Les Miles: Signee Andre Anthony won’t join football program until spring

News: Ed Alexander reports; Colby Delahoussaye update

By JAMES MORAN
Tigger Rag Associate Editor

Les Miles greeted reporters with a hearty welcome back and proceeded to begin answering questions before they could even be asked.

Miles said 104-of-105 Tigers reported to campus Wednesday morning for the start of fall camp, with the first of four split-squad practices set to begin Thursday morning.

However, Miles began with an impassioned update about one 2016 signee who won’t be part of the 105-man roster for the 2016 season.

Defensive end Andre Anthony won’t be joining the program until the spring semester, Miles said, hinting that the Under Armor All-American would likely take an academic redshirt. Miles confirmed the four-star recruit’s academic eligibility issues with the NCAA haven’t been cleared up.

“We’re unhappy that Andre Anthony is not with us,” Miles said. “It’s really unfortunate. He’s a good student and a good young man.”

The issue pertains to Anthony’s transcript, and the NCAA now accepting course work that Anthony completed while attending the Miller-McCoy Academy. Miles said an appeal filed by LSU on Anthony’s behalf was denied by the NCAA. He’s expected to enroll in school and continue working to qualify academically.

Defensive lineman Ed Alexander, the other of the 2016 signees who spent the summer working to qualify academically, did enroll and report to camp on Wednesday morning.

Here’s some other newsy tidbits from Miles’ meeting with reporters:

– Kicker Colby Delahoussaye reported for camp just a few weeks after sustaining injuries in fiery Wisconsin car crash that killed two other college football players. Miles said the kicker has burns on the backside of his left leg — his plant leg — but could practice as early as tomorrow.

– Left tackle Maea Teuhema, who arrived in a walking boot Wednesday morning, has a sprained ankle, Miles said, but “it doesn’t appear to be a serious one.” K.J. Malone and Chidi Okeke are the other Tigers who could work at tackle in his place if Teuhema misses any practice time.

– Miles said center Ethan Pocic (hip), wideout Travin Dural (hamstring) and running back Nick Brossette (knee) are all “full go” for practice after undergoing offseason surgery.

– Asked what was different about Brandon Harris’ preparation now as compared to this time last year, Miles simply said “poise.”

– Speaking about separating veterans from underclassmen for the first four practices, Miles mentioned Rashard Lawrence and Devin White as freshmen who could see immediate playing time.