ATLANTA — On Halloween night 1959, LSU running back Billy Cannon cemented his place in LSU history with an 89-yard punt return for a touchdown that not only etched his name in college football lore but secured him LSU’s first — and only — Heisman Trophy.
 
The Tigers have not had many serious Heisman Trophy contenders since.
Until now.
 
With 4:13 remaining in the second quarter Saturday, LSU junior cornerback Patrick Peterson caught a punt at the 13-yard line. He weaved through the coverage and scampered 87 yards untouched for a touchdown.
 
Peterson’s touchdown gave LSU a 23-10 lead in its 30-24 victory against North Carolina and thrust him into the midst of early season Heisman discussion.
 
“I don’t know the validity, honestly, of making a guy a Heisman Trophy candidate because that’s something that happens over the course of time,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “I would say, very honestly, that he had the kind of night tonight, on a national level, which would put him in line for any national award, including the very highest.”
 
The Pompano Beach, Fla., native totaled 257 all-purpose yards on the night — a new LSU record and 9 yards short of tying the Southeastern Conference record set by Mississippi State’s Nick Turner in 2003.
 
Between his return yardage and his defensive prowess in the secondary, Peterson has proven to be an all-around threat, much like 1997 Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson.
 
Woodson became the first defensive player to win college football’s most coveted prize by being a true jack of all trades, playing cornerback, wide receiver and punt returner for Michigan.
 
But Peterson has a tough road to joining Woodson among college football’s immortal. Woodson had eight interceptions and 47 tackles on defense, 36 punt returns for 301 yards and one touchdown as a return man and 12 receptions for 238 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver.
 
Miles believes Peterson has the tools to produce similar numbers.
 
“[Peterson] has good vision, great ball skills and great speed,” Miles said. “He’ll do some of those things again because he’s pretty special.”
 
But Peterson — named Southeastern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday — took talks of the award with laughs and a smile.
 
“Patrick Peterson for Heisman,” Peterson said. “I’d be just the second corner to do that, but it’s all in the sky. I just have to take it one game at a time and keep progressing.”  
 
LSU junior safety Brandon Taylor, one of Peterson’s teammates in the secondary, said Peterson was well aware of the ramifications of his performance.
 
“When he came to the sideline after he scored on the punt return, he came off the field and said, ‘Seriously, I’m trying to win the Heisman,'” Taylor said. “After that the whole sidelines started cracking up.”
 
Saturday was the first time Peterson had returned kicks since his days in prep ball.
“The last time I returned kicks had to be my fourth game of my senior season of high school,” Peterson said. “They stopped kicking it to me then, too.”
 
Even though Peterson is garnering attention mostly for his return abilities, it’s his presence in the secondary that is most important to him.
 
The Preseason First-Team All-SEC selection had five tackles and no pass breakups Saturday, but his aura on the field makes opposing offenses quiver.
 
“He brings intimidation [when he’s on the field],” Taylor said. “He’s a big corner. He’s the biggest [defensive back] we’ve got. … He brings lockdown [coverage], and you don’t really have to worry about his side.”
 
Miles said at his press conference Monday the idea of Peterson seeing time on offense is not off the table and something he will need if he wants to join Woodson as the only defenders in college football’s most exclusive fraternity.
 
“There’s been a lot of thought to [giving Peterson offensive playing time],” Miles said. “If we could throw him 150 yards receiving and return yards and then he might have to go cover a pass, too. We’re wearing him out pretty good.”
 
 
 
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Contact Rob Landry at [email protected]