LSU lost junior running back Alley Broussard, the Tigers’ 2004 leading rusher, for the season on Aug. 13 to a knee injury in training camp.
Broussard suffered the injury to his right knee when he was tackled during a full-contact scrimmage.
“It was just a one-on-one tackle,” Miles said. “A guy got him in the [line of scrimmage] and took him, and he went down. You watched it on film and you did not think it was a serious injury.”
Coach Les Miles said the injury would keep Broussard from playing this season, but he wouldn’t release any details of the injury, citing player confidentiality rules.
“It was a normal tackle,” said running back Justin Vincent. “Looking at the play, you would have never known.”
Miles said the injury could not have been forseen or prevented.
“What you try to do is spread [contact] out as much as you can,” Miles said. “It’s impossible for him not to practice football and not sustain some contact. I’d have to say it was a very rare occurrence the way it happened.”
Broussard led the team in rushing in 2004, totalling 867 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. Broussard highlighted his sophomore season against Ole Miss when he rushed for an LSU record of 250 yards.
Miles said Broussard was poised for a breakout season before the injury.
“He certainly had a great summer,” Miles said. “He certainly was in position to have a great season, but that won’t happen. His teammates miss him as a player and as a person.”
The injury to Broussard, a preseason second-team All Southeastern Conference selection, means more opportunities for Vincent, Joseph Addai and Shyrone Carey this season.
“We have to pick it up a notch now as far as running the ball, because we have a running back that is down,” Addai said. “The running backs that we have here now, I feel like all of us can get the job done.”
Vincent said the loss to Broussard on the field has not affected the injured tailback’s off-the-field demeanor.
“He’s still going to be there, he’s still going to be the same guy,” Vincent said. “Nothing’s different. We are going to go out there and play ball and dedicate the season to Alley.”
Vincent and Miles both said they expect Broussard to return to the Tigers next year 100 percent healthy.
“I can tell you this: it’s the style of injury that when he’s back, he’s back,” Miles said. “It’s not career-ending. We look forward to seeing him back next year.”
Contact Michael McNeil at [email protected]