Taking charge

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Aug 26, 2009 - Page: 1C

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At his age, which climbed to a ripe old 19 years on Tuesday, LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson might have a few growth spurts left.

LSU fans can only hope his remaining physical growth is similar to how he has matured emotionally and as a leader since he took over at quarterback for good in November.

Tuesday’s scrimmage marked the official end of the Tigers preseason fall camp, a three-week grind designed as much to test players’ mettle as prepare them for the season.

Jefferson not only embraced his role as LSU’s quarterback, he also seemed to take major steps forward in maturity.

From taking control of the huddle to knowing what to say when filling the new and sometimes daunting role as a primary spokesman for the team, Jefferson clearly evolved over the past three weeks.

“There’s no doubt Jordan has grown up a lot just since we started camp,” LSU senior linebacker Perry Riley said. “Last week (Kelvin Sheppard) and I were watching him against the second defense in a scrimmage and shaking our heads because we were watching him throw the ball and carrying himself like JaMarcus Russell used to.

“He’s learned how to read the defense a whole lot better. He’s looking us off when he needs to. He’s doing all the things you want a veteran quarterback to be able to do.”

All along, Jefferson has remained the same: low-key, quiet, unassuming.

And perhaps most importantly, the 6-foot-4, 209-pound Jefferson has remained remarkably unflappable as Riley, Sheppard and the rest of the defenders have done their best to alternately rattle him and get him ready for what lies ahead.

Seems he doesn’t have time for getting nervous.

“I’m a laid-back type guy,” Jefferson said in the soft voice that belies the command he has established in the huddle. “I don’t have time to be nervous, because I’m so focused on the play call and formations, so being nervous, that’s the last thing on my mind.”

Time wasn’t on Jefferson’s side last season, although the coaches held out as long as they could to get him healthy and prepared for the Southeastern Conference.

 When necessity nudged ahead of caution late in the regular season, Jefferson’s performance in his first start was good, not great, under the circumstances in a 31-30 loss to Arkansas in Little Rock.