About four months ago, QB Ryan Perrilloux was enjoying the sweet taste of a championship in his mouth after the LSU Tigers defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 38-24 in the National Championship Game in New Orleans. Apparently, winning a championship and the opportunity to take over the quarterback spot full time were not enough for the junior-to-be from LaPlace, Lousiana, as Perrilloux was (finally) dismissed from LSU on May 3 after failing a drug test.

Les Miles tried everything he could to keep his star QB from being dismissed, but this failed drug test was the last thread pulled in a string of events that included breaking team rules, fighting in a night club, being involved in a fraud scandal, and other team and legal troubles. LSU, although taking a hit, will be fine with Jarret Lee and Andrew Hatch competing for the QB spot this spring and in fall camp, but what will happen to Perrilloux’s once NFL-destined career?

Yesterday, the answer for Perrilloux became clear. He will be a Game Cock. No, not a South Carolina Game Cock in Steve Spurrier’s fun-and-gun, but a Jacksonville State Game Cock, playing for JSU coach Jack Crowe. Crowe recruited Perrilloux to play for JSU almost immediately after LSU dismissed him and feels he will be able to be a successful student-athlete for the Game Cocks after talking to coach Les Miles. Perrilloux is just happy to be able to continue his football career and will have to prove to scouts his behavior can be kept on par with his great size, arm, and athleticism that make him such a desirable NFL quarterback.

Buckeye fans themselves have seen similar situations with player issues on and off the field in the last decade or so. Names like Maurice Clarett, Louis Irizzary, Marcel Frost, Eric Haw, Jonathan Skeete, and more come to mind. None, except for Clarett, have been as highly touted as Perrilloux, and we all know what ended up happening with Maurice. It may click for Perriloux, it may not, but the one thing anyone is sure of is his physical ability. Physical tools like Perrilloux’s are usually enough to get a prospect a shot in the NFL, but if the off-field issues keep occurring for him, he may see his NFL dreams go up in smoke (no pun intended).

Do you think Perrilloux will be successful at JSU? Do you think the same QB who won the SEC title game and helped beat the Bucks in the NC will ever step foot on an NFL field? Should Les Miles have kept Perrilloux around this long? If this was Ohio State, what would you want Jim Tressel to do? DTI wants your answers to these question.