In the wake of the 30-27 overtime loss to the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, there are few things for LSU fans to be excited about. But one of the few things has to be the play of Skyler Green.
The senior from Westwego is trying to come back from a high ankle sprain that hampered him for most of the 2004 season.
Last season he missed only two games because of the injury, but what he missed all season was the explosion out of his cuts, which helped him become a First-Team All-American in 2003 and lead the nation in punt return average, with 18.5 yards a return.
That changed this summer when Green finally got the problem corrected.
“Once I had that surgery on my ankle, I just wanted to show everybody that I was back to 100 percent,” Green said. “So I take it upon myself to work hard at returning punts and kicks, and just doing the things I did back in 2003.”
Fellow special teams players Jeffery Jack and Jonathon Zenon said Green is back at full strength this season.
“Last year with that ankle injury, he wasn’t able to perform like he could have,” Jack said. “But this year he is all the way back.”
Zenon agreed and said he noticed a specific difference since last year.
“I truly believe that now he hits the holes faster than he did a year ago,” Zenon said. “That creates good field position for us and puts our offense in better situations.”
Green did not get a chance to return a punt against Arizona State in the opening game because of schemes set up by the Sun Devils’ special teams unit.
Green admitted it can be frustrating to get the ball kicked away from him all game, but said he sees a positive in it as well.
“I get frustrated when guys try to kick it away from me and kick it out-of-bounds,” Green said. “But on punt returns, if they kick it out-of-bounds it doesn’t matter as much because it usually means that it’s a short kick and that sets us up in good field position. I love the big return opportunities, but the No. 1 goal is to help the team.”
Green played quarterback at Higgins High School and was converted to receiver as a freshman at LSU. But lately it has been in the return game where he has been seen more frequently.
Despite playing just 10 snaps at the receiver position against Tennessee, Green said he remains focused and is ready to step up whenever necessary.
“I concentrate on both receiver and punt returner because you never know the situation that you’ll be put in.” Green said.
But when it is a punt return situation he knows he can swing the momentum in LSU’s way quickly.
“When I’m out there, I make it as exciting as I can for the fans and the players, because the team gets boosted up on a big return just like the fans do,” Green said.
Green came just shy of breaking a couple punts against Tennessee, gaining 90 yards on five returns, something Jack, a redshirt freshman, believes he had something to do with.
“We did a good job blocking for him and setting up the returns,” Jack said. “One return he almost broke was called back for a penalty, and another he ran into me, and I kind of knocked him down.”
With his ankle back at full strength, and this being his last year at LSU, Green is expecting nothing less than a big year from himself in the return game.
“I hope to break like four of them for touchdowns this year, whether it be kickoff or punt returns,” Green said.
After watching him in practice this year, Jack said he believes him.
“He is sure to return three or four back for touchdowns this year,” Jack said. “Hopefully we can get one against Mississippi State this weekend.”          
Contact Jeff Martin at [email protected]