The Honey Badger re-emerges in Friday’s important SEC West test

Sophomore defensive back Tyrann Mathieu stood and waited for the punt, his team trailing 14-7.

The offense had rallied from a 14-0 deficit, driving 77 yards on 14 plays for a touchdown on the previous possession, and the defense followed by forcing a three-and-out.

Even before he missed the Oct. 22 Auburn game for an alleged failed drug test, Mathieu hadn't made nearly as many of the spectacular plays for which he had become known. Mathieu registered 41 tackles, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and three recoveries — including two for touchdowns — through Florida, the sixth game of the season. But he had only 17 tackles and three pass breakups in the next four games he played.

"In the later part of the year, a lot of teams were avoiding me," Mathieu said. "They were running the opposite way. I really couldn't use my instincts and really couldn't get my hands on the ball for some reason."

It was time Friday for him to remind everyone why he garnered Heisman talk and that certain, notorious nickname early in the season.

Mathieu took that punt 92 yards to the end zone to tie the score, 14-14, in a game that saw the re-emergence of the "Honey Badger."

He finished Friday with eight unassisted tackles to lead the team, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery to go along with the first punt return touchdown of his career. The performance earned him Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week and Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season for each award. He won SEC honors for the first time since a season-opening 40-27 victory against Oregon and hasn't won the Camp award since LSU's 47-21 defeat of West Virginia.

LSU coach Les Miles said the punt return touchdown was the first momentum shift in a run that saw the Tigers outscore the Razorbacks, 41-3 the rest of the way, en route to a 41-17 victory.

"It basically made the statement that that lead wasn't going to stand," Miles said.

In the defensive drive following the punt return touchdown, Mathieu forced a fumble recovered by senior cornerback Ron Brooks. Mathieu later stripped the ball from Arkansas junior tight end Chris Gragg and raced 19 yards to the Arkansas 33-yard line with 3:34 left in the fourth quarter.

He forced the fumbles from the free safety position, a position he took over for injured sophomore Eric Reid. Mathieu said the move to safety was a smooth transition, allowing him to roam the field and play his brand of instinctive football.

Mathieu said he and Reid joked around after one play when "the running back came out of the hole so fast," which was an adjustment that had to be made at his new position. Reid said he was impressed with Mathieu's safety debut, but he said he's not worried about Mathieu taking his position.

"Being 185 pounds in your first game at safety in college football, I'd say [Mathieu's performance was] not bad," Reid joked. "But he knows he's going back down on that island."

Mathieu's absence against Auburn and resulting three-week media silence humbled the Honey Badger and gave him a more outward, team-oriented focus.

"Well, you know, I got [Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week] earlier in the year, so I think that says a lot about our coaching staff," Mathieu said. "Those guys decided to try me at a new position, and I was still able to contribute. I don't think our defense lost a step at all."

Sophomore defensive end Sam Montgomery raved about Mathieu's contribution to the team Friday.

"He found the strength to get over everything he had been through," Montgomery said. "Everything people said about him, beating him up, he came out and played a dominant game plus more. He was all over the field. He played a complete game."

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Contact Alex Cassara at acassara@lsureveille.com