Dworaczyk granted 6th year of eligibility
LSU’s offensive line got a boost Wednesday when the NCAA granted guard Josh Dworaczyk a sixth year of eligibility, enabling him to play for the Tigers in 2012.
Dworaczyk, who played at Catholic-New Iberia, was scheduled to start at left guard for a third consecutive season as a fifth-year senior last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury during preseason camp. He underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in August.
“I’m excited to be able to get another year so that I can finish my career on the field,” Dworaczyk said in a statement released by LSU. “I felt like I had some unfinished business, so being able to get this additional year is a blessing.
“Watching from the sidelines last year wasn’t always easy because I was so used to being a contributor on the field. Getting another year means that I get to wear the Purple and Gold again, and for that I’m very thankful.”
In Dworaczyk’s absence, seniors Will Blackwell and T-Bob Hebert and sophomore Josh Williford all started. By the end of the season, Blackwell was the starting left guard and Williford the starting right guard.
While rehabilitating his injury, Dworaczyk, who redshirted during an injury-plagued freshman season in 2007, got involved as a volunteer assistant coach and helped communicate between offensive coordinator/line coach Greg Studrawa and Dworaczyk’s teammates on the line during games.
“Getting to see the game through the eyes of a coach and understanding what they are looking for from the players on the field, it helped me fully understand our offense,” Dworaczyk said. “It also gave me a different relationship with my teammates. As a player, I was a leader on the field. Last year, I couldn’t be in the huddle with my teammates so I tried to be a motivator, giving words of advice or encouragement and doing whatever I could to help from the sidelines.”
The return of Dworaczyk (6-foot-6, 295 pounds) gives the Tigers five returning offensive linemen who have been starters: junior Chris Faulk at left tackle, Dworaczyk at left guard, senior P.J. Lonergan at center, junior Williford at right guard, and senior Alex Hurst at right tackle.
“This is great news for our program,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “You never want to see a player have his career cut short because of an injury. Josh is a tremendous representative of our program, and it’s nice to see that he’s going to get a chance to finish out his LSU career on the field.”
Boutte commits to LSU
Josh Boutte didn’t take long to turn his scholarship offer from LSU into a commitment.
A massive offensive guard from New Iberia Westlake, Boutte (6-4, 305) became the Tigers’ fifth 2013 commitment Tuesday after receiving an offer over the weekend during Junior Day activities in Baton Rouge.
“It’s been my dream to play for LSU,” Boutte told Scout.com. “It’s the best thing for me.”
Boutte told the website he called LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis (who recruits New Iberia) to commit. Chavis then told Boutte to call Miles, who was attending the Jim Thorpe Award ceremony with former Tiger cornerback Morris Claiborne.
“Coach Miles was excited,” Boutte told Scout.com. “Coach Miles said my highlights were amazing. I want LSU fans to know I made a great decision, and I’m happy to be a part of the family.”
Boutte also had offers from Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Arizona State and Louisiana-Lafayette. He would be the first former LSU player from Westgate since former wide receiver and baseball outfielder Jared Mitchell (2006-08).