LSU junior running back Stevan Ridley was declared eligible to participate in the Tigers’ upcoming Cotton Bowl game Jan. 7, according to reports.
Both The Times-Picayune and TigerSportsDigest.com reported Monday afternoon that a source revealed the running back would be eligible, and the athletic department confirmed this Monday night in a news release.
“This is great news. We put our faith in the system and the NCAA made the right decision,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “I told the team about the news at the end of practice and they’re a happy group.”
Ridley was originally ruled ineligible Dec. 22, but LSU appealed the decision during the Christmas holiday. A ruling was expected to come by Tuesday, but the school announced Ridley’s successful appeal a day early and only four days away from a date with Texas A&M at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Sophomore center P.J. Lonergan was delighted to learn Ridley would be in the backfield Friday night.
“Well for one thing this is nice to have the worry out of your mind,” he said. “Secondly, I enjoy having him in the backfield because he is one of the most difficult guys to bring down in the league. He makes an offensive line look really good.”
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.
There has been speculation Ridley could turn pro after this season even though he has a year of eligibility left. The speculation became rampant when he initially was declared ineligible, which left his status for next year uncertain. With his academic eligibility cleared, Ridley has one thing on his mind — a win against the Aggies.
“I expect to win,” Ridley said Tuesday morning. “That is the whole reason we have been working through the entire month of December.”
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