Former Louisiana State University (LSU) cornerback and special teams star Tyrann Mathieu was kicked off the football team for “violating team rules” just weeks before the start of college football’s regular season back in August. Now, the 2011 Heisman finalist plans to enter the 2013 NFL Draft, according to ESPN’s Joe Schad.
Universally known as the “Honey Badger,” a strange but fitting nickname for this rabid young defender, Mathieu is a phenomenally gifted player. His play on defense and special teams elevated the LSU Tigers during his sophomore season in 2011, and helped mold them into a dominant force that fell just short of capturing college football’s Bowl Championship Series (BCS) National Championship.
Unfortunately, Mathieu brings a hefty amount of baggage with him that could cause his stock to drop dramatically by the time April’s draft arrives.
Mathieu has a well-known history of drug abuse, having checked into a rehab center a week after his dismissal from LSU’s football program. To make matters worse, he was arrested just over a month ago for simple marijuana possession.
The arrest made certain his unlikely return to the LSU football team and gave Mathieu no choice but to use his last remaining option and enter the NFL Draft.
Will he be worth the risk for NFL teams? Ball clubs have taken chances on troubled stars plenty of times before, but few with a track record like this young man’s have materialized into much.
Former University of Oregon cornerback Cliff Harris entered the draft in a similar position to the one Mathieu now finds himself and went undrafted. Harris was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles immediately following the draft, but was cut during training camp. In contrast is the St. Louis Rams’ 2012 second-rounder, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who managed to earn a high selection despite multiple arrests and a dismissal from the University of Florida.
Mathieu’s character issues account for only some of the concerns surrounding the 20-year-old defensive back, however.
At just 5’9”, Mathieu is fairly undersized to play cornerback in the NFL. He does not have particularly good speed, running the 40-yard dash in 4.54 seconds. CBS Sports’ Rob Rang has noted that both of these physical traits make him susceptible to getting burned on long passes down the field. He will be unable to compensate when he’s beat off the line by even the most average receivers in terms of speed.
Having a knack for creating turnovers — he forced 15 in two seasons at LSU — Mathieu has a tendency to play too aggressively and can over-commit before letting a play transpire. In college, he was not punished for this often by opposing offenses, but smart NFL quarterbacks will make him pay every time if he makes the same mistakes at the professional level.
Still, there is no denying Mathieu’s talent and the impact he could have on an NFL team if he plays to his full potential. The former Tiger displays a tenacity few can match and the ability to be one of the most lethal players on the gridiron at any given time.
Mathieu currently grades out as a fifth or sixth round pick, according to CBS Sports. If he can impress people during pre-draft interviews and clear up some concerns regarding his character, however, there’s no reason to believe he couldn’t boost his stock into the third round or better.
A fall such as Mathieu’s is a tough blow for a fringe first-rounder. If he can just get his personal issues under control, the former LSU star could still see an opportunity to feature as a play-maker on an NFL defense and/or special teams squad for years to come.
Louis Musto is a contributor for the Sports Journey Broadcast Network covering the NFL and NBA. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.