McMillan leaves LSU
Departure leaves position thin on experience
So now LSU’s quarterback duel is down to two players, at least on scholarship.
On Wednesday, not unexpectedly, fourth-year junior Justin McMillan joined teammate Lowell Narcisse in announcing via Twitter that he planned to transfer out of the program.
Unlike Narcisse, who made his decision on Tuesday, McMillan recently got his diploma and will be eligible to play immediately at any NCAA school as a graduate transfer.
Apparently, it didn’t do much to clear up the competition, which is down to highly touted Ohio State graduate transfer Joe Burrow and sophomore Myles Brennan.
“We’re going to let it play out until there’s a clear winner,” said head coach Ed Orgeron, who as recently as Saturday following the first August scrimmage had called the race too close to judge.
But Wednesday he said that after coaches viewed the film of that scrimmage, they gave grades and established a “pecking order.”
He did not reveal the grades or say if that figured into the two transfers’ decisions.
He also said he had positive talks with both Narcisse and McMillan.
“I don’t blame them,” Orgeron said. “If they see they’re not going to be the starting quarterback, they’re gonna leave.
“We know they’re going to have success wherever they go. We wish them the best.”
Both were considered long shots to win the job, but Orgeron admitted, “I’m concerned with having just two guys on scholarship.”
On Wednesday, walk-on sophomore Andre Sale from Little Rock, Arkansas, who transferred to LSU from Tennessee Tech, was taking the third-string snaps.
LSU’s only other quarterback is also a walk-on, true freshman Jordan Loving from Riverside Academy in Reserve.
“We feel good about the quarterbacks we have out there, and we’re glad we have them,” Orgeron said.
On the positive side, Orgeron said he was seeing more consistency in the last two days with Burrow and Brennan getting the bulk of the snaps.
‘I’m concerned with having just two guys on scholarship.’
Ed Orgeron
LSU head coach
In this file photo, Justin McMillan prepares to make the handoff. Head coach Ed Orgeron said McMillan had the best day of the three LSU quarterbacks. Orgeron said he was pleased with the way McMillan made plays with his feet.