LSU junior linebacker Ryan Baker practiced throughout the week and is likely to return to the defense Saturday against Vanderbilt, LSU coach Les Miles said Wednesday.
 
Miles said he is not sure if Baker will start, but he said Baker has showed his toughness by running and conditioning faithfully since he broke his jaw in practice Aug. 13.
 
“It looks like Baker will be able to play,” Miles said. “He practiced for the most part without contact early in the week and [with] contact certainly in the back end of the week. It’s nice to have a guy who is veteran and understands calls. He’s got great quickness and fresh legs.”
 
Miles said Baker lost three to five pounds while his jaw was wired shut. Baker had the wire removed this week.
 
“I’m not really certain exactly the hour, but in the last day or two,” Miles said of the wire.
 
Miles said junior safety Karnell Hatcher and sophomore wide receiver Chris Tolliver returned to practice this week, and he said they “might well get in the rotation” for Saturday.
 
Junior tight end Deangelo Peterson, however, will remain out of the lineup for another week after suffering a foot injury last week. But Miles said Peterson is progressing well since the injury.
 
“[Peterson] is doing remarkably well. I don’t know that I want to rule out next week for him,” Miles said.
 
Finishing out games and ball security were Miles’ messages in practice this week leading up to the Vanderbilt game, LSU’s first Southeastern Conference matchup of the season.
 
LSU junior running back Stevan Ridley lost two fumbles against North Carolina, and senior running back Richard Murphy coughed up the ball once.
 
Miles said he is confident the team understands the importance of holding on to the ball, as turnovers can shift the momentum of a game in the blink of an eye.
 
“Every guy who carries the football understands it’s not his football, it’s ours,” Miles said. “Ridley has a want to be responsible. I don’t see [ball security] as an issue he has.”
 
Miles said Murphy is a more physical runner and “a pretty good blocker at that spot.”
 
As far as players who might get more of an opportunity to carry the football against Vanderbilt, Miles gave a rather noncommittal answer.
 
“I expect some of the young guys will get more carries than last weekend, maybe Michael Ford, maybe Alfred Blue and Spencer Ware,” Miles said.
 
On the defensive side, Miles praised the play of senior defensive tackle Drake Nevis, who recorded four tackles and one sack against North Carolina senior quarterback T.J. Yates.
 
“I don’t know that Drake isn’t one of the better nose tackles in our league, maybe in our country,” Miles said.
 
 
 
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