LSU's Tyrann Mathieu: Heisman Caliber or Hype?

"College football needs to pay attention to No. 7 at LSU. He's one of the most dynamic playmakers in all of college football," said none other than Kirk Herbstreit during the LSU-West Virginia telecast earlier this season.

"I keep using the comparison: Ed Reed, because he has that sixth sense to make plays. I don't know how he does it but he's always there to make plays," he said.

LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu is gaining momentum as a Heisman candidate. The Bleacher Report says: "He's arguably the best player on arguably the nation's best team."

Not only that but "Honey Badger" plays with a swagger unparalleled in college football today. He simply has a nose for the ball. And people are starting to notice.

ESPN analyst Desmond Howard, who is perhaps best known as a player who exemplified the Heisman pose at Michigan (and a huge Les Miles fan) tweeted that Mathieu is the real deal.

"Tyrann Mathieu is most definitely on MY Heisman list. Talking about 'earning' a nomination. I love his game!"

Mathieu was personally willed the LSU Tigers to win at least two of their final three games, a 41-17 victory over Arkansas for the SEC West title, and the following week a 42-10 stomping of Georgia.


"I could hear my teammates in my ear saying, 'Man, we need you to go make a play,'" Mathieu said after the Razorbacks game in which he returned a punt 92 yards. "I was able to help the momentum really go in our favor."


"You have no idea how bad I just wanted to go out there and make a big play for our team. I was fortunate enough to be able to do that," the New Orleans native said.

"That was a huge turning point in the game," Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. "We were trying to get the ball punted to the sideline, but he miss-hit it a bit and punted it to the middle. ... (Mathieu) made a great cut and made us miss at the point of attack. He made a great play."

LSU trailed 14-7 when Mathieu fielded Dylan Breeding's end-over-end kick at his own 8, started left, made a hard cut straight up field, then angled left again to break into the clear.

"It made the statement that that lead was not going to stand up," LSU coach Les Miles said. "Our defense was going to continue to play well and our offense was coming."

Against Georgia, the Honey Badger was even more deadly. He took a punt at his own 38, found an opening, did and zig then a zag, and was gone — his second punt return for a touchdown in two weeks. Did he score? Yes and no. A replay shown repeatedly on CBS showed that Mathieu flipped the ball to an official just a mili-second before crossing the end zone. But the referee signaled touchdown.

Asked after the game if he knew he didn't score the Honey Badger fessed up. "Yeah, I kind of felt it," Mathieu said. "I looked at the referee. I'll have to remember not to do that next time."

Can he take what he wants at the Heisman ceremony?

LSU routes West Virginia, 47-21

On the Tigers biggest stage yet this season a rapidly improved Jarrett Lee had perhaps his best game as an LSU Tiger, throwing three touchdown passes in the first half on the way to a 47-21 shellacking of West Virginia.

LSU could have gotten more but normally sure-handed receiver Rueben Randle dropped an easy touchdown pass on a slant route.

The win has thrust the Tigers into the No. 1 spot and raised the stakes for a Tigers team that is showing skill, toughness and swagger at every position.

 Still, coach Les Miles is cautious about the hype.

"I like the position we're in, but I don't think we're the best team in college football today," Miles said. "I think there is a hope and want and desire to be there. I don't know if we're good enough right now to do everything we want to do. That's putting the cart before the horse."

West Virginia (3-1) outgained LSU 533-366 as awesome QB Geno Smith set school records for completions (38), attempts (65) and passing yards (463). He was picked off twice too though.

The play of the game came just before halftime, when LSU outstanding safety Tyrann Mathieu stormed in on a blitz, batted a screen pass into the air, caught it and raced from the West Virginia 17-yard-line to the 1.

 LSU cashed it in two plays later as Lee found Chase Clement in the end zone for a 27-7 lead. Lee also tossed TDs of 11 yards to Rueben Randle and 52 yards to Odell Beckham.

