Toliver served suspension

Sophomore cornerback Kevin Toliver was suspended for the first half of LSU’s 45-10 victory against Southern Miss on Saturday night, LSU coach Ed Orgeron said.
Orgeron said Toliver was held out the first thirty minutes after violating an undisclosed team rule.
“Kevin Toliver broke a team rule, so he was suspended for the first half,” Orgeron said. ”[And] we had some other guys who didn’t practice the way they should, you have to practice hard to play.”
Junior cornerback Ed Paris made his first career start in Toliver’s stead. Defensive backs coach Corey Raymond showed trust in Paris, leaving him on an island out wide without a safety over the top.
Senior cornerback Dwayne Thomas and redshirt freshman cornerback Xavier Lewis experienced a spike in field time as well. The duo combined for 10 total tackles while Paris made one.

Battle makes first start

Senior safety Rickey Jefferson — who has started five games this season — was replaced in the starting lineup by junior safety John Battle after breaking his leg in practice earlier this week.
Battle started his first game of his career and tallied four tackles on the night.
“I wasn’t too nervous,” Battle said about his first start. “I was more calm than anything. Just knowing that Coach O and the rest of the coaching staff trusted in me and I just had to play my game.”
“It was a dream come true,” Battle said of his first career start.

No Leonard? No problem

Sophomore running back Derrius Guice rushed for his fourth career 100-yard game, totaling 162 yards.
Guice scored two touchdowns which was his second straight multiple touchdown game of the season and every game he’s started he’s rushed for more than 100 yards.
But he still said there was room for improvement.
“We started off with 57 at halftime,” Guice said. “That’s just unacceptable for us. We’re a running football team. We have to do way better than that. Especially with SEC play.”

Fournette return imminent

Orgeron expects junior running back Leonard Fournette will return against Ole Miss next Saturday at Tiger Stadium.
Fournette has been sidelined with a lingering high-ankle sprain that he reaggravated on the final drive of LSU’s loss against Auburn on Sept. 24. He sat out against Missouri last weekend and Southern Miss on Saturday and against Jacksonville State earlier in the season.
But, Orgeron says he should be available next week.
Though he offered the possibility that Fournette won’t be ready, in which case Orgeron won’t prod him to return before he should.
“I’m not a doctor, but I think he’s going to play,” Orgeron said. “We have to see how the week goes … I’m not going to push him. If he’s not ready, he’s not ready.”
Guice was more optimistic than Orgeron, too.
“I strongly [think] he’s going to play,” Guice said. “I can’t wait to have him back.”