Best LSU football players: Modern-era Mount Rushmore – From Tyrann Mathieu to Joe Burrow

There is really just a single argument about why Tyrann Mathieu wouldn’t be a part of the LSU football modern era Mount Rushmore. In 2012, the defensive back and special teams ace was dismissed from the team for violating team rules. That means that Mathieu only suited up for the Tigers for two years. And yet, even that’s not enough to keep the Honey Badger off this list.

Mathieu was an elite defensive player that filled up the box score throughout his college career. In his 26 career games, he accrued 133 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, four interceptions, 11 forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries and two fumbles returned for a touchdown.

On top of that, when Mathieu was asked to step into a returner role in 2011 following the departure of Pat-Pete, he shined in that role as well. On 27 punt returns, the Honey Badger ended up with 421 return yards and two returns taken to the house. His performance on defense and special teams was enough for him to finish fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

The one-time First-Team All-American was an absolute supernova on the back end of the Tigers defense. Not only was he highly productive in every sense but he was one of the most unforgettable figures and characters in the history of college football. No chance he doesn’t make the LSU football Mount Rushmore.

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