Joseph Schiefelbein for Jan. 15

• By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jan 15, 2009 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Here’s how comfortable LSU left tackle Ciron Black is with his decision to ward off the temptation of the NFL in order to play one more year of college ball.

“It’s the best decision I’ve ever made,” Black said.

Now, we can only hope Black will be blessed to live a life as tall as his 6-foot-5 frame and as full as his 320-pound reading on a bathroom scale, but, hold on, he’s only the ripe old age of 22.

Still, in his seasons as a Tiger, he’s given plenty of reasons to believe in his wisdom and his character.

He hasn’t missed a start at left tackle much like the son of preachers never missed church. And he’s become known for his support of a little boy, named Mikey Conger, battling leukemia.

Now, there’s this to measure Black by: The NFL Advisory Committee told him he had a chance to be picked in the first round and probably no worse than the second, yet he chose to return for start No. 41 in a row.

“As far as the final decision, it wasn’t really a hard decision for me,” Black said. “I really didn’t pay attention to what other players were doing. I put a focus on where I wanted to be next year.”

Where will that be? Blocking again for the guy next to him Wednesday: running back Charles Scott, who came to the same decision.

“Of course, I was looking at if Ciron was leaving, if I’d have my big boy back,” Scott smiled.

Here’s what we know about Scott so far.

He became a workout fiend a year ago to win the job as the team’s No. 1 running back. And though he logged one of the best rushing seasons in LSU history, he still had no problem playing fullback at times.

His offseason plan: to push himself further and harder.

“I know what it takes,” Scott said. “Now I know what I’ll be up against. I’ll be a lot more prepared.”