Former LSU Star Tyrann Mathieu Enters Rehab Following Drug Policy Violation

Former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu ‘Honey Badger’ was released from the team after testing positive for drugs. Now the 20-year-old cornerback and punt returner has checked himself into the Right Step recovery center where he is being counseled by former NBA player and recovering drug addict John Lucas.

The rehab admittance was first report to WVUE-TV in New Orleans by Tyrone Mathieu, the adoptive father to Tyrann.

According to his dad, Tyrann entered the facility for health reasons and is not concentrating on the future of his football career at this time. There was originally talk that Mathieu would transfer to an FCS level school and then try out for an NFL team under current eligibility rules.

Mathieu was released from the LSU roster on August 10 for violating the school’s substance-abuse policy. The expulsion arrived just several months after Mathieu won the Bednarik Award in his sophomore year. The Bednarik Award is specifically given to the nation’s best defensive player. Mathieu was also the first defensive back to be nominated as a Heisman finalist since 1997.

After his removal from the team, LSU officials say 20 college football programs approached the team about his services.

Should Mathieu choose to continue on the path of a football career, where he plays before the NFL could come down to semantics. For example, McNeese State in Lake Charles, Louisiana begins classes on Wednesday, which means the potential NFL player could be forced out of rehab or forced into a situation in which his NFL dreams are put on hold.

In the meantime, Mathieu has expressed interest in open enrollment at LSU with the hope that he will be able to return to the team in 2013, the same year in which he will be eligible for the NFL draft.

LSU coach Les Miles has never given a final decision on the future of Tyrann Mathieu at LSU. During the cornerback’s dismissal, the coach simply said transferring to another team would make the most sense since he would not see any playing time for LSU in 2012.

Miles and LSU have promised to give Mathieu any transfer help he requires.