LSU starting quarterback Sam Leavitt was upgraded from “doubtful” to “questionable” for Saturday’s game at Ole Miss by coach Lane Kiffin in his availability report on Thursday night released by the Southeastern Conference.
And the LSU Nation breathed a sigh of relief.
On Wednesday, Leavitt was listed as doubtful by Kiffin in the SEC’s report after not practicing that day with an unconfirmed injury. That meant his chances of playing for the No. 7 Tigers (2-0) against No. 8 Ole Miss (2-0) were slim. Questionable as defined by the SEC policy is “uncertain to play,” but with “a 50 percent chance to play.”
Leavitt practiced on Thursday. Kickoff on Saturday is at 6:30 p.m. on ABC in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi.
The Thursday practice Leavitt participated in is the lightest practice of the week after the Tuesday and Wednesday sessions are the most physical. The Tigers will do a walk-through on Friday before leaving for Oxford in the afternoon. LSU will not work out at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Friday.
Leavitt, a redshirt junior transfer from Arizona State, is 41-of-66 passing for 574 yards and two touchdowns around four interceptions and five sacks on the season. He has rushed 23 times for 135 yards and five touchdowns.
Kiffin did his weekly coach’s radio show on the LSU Radio Network at the Court To Table restaurant near LSU shortly before the SEC released the availability report. He was not asked about Leavitt by the show’s host Chris Blair, the voice of LSU football, nor by any of the fan questions. In fact, Leavitt was not even brought up.
LSU starting linebacker TJ Dottery was listed as questionable for the second straight day on the availability report. Starting linebacker Whit Weeks and starting tight end Trey’Dez Green were not on Thursday’s availability report, which means they were upgraded to available. They were listed as probable on Wednesday.
Starting right guard Aliou Bah remained listed as probable along with backup linebackers Davhon Keys and Tylen Singleton. Three reserves – wide receiver Phillip Wright III, Jaideen Baker and Raycine Guillory – were ruled out of the game on Wednesday with injuries.
Ole Miss senior starting offensive tackle Tommy Kinsler IV was listed as questionable for the second straight day, and senior starting linebacker Keaton Thomas remained listed as probable.
