LSU quarterback Matt Flynn has seen 52 games, two head coaches and three starting quarterbacks come and go before his opportunity to start.
But on Thursday, in college football’s opening game on national television, Flynn will begin the season as the Tigers’ starting quarterback for the first time in his career.
Flynn, a fifth year senior from Tyler, Texas, leads back-ups sophomore Ryan Perrilloux and freshman Jarrett Lee, into one of the most highly anticipated seasons in the program’s history.
This season’s No. 2 ranking is LSU’s highest in nearly 50 years.
Flynn said he is excited to get the chance to play, but understands he was backing up two-year starter and eventual No. 1 draft pick JaMarcus Russell.
During his LSU career, Russell compiled a 25-4 record as a starter, completing 493 of 797 attempts for 6,625 yards and 52 touchdowns. He finished among the top three in school history in virtually every passing statistic.
The 2006 Manning award winner, 2007 Sugar Bowl MVP and First Team All-Southeastern Conference quarterback Russell leaves Flynn with some big cleats to fill.
“He was a great player, and I’m just excited to have this final year that I have,” Flynn said of replacing Russell. “I’m just going to go out there and be myself, be a team leader, be calm and hopefully rub that calmness [off] on the rest of my teammates.”
Lee, who graduated high school early and enrolled at LSU in January, already feels Flynn’s precence.
Like Flynn, Lee is from Texas, a state known for competitive high school football. And the freshman credits Flynn for helping ease the transition into the college game.
“Being here in the spring and all summer, [Flynn] has helped me out a lot,” Lee said. “Really all the quarterbacks have helped me with going through 7 on 7 drills, watching film and being in meetings, and that has helped smooth out the process.”
Perrilloux, LSU’s other quarterback, had been suspended since last May for allegedly attempting to enter a downtown Baton Rouge casino with false identification but teammates believe he has put that behind him and is ready to focus on school and football.
But coach Les Miles also seems to be a believer as he reinstated the former USA Today high school offensive player of the year to the team and said he trusts that Perrilloux and Lee have bright future’s with the school at the quarterback position.
During fall camp, both quarterbacks split time as the No. 2 quarterback behind Flynn, but LSU coach Les Miles was not ready to name an official backup.
“Both [young] quarterbacks have very strong arms,” Miles said. “I think Ryan probably knows the offense a little better at this point but both guys are very capable quarterbacks. If they continue to progress, they are guys who we look forward to quarterbacking our team in the future,”
But that’s the future. The present is Flynn and even though he has only one start under his belt, the 40-3 Peach Bowl victory over the University of Miami, teammates say they should not be confused with a quarterback that lacks experience.
“By him being here five years he understands how to be a leader,” said senior receiver Early Doucet. “He’s played in big games and he knows how to handle the situation.”
As humble as the starting quarterback of the No. 2 ranked team in the country could say it, Flynn agreed with Doucet.
“I do feel that way because I’ve been to a lot of practices getting prepared for each game as if I was going to play,” Flynn said. “I feel like I’m very experienced and I’m ready to go.”
—–Contact Jeff Martin at [email protected]