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LSU's Toliver expected to play big role this season

Kelly McElroy
Staff Writer

'Air-It-Out' returns to Manning Camp

THIBODAUX – In January of 2007, Terrance Toliver just wrapped up his senior year of playing football for Hempstead (Texas) High and was preparing for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio.

Toliver, a highly recruited wide receiver, was in San Antonio with many of the other best high school football players in the country also there to compete in the exhibition all-star game.

Then the talking started.

Players headed to the likes of USC and Florida did a bit of lobbying for their future programs.

“I was at the all-American game last year,” Toliver said.

“Guys were saying, ‘Come to USC. Come to Florida. And you will win a national championship.’”

But Toliver chose LSU, and now he’s the one with the championship ring.

“Me and (LSU defensive back) Ron Brooks were the only ones from that game to go to LSU,” Toliver said.

“And we won the national championship.”

Toliver, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound sophomore at LSU, has been in Thibodaux the last few days as a counselor with the Manning Passing Academy.

“I mean, it’s been fun,” Toliver said.

“This is my third year here, and I am a counselor this year.”

Toliver attended the camp as a high schooler and was brought in last season to catch balls from Giants quarterback Eli Manning during the camp’s Air It Out competition.

It was there where Toliver excelled, catching pass after pass after pass from Manning.

He said that performance gave him confidence heading into his freshman season.

Toliver played in all of LSU’s 14 games, started three and caught 10 balls for 249 yards and three scores last season.

After LSU won the national title with a 38-24 Sugar Bowl victory over Ohio State in New Orleans on Jan. 7, Toliver was named to the All-American Freshman Honorable Mention team by The Sporting News.

But now the focus in on next season.

Toliver, whose uncle is former LSU and NFL running back Harvey Williams, is expected to enter the season as LSU’s No. 3 receiver behind senior Demetrius Byrd and junior Brandon LaFell.

The Tigers lost their No. 1 receiver from last season after senior Early Doucet was taken by the Cardinals in the second round of the NFL Draft.

“All we have to do is catch the ball,” Toliver said.

“Catch the ball and make plays. Early is gone. He was a playmaker. Now we have to make plays. We are just going to stay focused and try and win us another national championship.”

While receiver isn’t a question mark position for LSU, quarterback is.

Ryan Perrilloux, who was expected to be the starter this season, was dismissed from the team in early May.

That leaves redshirt freshmen Jarrett Lee, junior Anthony Hatch and incoming freshman Jordan Jefferson fighting it out for the starting quarterback spot. None have college starting experience.

“We have Jarrett and Hatch. They are pretty good. We are just trying to get them to work the routes with us,” Toliver said.

“But we have a guy named Jordan Jefferson, who will be in the mix too. A freshman.”

No matter what happens in the future, Toliver can look back on that high school all-star game in San Antonio and know he made the right decision.

He has the ring to prove it.

“It’s great being an LSU Tiger,” Toliver said.

“The program is great, and the brand of football is great. It’s fun to be an LSU Tiger.”