LSU beats West Virginia, 20 -14

LSU just outlasted a determined, speedy, formidable West Virginia team bent on an upset. The Tigers scored on the first play of the 4th quarter for a six-point lead, and made it stand throughout the remaining hellacious 13 minutes and some change.
LOOK! I even live-blogged it!
Up by six with the ever-dangerous but injured Noel Divine on the other side of the ball, the LSU defense rode it's swagger wagon, Patrick Peterson, to victory.
Peterson took back a punt 60 yards in the third quarter in a dazzling display that took the wind out of the Mountaineers, temporarily.
West Virginia stormed back from 17 points down to make it a three point game before LSU's workman-like rushing attack went into overdrive.
And Jordan Jefferson? No progress week to week, just the same DIH (Deer In Headlights) look he always has. Jarrett Lee, for the second game in a row, came in to finish the game after JJ simply flamed out mid-game. Again.
But Peterson? I think it's time we talked Heisman.

Live Blogging the West Virginia @ LSU Game: 20-14

First off, congrats to the West Virginia Mountaineers. They have some special talents on both sides of the ball, starting with Divine.
LSU will win this one, but not in a going away fashion.
Some things are painfully evident. Les Miles and Gary Crowton still don't know how to coach Jefferson. Also, Jefferson just isn't progressing. Sorry, he just isn't. Other quarterbacks with his experience behind pocket are calling audibles, checking out of bad plays, confusing defenses. Not J.J.
The Tigers won, but barely. Not in a confident mode or dramatic fashion. They'll win this one as they've won against all the teams last year, and North Carolina this year: By the skin of their teeth. Yeah, but we can't be mad: We're 4-0, BABY (Top 10, here we come!)
Ridley up the middle on first and second down, and a modest pass short of the first down for Lee. LSU must punt.
Wow, Jarrett Lee has entered the game for Jefferson, who can't throw it in the ocean.
LSU's defense forces the punt with 8 minutes left in the game.
LSU's defense stuffs Divine one play after he turned a 3-yard loss into a 12-yard gain. #Dangerous
Nice run, Jefferson. LSU won't have enough for the first down despite getting first and goal at the 10 yard line. Jasper kicks the field goal. LSU 20 - WV 14.
LSU has turned to the ground, just like it did last game against Vanderbiilt. The passing game is terrible.
Nice pass in the flat from Jefferson to Randle. First down at the Mountaineers' 40 yard line.
Jefferson under center, the give is to Ridley who rips up the middle for 16 big ones.
Tests were negative for West Virginia's Divine (big toe), but will he be back?
Wait, Jefferson walks back out there on the field for the Tigers' possession. The crowd is booing. Again.
Jefferson looks scared, even on the sideline. The crowd is antsy about him going back in, and, well, how do you like that? Jarrett Lee, LSU's former starting QB, has put on his helmet and is warming up. The crowd is going crazy.

West Virginia gets a good run then a great throw. The Mountaineers are running well this drive, and mixing it up with the pass as well. Smith avoids a sack, pass complete to Jock Sanders for 13 yards = TOUCHDOWN MOUNTAINEERS. LSU 17 - WV 14
Jefferson looks lost, he scrambles for little gain on first down. On second down he throws it too high for Randle. Jefferson throws it ... INTERCEPTED by West Virginia. (crowd starts to boo Jefferson).
West Virginia looks determined this time, whoa, Geno Smith throws it complete to Stedman Bailey for 5 yards = TOUCHDOWN, Mountaineers.
3 AND OUT: A run for no gain. Jefferson overthrows an easy pass, then the receiver drops one.
LSU is trying to apply pressure, and it's working. West Virginia must punt.
Noel Divine, West Virginia's best runner, has evidently tweaked his leg, actually his toe. He is being taken out of the game.
Jefferson has entered one of his stagnant phases. His balls are low or ... INTERCEPTED.
Patrick Peterson grabs the kickoff out of the air, the 50, the 45, the 40, the 35 .... See ya! #Touchdown LSU.
LSU's Josh Jasper comes out to kick a field goal. GOOD. LSU 10- WV -0.
Thanks to Jefferson's quick feet LSU will keep the chains moving.

LSU's Jordan Jefferson looks shaky early. Hopefully he can calm down.
This didn't take long. TOUCHDOWN Ridley scores from one yard out. LSU 7 - WV -0
Wow, Steven Ridley looks good early. He just gashed West Virginia for about seven yards up the middle.
LSU opens up the game looking to answer some critics amid the Tiger Stadium faithful.