In the end, the embattled Tyrann Mathieu, who said he was entering the NFL Draft next year, had no other recourse that would have made sense. He could have sat out another season and transferred somewhere else or played next year at a smaller college.
But those would have been opportunities that would not have advanced his career. He had been kicked off the LSU team before the season for failed drug tests. Sports Illustrated brought his eligibility into question because of his likeness being used on an advertisement for a party. And then he was arrested and charged with simple possession of marijuana in October.
So it was of little surprise when Mathieu announced, “it is time for me to move forward.
“I am sorry that I was not able to complete my journey at LSU, but I will always support LSU in any way I can. To my teammates, you are my brothers. You have kept me going. I will do my best to make you all proud of me,” he said.
Mathieu, known as the “Honey Badger,” was a Heisman Trophy finalist known for his knack for making plays last year. But the 20-year-old Mathieu was suspended for this season due to a substance abuse issue he has continued to work on.
Mathieu was arrested last month on a possession of marijuana charge. He also was dismissed from the football team in August for failing a drug test and entered a treatment program run by former NBA player John Lucas.
Instead of transferring to another lower-division school to play this season, Mathieu re-enrolled at LSU but is not playing football.
“I am committed to tackling my personal issues and will work to better myself every day as a man first and only then as a football player. I will always consider myself an LSU Tiger,” he said.
