The Honey Badger was back on the LSU campus last week for LSU Pro Day continuing his campaign to convince some NFL team to take a chance on him as a serious professional football player. Just as in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Tyrann Mathieu made a respectable showing and took another step towards an NFL contract and that big payday he has surely been dreaming about for some time now.
When someone asked him how he was last year without playing football for the LSU, Mathieu quickly responded, “miserable, depressing. I didn’t have football. It was like I was stuck with a person (his own self) and, at the time, I didn’t understand the person, kind of a conflict between me and this other person.”
When he showed up at Tiger Stadium emotions were running high… and not just his own. Mathieu’s former teammates also seemed to perk up a bit just having him around. Lineman Josh Dworaczyk told the press afterwards, “We were in the locker room before going out, Tyrann cracked a joke and it was good to hear his voice, good to have everybody laughing and have him back around all these guys.”
Mathieu countered, “It was great being back with my teammates one more time. That was the biggest thing today.” He also managed to make good impressions on the NFL scouts and coaches at Pro Day.
Both Mickey Loomis, the general manager and Rob Ryan, the new defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints were in attendance and both were filmed meeting with Mathieu out on the field. The Saints defiantly need to bolster their defense and, more than almost any other NFL team, the Saints like to hire home grown talent whenever possible. The Honey Badger is from New Orleans.
To some observers, Mathieu brought back the charm and swagger that he so often displayed when he last played for LSU in 2011 and became an All American and a Heisman Trophy finalist. For just for a few hours there in Baton Rouge, the LSU practice facility filled with an old familiar sound and feeling.
Mathieu has a touch that few athletes bring to the game. His spirit is indomitable and contagious. Former teammate, All American Eric Reid said, “I missed being on the field with him. He did everything I expected of him and better. He definitely can fly. Somebody is going to take a chance on him and get a great player.”
