Coach O Show: “Game-time decision” if Kristian Fulton or Kelvin Joseph start at left cornerback

Kristian Fulton said earlier this week that lots of tears have been replaced with a smile that just won’t go away since he learned of his unexpected reinstatement by the NCAA.

LSU coach Ed Orgeron said he’s seen the same hard-working cornerback in practice this week as he’d watched since Fulton was suspended some 19 months ago. The difference has been in the way Orgeron views the former five-star recruit: a potential starter.

“I’d like to say there was a difference, but there wasn’t,” Orgeron said on his call-in radio show on Wednesday night. “He practiced like that every time, and that was one of the things that impressed me about Kristian. There’s been a difference in me, because now I’m looking at him like a possible starter.”

Fulton has worked with the first-team defense at times during practice this week, Orgeron said. The coach said it would be a “game-time decision” whether Fulton or true freshman Kelvin Joseph start at left cornerback on Sunday night against Miami.

Here’s some other interesting tidbits from Orgeron’s hour-long radio show:

• No decision has been made regarding the right tackle competition, Orgeron said, but both Badara Traore and Adrian Magee will both play.
• Offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger has scripted the first “10 or 15” plays for the Miami game, Orgeron said, but that could change based on what the defense is doing. He added that having senior offensive assistant Jerry Sullivan in the booth will help Ensminger make adjustments on the fly.
• LSU is adjusting its practice schedule due to the game being on Sunday. Wednesday was still the last time LSU will practice in pads before the opener, but Thursday will be treated like a bonus practice. “No-repeat Thursday” will be held on Friday and the “Focus Friday” walk-through will take place on Saturday.
• Freshman wideout Terrace Marshall is “probably going to start” against Miami, Orgeron said. He was equally effusive in his praise of fellow rookie Ja’Marr Chase, who is listed as a co-starter with Marshall on the official depth chart.