LSU’s Jefferson And Johns Asked To Turn Selves In To Baton Rouge Police

It’s going to be a tough weekend for LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson and linebacker Josh Johns, as Baton Rouge police have asked both men to turn themselves in for battery charges. They’re both staring down the barrel at felony charges for their involvement in a fight outside Shady’s Bar in Baton Rouge on Aug. 19. Video – smudgy and scratchy though it is – has surfaced from the incident online, and eyewitnesses are falling all over themselves to implicate the pair in the brawl.

A press release from Baton Rouge police said they were working with LSU Head Coach Les miles and their attorney to get the two booked without incident:

A police report said a 19-year-old woman said she witnessed several LSU players beating one of the alleged victims and saw Jefferson kick that man in the face.

In an interview with AP's Brett Martel, employees of Shady's bar say that one of the alleged victims "threw the first punch."

The arrests come after Baton Rouge investigators executed a search warrant on Jefferson's Baton Rouge apartment. Police say they took a DNA sample from Jefferson as well as 49 pairs of shoes in executing the search warrant.

Source:  WWL Radio, New Orleans

So what does this mean for LSU's opener against Oregon on Saturday, Sep. 3? Well, according to Miles, all eyes will be on fifth-year senior quarterback Jarrett Lee as Jefferson’s replacement, if things continue to go south.

Lee has not started a game since 2009 against Louisiana Tech when Jefferson was hurt. As a 220-pound redshirt freshman in 2008, Lee started eight games after legal and team issues eventually led to Miles kicking projected starter Ryan Perrilloux off the team. Lee struggled, though, and was among the nation's leaders in interceptions with 16, including seven that were returned for touchdowns. Jefferson won the job late in that season and has remained the starter.

Lee was very effective in relief roles for a struggling Jefferson last season, though. He threw a 3-yard touchdown with six seconds to go to win 33-29 at Florida, drove LSU toward its winning, last-second touchdown against Tennessee and completed a 47-yard pass to receiver Rueben Randle late in the win over Alabama to keep the ball away from the Tide.

Source: The NewsStar.com