Conflicting reports emerge on Mathieu’s chances of staying at LSU

A report from ESPN this afternoon says former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu has expressed interest in sitting out this season, enrolling in classes and hoping for a return to the program in 2013, if it can be worked out with the school. ESPN is citing an anonymous source. But so, too, is The Times-Picayune in reporting that remaining at LSU is not an option for “The Honey Badger.” The source that the New Orleans newspaper cites says remaining in Baton Rouge “wouldn’t be happening” and that McNeese State, which Mathieu visited on Friday, is presently the only option for transfer. The Times-Picayune‘s source also says Mathieu, who has moved back home to New Orleans, will make a decision on transferring by Wednesday. As ESPN reports, it has been unclear whether Mathieu had been declared permanently ineligible since he was booted off the team on Friday for violating team rules. “If Tyrann chooses to return to LSU as a student he can do so. We are not speculating on anything beyond that,” ESPN quotes an LSU spokesman as saying. See ESPN’s complete report here, and The Times-Picayune report here.