Spring Practice Update; Latest On Toliver

FOOTBALL

LSU returned to the practice fields on Tuesday for their sixth practice this spring.  The Tigers have been opening practice with what they call the "Big Cat Drill" where two players line up from one another and engage in a one on one battle, trying to push the other back.  The highlight yesterday was when undersized linebacker Tahj Jones got the best of 235 pound running back Stevan Ridley. 

Wide receiver Jhyrn Taylor was absent from practice with a hamstring injury.  He also apparently has some academic issues to take care of, and it's not likely he'll return this spring.  That obviously gives Chris Tolliver a huge advantage in the battle for the fourth receiver spot. 

After one week of practice and a scrimmage on Saturday, the starters on both sides of the ball appear to be unchanged.  P.J. Lonergan is still ahead of T-Bob Hebert at center and Jai Eugene is still ahead of Craig Loston at safety. 

Lastly, wide receiver Terrance Toliver did not practice today, but he and Les Miles held a press conference after practice.  We learned a little more about Toliver's incident from Saturday night.  Not only did Toliver get in a fight and manage to get tased twice by cops, but he broke his hand in the process.  Toliver apologized to the team and to LSU fans.  Rather than suspend Toliver, Miles maintains that Toliver will participate in all drills and spring practices and that discipline will be handled internally.  Miles said, "I didn't break it, he did."  He will be expected to catch, block, etc even with a cast. 

Miles went on to sing the praises of Toliver's character, saying "Terrance Toliver is a good person, and I suspect we will get by this."