LSU coach Les Miles confirmed that junior Danny Etling will start against Mississippi State on Saturday night.
Etling replaced Brandon Harris against Jacksonville State last week and led the Tigers (1-1) on three consecutive touchdown drives.
“I just want you to know, Danny will take the first snap,” Miles said in a video posted on the school’s website Friday. “I think Danny can handle the place and the stage and playing in a televised game in Tiger Stadium.”
Miles had hinted this week that Etling would take the first snap against the Bulldogs (1-1) at Tiger Stadium, replacing Harris, who has started the team’s past 14 games. The coach also said he reserves the right to change his mind.
It would mark the first start for Etling since 2014. While at Purdue, he went 11-of-26 passing with an interception in a 24-10 loss to Iowa on Sept. 27, lost the job to Austin Appleby and never started another game for the Boilermakers. He transferred to Florida, where he was behind Alabama/Oregon State transfer Luke Del Rio, transferred again to LSU and sat out last season under NCAA transfer rules.
“I would say that that is still the case,” he said when asked if Etling would start. “You know what? It’s hard for me to prematurely … I just want you to know, Danny will take the first snap, but I hold the right to make that decision any time I want to.”
Harris’ struggles with his accuracy continued in LSU’s 16-14 season-opening loss to Wisconsin and again during the first two drives against Jacksonville State, leading to Etling entering the game. Miles and his staff spoke with Harris this week, and both quarterbacks could see time against Mississippi State.
Etling practiced with the second string and scout team, and has appeared to have a good grasp of the offense.
“I didn’t expect him to come on and understand it as quickly as he has, but you do recognize how hard he works and his natural abilities,” Miles said, via The Advocate. “So I guess I’m not surprised.”
The 6-foot-3, 218-pound Harris was a highly-touted recruit out of Parkway High School in Bossier City, La. He entered the season 9-4 as LSU’s starter and fended off Etling and redshirt freshman Justin McMillan in the fall. He played in nine games with one start as a true freshman in 2014 before starting all 12 games last season as the Tigers finished 9-3. In two games this season, Harris has completed just 13 of 25 passes (52 percent) with a pair of interceptions against a lone touchdown.
Etling completed six of his first eight passes last week and Miles has praised his hard work in getting up to speed on the offense.
“Somebody was saying the other day they came down to the weight room to get one of the snacks that is provided, and they saw Danny in the back working with one of the young receivers,” Miles said, via The Advocate. “It’s just what he does. It’s just how he operates.”