BATON ROUGE - Two LSU veteran players' status for the 2012 season opener is in limbo as an academic appeal process unfurls.
Tigers' Coach Les Miles confirmed Monday that tailback Michael Ford and outside linebacker Tahj Jones have some eligibility issues to scale before No. 3-ranked LSU takes on North Texas at 6 p.m. Saturday at Tiger Stadium.
"There is some appeal process that's being undertaken for those guys, and we'll kind of have to wait to see how that all turns out as we get closer to the game," Miles said.
Ford was the Tigers' leading rusher in 2011 with 756 yards and notched seven rushing touchdowns, which tied for second on the team. Whether it has been the academic situation or otherwise, the Leesville native has been less prominent in LSU's three preseason scrimmage this season.
On the depth chart released Monday, sophomore Kenny Hilliard (336 yards, team-high eight TDs) and junior Alfred Blue (539 yards, seven TDs) were listed as co-starters at tailback. Ford is listed third, ahead of Spencer Ware (707 yards, eight TDs) and freshman Jeremy Hill.
Miles has spoken glowingly of Hilliard and Blue throughout camp and Monday he emphasized that both have shown great ball security - a high priority for his running backs.
He described Hilliard as a "physical back with a great first step."
Of Blue, Miles said, "He's a tremendous target out of the backfield, and he's running better than he has."
"They've had the best camps and that's where we're starting," he said of the tandem.
When preseason camp began, Jones was pegged as the potential starter at strongside linebacker, but he had been replaced by fellow junior Luke Muncie on the depth chart, followed by true freshmen Kwon Alexander and Lamar Louis.
Starting middle linebacker Kevin Minter said he expects big things from Muncie.
"He's played a lot of football here," Minter said. "He's always been a real athletic guy, and he's a strong dude.
"He's definitely ready. He's been talking about this since the spring, about this season coming up. The guy is good."
Muncie certainly looks the part of a linebacker, with flowing blonde hair.
"You should see him on the field," Minter said. "The guy brings it."
There seems to be little doubt that some combination of the six-man linebacker corps from the 2012 recruiting class also will get a chance to make an impact, sooner rather than later this season.
The two rookies Miles brought up most often Monday were Alexander and Jesuit product Deion Jones. Louis enrolled at LSU in January and has also been in the thick of things from Day 1.
"Kwon Alexander, Deion Jones - I think those two guys, by and large, have taken coaching fast enough to get to the field," Miles said. "As much as anything, that's the key piece. All six guys are talented guys."
Minter said he couldn't choose one or two freshman linebackers thinks might play quickly and make a mark because all of them are pushing for time.
"I feel like they can be the linebackers we need right now," he said. "I think Tahj could be back soon - I hope so anyway - but those guys are ready to step up.
"They're so talented. Kwon and Deion are both 4.4 (second in the 40-yard dash) guys and Lamar, he's so damn strong."
Any concerns about whether those three or any of the young linebackers are ready can be put to rest as far as Minter is concerned.
He said they have all picked up much of LSU's defense through practice and repetition and what they didn't grasp, they didn't hesitate to ask about.
"They ask so many questions," he said with a chuckle. "Sometimes too many. I understand where they're coming from, though. I was in their shoes not that long ago."
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