’s just incredible,” said redshirt freshman defensive end Barkevious Mingo. “He expects to make the big plays, and being so young, you wouldn’t think a person would come in and do that well.”
LSU coach Les Miles isn’t known for giving playing time to many freshman players, but the sixth-year coach bit the bullet in the Tigers’ season opener with Mathieu.
Mathieu didn’t let Miles down and sacked North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates on a fourth-down blitz, forcing the senior Tar Heel to cough up the football.
“So many freshmen have a couple of good practices, maybe a week or so during two-a-days, and then they kind of go into a lull,” Miles said. “But he’s got a real self-confidence and a belief that he can make a play, and ultimately that’s the one thing that a freshman generally takes a little bit of time to develop.”
Mathieu’s teammates agreed on one thing — the youngster is anything but bashful.
“He’s definitely doing a lot to help this defense be aggressive,” said junior cornerback Patrick Peterson. “He’s making a huge impact in this defense.”
The first-year player was nicknamed “Comrade” by senior safety Jai Eugene for his aggressive style, which has resulted in two and a half tackles for loss.
“Every day he’s down for the battle no matter what,” Eugene said. “He’s a guy who will always be on your side when you go to war.”
Mathieu slipped through the recruiting radar of many schools, but the 5-foot-8-inch, 180-pound cornerback began getting attention the summer before his senior season.
“He blew up at the Tennessee camp the summer before his senior year,” said Shea Dixon, managing editor of Tigersportsdigest.com. “He shut down a bunch of elite receivers. After that LSU started looking at him.”
The New Orleans native ended up committing to LSU, following in the footsteps of former LSU defensive end Rahim Alem, a St. Augustine alumnus.
“St. Augustine was a very traditional school, and LSU is the same way,” Mathieu said. “It was always big to represent my city and represent my state.”
LSU recruiting coordinator Frank Wilson, also a St. Augustine graduate, will see another Purple Knight join the team next season.
Offensive lineman Trai Turner, a Scout.com three-star recruit, pledged to LSU in May.
“He’s going to bring something to the team,” St. Augustine football coach David Johnson said about Turner. “I don’t know if he’s going to have the impact of Tyrann Mathieu. Down the line he’ll be a premier player in the [Southeastern Conference].”
LSU has already offered a scholarship to St. Augustine running back Leonard Fournette, just two games into his freshman season.
The 14-year-old workhorse has racked up 957 yards and 13 touchdowns through four games.
“Getting an offer that early shows how insane his talent is,” Dixon said. “He may end up being one of the most important recruits in Louisiana history.”
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Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]