Perrilloux off suspension, but no practice

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Mar 27, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:20 a.m.

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LSU went back to work on the football field Wednesday and troubled quarterback Ryan Perrilloux was still not involved.

But the junior is no longer suspended and could return before spring drills conclude April 5.

Tigers coach Les Miles put the team through its first official workout since the players returned from spring break, the same day the school hosted Pro Day at the Charles McClendon Practice Facility.

And while Perrilloux wasn’t around in body, he’s not far from the minds of Miles and his teammates.

“The things that I hear, most are very positive,” Miles said when asked if Perrilloux was getting closer to returning to the practice field. “I just want to make sure he’s doing the work in the classroom and taking care of business. If he does that, I think we could see him this spring.”

Miles, who suspended Perrilloux in mid-February after the heir apparent to the starting QB job missed or was late to a series of team meetings and practices, seemed to be satisfied with the progress Perrilloux has made in getting reinstated.

“There’s absolutely contact and that contact is ongoing, but I’m not coaching him and there’s things I’m not going to do,” Miles said. “From what I hear, it’s going well.

“He is no longer suspended. He’s on the team, but not with playing privilege or practice privilege.”

Until that changes, the LSU quarterback situation is in limbo.

Redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee and junior Andrew Hatch, a former walk-on, are splitting first-team snaps in Perrilloux’s absence. Hatch took a handful of snaps last season, most in mop-up duty. Lee never stepped on the field and spent much of last fall as the scout team signal-caller.

“Hatch is maybe a little further ahead as far as understanding the offense than Lee, only because he’s taken more snaps in the fall,” Miles said. “But I think Lee has a nice release and a very capable throwing motion and has made some big plays for us as well. Both guys have to understand that’s the quarterback position and that ball is possession and that ball is the game.”

Perrilloux started two games last season, including the 2007 Southeastern Conference Championship Game, and saw action in several others. He passed for 694 yards and eight touchdowns, rushed for 207 yards and four scores and established a rapport with the LSU receivers, particularly Demetrius Byrd.