Former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu reportedly enters drug rehab

It appears Tyrann Mathieu’s gridiron comeback with a new team will have to wait.

The former LSU star has reportedly entered a drug rehabilitation program, and his father says his son will not play football until he is confident his rehab is complete.

According to Tyrone Mathieu, his son has been at the Right Step recovery center in Houston since Monday and is being counseled by former NBA player John Lucas. There’s a chance the former Heisman Trophy finalist, who was dismissed from LSU last week, might not play anywhere this season.

Tyrann Mathieu is in rehab for a marijuana addiction, according to CBSsports.com.

LSU officials say about 20 college football programs have asked the school for permission to talk to the star cornerback and punt returner known by the nickname “Honey Badger.” McNeese State and Nicholls State are among the schools that have expressed interest in Mathieu.

LSU Coach Les Miles has declared that Mathieu will not play for the Tigers in 2012, but has not said whether there was a chance he could return to the team in 2013.

Mathieu had a breakout sophomore season with LSU in 2011, playing an important role in its march to the BCS title game.

During the season, Mathieu scored two touchdowns on punt returns and another pair on fumble recoveries. He also recorded two interceptions and recovered two other fumbles. He won the Bednarik Award as the national defensive player of the year.

Mathieu recently posted on his Twitter account: “Patience…. Sometimes you have to stop doing what is easy and begin to do the things that are hard.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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