LSU's Kuale out four-to-six weeks

[Eagle-96]

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LSU's Kuale out four-to-six weeks

By CARL DUBOIS

LSU expects senior weak-side linebacker E.J. Kuale to miss four-to-six weeks of practices and games with an ankle injury, and coach Les Miles said that will mean more playing time for converted tailback Jason Spadoni, probably as the early-season starter.

"I think Jason Spadoni will probably be the guy at that side initially," Miles said late Tuesday night following a scrimmage in Tiger Stadium.

Kuale, Miles said, suffered a left ankle injury Monday in practice. Miles would not say if Kuale broke or sprained his ankle.

LSU opens the season Sept. 3 against North Texas. The Tigers will play Arizona State a week later, then have an open date before playing their third game against Tennessee on Sept. 24. All three games are at home.

A senior from Daytona Beach, Fla., Kuale was the projected starter at weak-side linebacker. He played as a junior transfer last season, including two starts at strong-side linebacker.

Senior Cameron Vaughn remains the starting middle linebacker. Senior Kenneth Hollis is the strong-side linebacker. Miles said strong-side backup Ali Highsmith, a sophomore, will also be in the mix with Spadoni on the other side.

Sophomore Luke Sanders, Miles said, will remain a backup to Vaughn in the middle.

Spadoni, a running back at John Curtis Christian School in the New Orleans suburb of River Ridge, switched to defense in the spring. He spent his previous seasons at LSU far down the depth chart at running back and played mainly on special teams.

Why did Miles move him to linebacker?

"So he could play," Miles said.

The first-year coach said his first-year linebacker has proved capable, and naming him the probable starter Tuesday night was a confirmation of that.

"He's pretty instinctive at 'backer," Miles said. "He's athletic. He's new to the spot, but not new to football."

Miles said LSU coaches weren't sure Spadoni would make the transition smoothly.

"Not until we got him there," Miles said. "We knew he was big enough. We knew he was strong enough an athlete. Lining up at tailback's not necessarily a criteria for linebacker; only the athleticism, but he has toughness and competitiveness."

Miles said Kuale was injured Monday when an offensive player slid off his block on a defensive player and fell onto Kuale.

"He was in the wrong spot in the wrong time," Miles said. "It was a noncontact drill, really. Very unfortunate."

It was the second major injury of preseason practice. Alley Broussard, LSU's leading rusher last season, suffered a season-ending knee injury Aug. 13 in a scrimmage.

Miles said Spadoni and Highsmith looked good during the scrimmage at the weak side, but he said he will know more when he reviews the videotape today.

Freshman Darry Beckwith, hobbled by a lingering injury, did not participate, Miles said, but should return to practice Saturday

Edited August 24, 2005 by Eagle-96