How Tyrann Mathieu Would Fit At McNeese State
By Kyle Kensing
McNeese State head coach Matt Viator confirmed on Saturday that dismissed LSU cornerback and Heisman Trophy finalist Tyrann Mathieu reached out to him shortly after the Les Miles announced the expulsion.
Viator released a statement that said, “I received a call from Tyrann after practice on Friday that he wanted to come and meet with us.
“We contacted LSU to get permission to talk to him and he arrived on campus later that night. We visited for an hour-and-a-half and then he went back home to New Orleans.”
MSU would be a great fit for Mathieu on the field, should he make the short trek to its Lake Charles, La. campus from Baton Rouge. Mathieu’s talents address some holes the Cowboys need to fill if they are to contend for the Southland Conference championship.
Last season, a four-game losing skid in the middle of the season derailed the Cowboys prematurely. Included in that streak was a 21-18 loss to playoff participant Central Arkansas, which scored on 81 and 25-yard passing strikes by Bear quarterback (and SEC transfer) Nathan Dick.
SLC champion Sam Houston State used a third quarter eruption of big plays to bury the Cowboys. Mathieu proved at LSU his ability to snuff out big plays from the opposition, often in turn converting those into momentum shifting moments for the Tigers.
Part of what made his 2011 transcendent enough to garner Heisman consideration was that such pendulum swinging playmaking came at most opportune times for LSU. That was something MSU lacked against both SHSU, and the final of that crucial four-game losing streak against Stephen F. Austin.
MSU also finished 2011 with a 0 in turnover differential; not a striking blow, but of the 2011 FCS Playoffs field, eight of the 15 best turnover forcing teams were represented. Two were SLC rivals of the Cowboys, SHSU and UCA. The six fumbles Mathieu caused could be tide turning.
Mathieu would not need to shoulder too cumbersome a load, though. MSU’s cupboard is hardly bare — the Cowboys were a respectable No. 35 against the pass.
Returning defensive back Malcolm Bronson was a 1st Team All-SLC selection, and is on the radar for the 2013 NFL Draft. MSU also features cornerbacks Seth Thomas and Morgan Guy, who combined for 10 broken-up passes. The Cowboys also boasted some of the best punt returning in the nation.
MSU ranked third at nearly 16 yards per opportunity. Back is the catalyst behind that, Darius Carey. Add Mathieu to the mix, and two explosive options awaiting punts causes serious headaches for special teams coordinators.
Viator has a recent track record for welcoming troubled transfers. The aforementioned Carey landed at MSU after he was dismissed from North Texas. Mathieu would help fill a void in the secondary that Tennessee transfer Janzen Jackson left following his departure to the NFL.
The safety Jackson, now with the reigning Super Bowl champion New York Giants, came to MSU just before kickoff of 2011 following his expulsion from UT. Jackson went undrafted, though don’t expect Mathieu to follow the same road should he detour through Lake Charles.
Mathieu’s ability both in special teams and as a play making rover in the Nickel should translate well with pro scouts, and the 2012 draft class proved that lower division competition was not enough to overshadow such qualities — especially for defensive backs.
There were seven corners (Janoris Jenkins, Rams/North Alabama; Trumaine Johnson, Rams/Montana; Josh Norman, Panthers/Coastal Carolina; Asa Jackson, Ravens/Cal Poly; Chris Greenwood, Albion/Lions; Justin Bethel, Cardinals/Presbyterian; Jeremy Lane, Seahawks/Northwestern State) and four safeties (Jerron McMillan, Packers/Maine; Corey White, Saints/Samford; Christian Thompson, Ravens/South Carolina State; Matt Johnson, Cowboys/Eastern Washington) from FCS or Div. II programs taken last April. Jenkins is one to whom Mathieu’s situation drew immediate comparisons.
Jenkins went to UNA from Florida after a litany of off-field issues. He was a similar blue chip talent to Mathieu, and a season of renewed focus out of the spotlight landed him in exclusive draft territory. An FCS transfer success story I often hark back to is another former LSU Tiger, Ryan Perrilloux. He found success at Jacksonville State and later earned his degree, and is now a Giants teammate of the aforementioned Janzen Jackson.
There’s redemption to be had when offered these opportunities. Should Mathieu opt to join the Cowboys, a road map to get back on track is laid out for him. It’s ultimately up to him to read it.
Interesting sidenote about Mathieu should he pursue this option and the NCAA declare him eligible, were he to compete for the Buck Buchanan Award given to the top defensive player in the FCS, he would not be the first player to contend for a top FCS/Div. I-AA honor and the Heisman. Steve McNair was the Walter Payton Award recipient the same season (1994) he was a Heisman finalist.