Overall: LSU coach Les Miles said he's set to start junior Zach Mettenberger at quarterback. Both of last season's quarterbacks, Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson, have completed their eligibility.

"Zach Mettenberger is a really nice quarterback and a talented guy," Miles said. "The change for us this year is that the quarterback won't carry the ball as much. There will be more throws."

Mettenberger played sparingly last year, passing 11 times with eight completions.
Miles said he considered using him more last season. However, Lee and Jefferson were more experienced. Also, going into bowl preparations, Mettenberger injured his hand. Miles said he would've liked to have had him as an option in the BCS National Championship Game.

Mettenberger began his career at Georgia and sat out his freshman season in 2009 as a redshirt. He was kicked off the team in April 2010, about a month before he was convicted of misdemeanor sexual battery. He was accused of grabbing the rear end and breasts of a woman in a bar.

He played the 2010 season in junior college before transferring to LSU. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Miles didn't comment about whether the conviction gave him pause about taking Mettenberger.

"I only can tell you how he's been with us," Miles said. "He's been a dependable young man."

Mettenberger was in junior college the same year Cam Newton led Auburn to a national title. Newton had legal trouble at Florida before transferring to junior college and then to Auburn.

Mettenberger said he has noticed Newton's path.

"It gave me a lot of hope because of what Newton did," Mettenberger said.

News bits from Miles: The LSU coach has a hard time explaining to fans the Tigers' BCS National Championship Game loss to Alabama. "We played our 14th game, and we didn't play as well as we did in the first 13." ...

Miles' commercial for the EA Sports video game with LSU's mascot "Mike the Tiger" has drawn plenty of online interest. During today's Media Days session, Miles repeated his biggest line from the commercial ("You were like a son to me -- a Tiger Son") and said his own son says he really does talk like that. ...

Miles said the LSU secondary should be a strength again. Cornerback Tyrann Mathieu and safety Eric Reid are on the watch list for the Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation's best defensive back. LSU players have won it the last two years -- Patrick Peterson and Morris Claiborne.

Best line from Miles on defensive back Tyrann Mathieu's rants on Twitter: "No game is won on the Twitter page. It's a nice, pleasant past-time like Media Days."

MARK EDWARDS