LSU junior running back Stevan Ridley has been ruled academically ineligible for the Cotton Bowl, LSU coach Les Miles said Wednesday morning.
Miles indicated the school will appeal the decision and said he hopes to have Ridley back by Jan. 7 when LSU travels to Dallas to take on Texas A&M. Miles also confirmed Ridley practiced with the team Wednesday for its 6 a.m. session.
“He’s been in no off the field issues in any way,” Miles said. “It’s a one-time nothing. It’s a fundamental process that goes on at a great school. It’s run afoul of an NCAA issue. That’s the best way I can describe it.”
Ridley, a team captain, has been the workhouse for an inconsistent LSU offense this season. He finished the regular season with 1,042 yards on the ground and 14 touchdowns. Ridley carried the ball at least 17 times in nine of LSU’s 12 games. “We don’t know what the timetable is,” Miles said. “We’re hopeful somebody is working over Christmas. It’s certainly an acute issue for Stevan Ridley and the team.”
The Natchez, Miss. native had arguably one of his best games of the season Oct. 2 against Tennessee. Ridley accounted for 123 rushing yards, which included a 1-yard touchdown plunge on the final play of the game to help the Tigers escape with a 16-14 victory.
“While I question their findings and think that the punishment is harsh, I did put myself in a compromising position that I deeply regret,” Ridley said in a news release. “With respect for the process, we have requested that the NCAA reconsider their findings and hope that they will expedite this review.”
Before the ruling, rumors were already beginning to swirl that Ridley would consider declaring for the NFL Draft following the Cotton Bowl. Now with his eligibility in limbo the likelihood Ridley has suited up in purple and gold for the final time is good.
“I think it’s a pretty strong situation for him that he’d turn pro. Before this there were rumblings that people in his head said that he should come out,” said local draft analyst Mike Detillier on Wednesday afternoon . “There isn’t really a senior running back in this draft class that I have predicted as a First Round pick and I only have two senior running backs projected in Round Two.”
Should Ridley enter the draft, Detillier has him slotted to be picked anywhere from the end of the third round to the end of the fifth round.
Detillier also believes that the recent academic issue will have no impact on where Ridley is drafted, should he opt to come out early.
“He certainly isn’t the first guy with academic problems,” Detillier said. “And once you announce that you’re turning pro, it becomes a business for you and you just do what you have to do to better your own draft stock.”
Ridley has also mentioned thinking about turning pro after the bowl game.
“It’s crossed my mind that if I return my senior year, it could be a really big year for me,” Ridley told The Advocate on Monday. “I would love to come back and be considered one of the best running backs in LSU history. I’m not sure a lot of people expected me to even be in position to say that, so it’s definitely a goal for me if I do come back.”
Miles said Wednesday he hopes the academic issue won’t affect Ridley’s decision.
“I think he wants very honestly to be a college student, be captain of this team and return and get his degree,” Miles said. “This is a guy that should have a chance to finish his college playing year.”
If Ridley is unable to play in the Cotton Bowl, redshirt freshman Michael Ford would be the leading candidate to benefit from Ridley’s absence. 
Ford is LSU’s third-leading rusher, as he finished with 259 yards on 41 carries and three touchdowns. Ford broke onto the scene midway through the year against McNeese State when he ran for 86 yards and two scores.
Senior Richard Murphy and freshman Alfred Blue could also see more touches without the bruising style of running Ridley poses.
Murphy has been plagued by injuries his whole career, and even when healthy this season, has been seldom used — Murphy has 23 carries for 82 yards. Meanwhile, Blue started out the season as the teams No. 2 running back behind Ridley, but was sidelined for two games after suffering a foot injury Oct. 9 against Florida. Blue has accumulated 101 yards and a touchdown.
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Contact The Daily Reveille’s sports staff at [email protected]
Information from Sports Contributor Rob Landry was used in this report