LSU LB Luke Muncie expects to be in lineup
After playing only on special teams for LSU in last weekend’s victory over Towson, junior linebacker Luke Muncie said after Tuesday’s practice that he expects to be back in his usual role for Saturday’s game at Florida.
Muncie told reporters last week he had experienced a stomach ailment that had plagued him throughout fall camp, and that he’d struggled to regain the weight it caused him to lose.
“I’m just getting better every day, and that’s all I can hope for,” Muncie said Tuesday. “It shouldn’t affect my season.”
Muncie’s shot as the starter at strongside linebacker came after projected starter Tahj Jones was declared academically ineligible. His interception of Kiehl Frazier at Auburn highlighted a nice start for the junior that included nine tackles through four games. Against Towson, first-time starter Kwon Alexander led a wave of freshmen to see action in Muncie’s stead. Deion Jones and Lamar Louis were also in the rotation.
“I felt like they did very good. They came in, and they did a great job,” Muncie said. “They’re young, and they’re only going to get better as time goes on.”
Good to see you again
Coming out of O. Perry Walker as one of the nation’s top defensive prospects, LSU sophomore Anthony “Freak” Johnson said he nearly made a sack against Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel in the Under Armour All-America Game.
Driskel broke free.
Johnson said the would-be sack showed him how strong Driskel is. He said he will remember that if he gets another crack at the Florida sophomore.
“As a defensive front, we take pride in sacks and take pride in getting to the quarterback,” Johnson said.
“We’ve just got to wrap up and play strong and do what we do best.”
Collins happy at guard
Since losing junior Chris Faulk to a season-ending knee injury, the LSU coaches have looked at Josh Dworaczyk and Alex Hurst as his replacement at left tackle.
They have not looked at La’el Collins, who seems to have found a permanent home at left guard.
Collins arrived at LSU as the nation’s top-ranked offensive tackle coming out of Redemptorist in 2011.
He began playing offensive tackle in the fourth grade and until this year had never played anywhere else on the offensive line.
“The coaches felt like with Josh being a sixth-year senior, he’s a guy that definitely deserved the job,” Collins said. “They felt like it was best instead of moving a bunch of guys around, just putting him there. I feel like they made the right decision.”
Dworaczyk played left tackle for three games. Hurst moved over from right tackle Saturday with true freshman Vadal Alexander moving into the lineup on the right side.
Presence in the huddle
Asked about Zach Mettenberger’s presence in the offensive huddle, LSU center P.J. Lonergan said not to be fooled by the quarterback’s care-free disposition.
“He’s very good,” Lonergan said. “I think he’s better than quarterbacks we’ve had in previous years about commanding the huddle.”