LSU redshirt freshman defensive end Sam Montgomery sprinted Saturday around the blind side tackle in an attempt to sack Tennessee junior quarterback Matt Simms.
 
But Montgomery’s rush — and perhaps his season — was cut short by junior running back Tauren Poole, who dove down and chopped Montgomery, injuring his knee.
 
Montgomery was scheduled for an MRI on Monday, and while nothing has been confirmed, rumors are swirling that the Greenwood, S.C., native tore his meniscus and will miss the remainder of the season.
 
LSU coach Les Miles viewed the play and said it appeared to be intentional but legal.
 
“I don’t know that I could recommend that a flag be thrown, to be honest with you, off the vision of the film,” Miles said. “It was definitely a setup. I think the opportunity to be injured was certainly there, but I don’t know how you can throw a flag on a tackle who had the intent to contact but didn’t. That’s how it looked from our film.”
 
Through five games this season, Montgomery has racked up 18 total tackles, including six tackles for a loss and two sacks.
 
In his absence, more responsibility will be placed on sophomore defensive ends Chancey Aghayere and Lavar Edwards.
 
“He’s the complete package,” said redshirt freshman defensive end Barkevious Mingo. “He’s speed, he’s power, he’s everything out there that we need for him to be. In any situation he’s there for us.”
 
Montgomery has the third most sacks among defensive linemen on the team behind senior defensive tackle Drake Nevis and Mingo, who have 3.5 and 2.5 sacks, respectively.
 
Despite the Tigers’ loss of Montgomery, Nevis still likes what the defensive line looks like.
 
“I’m going to miss him out there,” Nevis said. “But the wonderful thing about college football is we have great depth, and we’re going to depend on that depth to catch the slack.”
 
Mingo will also be called on to carry a heavier load. That challenge will be a large one for the 6-foot-5, 237-pound pass rusher.
 
“I think I am [sturdy enough to be out there the entire game], but I have to show my coaches that am,” Mingo said. “I’ve just got to go out there and work harder in practices and build their confidence up in me and show them I can handle myself out there.”
 
Right now Mingo will be asked to rotate in for both Aghayere and Edwards when they need a breather.
 
Aghayere feels comfortable knowing there is someone else who can help pick up his slack.
 
“The rotation will keep us healthy and fresh,” Aghayere said. “The coaches tell us we’re going to roll fresh bodies in, and so far the rotation has been good.”
Mingo learned what an expanded role will mean for him during Saturday’s game against Tennessee.
 
“I tried not to [overexert myself on Saturday],” Mingo said. “But if I did, Coach would give me a break, so it worked out fine. And it usually happened that we had a TV timeout on those special teams, so that would give me a blow. It all worked out.”
 
The healthy bodies on the defensive line have been a force on their own so far this season, totaling 92 tackles, including 16 tackles for a loss not including Montgomery’s contribution.
 
Nevis is confident in his unit and is sure that anyone who is down in a stance in the Swamp on Saturday will be prepared to play.
 
“Whoever comes through in injury, they are going to play and help everybody else,” Nevis said.
 
 
 
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Contact Rob Landry at [email protected]