Perrilloux signs on with Jacksonville State

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Former LSU quarterback Ryan Perrilloux, kicked off the defending national championship team after repeated off-the-field problems, signed Wednesday with Jacksonville State.

Coach Jack Crowe said he needed an experienced quarterback after dismissing last year's starter from the Gamecocks for disciplinary reasons, and Perrilloux would be able to step in immediately.

He won't have to sit out a year because Jacksonville State, a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, plays in the lower Football Championship Subdivision.
``We had to have a quarterback,'' said Crowe.

Crowe said he talked with ``many different sources,'' including LSU coach Les Miles, about Perrilloux and believes he will do well at Jacksonville State, located in a sleepy east Alabama town instead of Baton Rouge, La.

``Everybody thought that the environment for him was not helpful,'' said Crowe.

Crowe said Perrilloux, 21, spoke frankly about his troubles at LSU, took responsibility for his actions and is ready to start school in a couple of weeks. Crowe said he doesn't consider Perrilloux a troubled catch, just one who didn't do well as a backup at LSU.

``I think he's been an immature player, and I think he's been a very, very, very frustrated player,'' said Crowe. ``I think he'd tell you he didn't handle waiting very well.''

Waiting won't be a problem at Jacksonville State: Perrilloux will step in immediately as the starter.

The Gamecocks' starter from last season, Cedric Johnson, was kicked off the team after the season for violating team rules. Two other quarterbacks left the team and another graduated. That left only two signees to fill the slot.

``For me to remove the best offensive player we had and maybe the best in the league for disciplinary reasons and then compromise on this one ... would be crazy,'' Crowe said.

Perrilloux's decision to sign with JSU was first reported by The Birmingham News. He said he also had visited Alabama A&M in Huntsville.

Once one of the nation's top quarterback prospects because of his strong arm and good mobility, Perrilloux was suspended three times over the past year at LSU.
He was caught trying to enter a Baton Rouge casino with false identification last summer. He was involved in a nightclub fight in November, causing him to miss a game at Alabama, although he was later cleared of wrongdoing.

Miles again suspended Perrilloux in February after he missed a team meeting, skipped some classes and was late for conditioning workouts. He was reinstated April 6, then let go. Miles said no specific violation led to the quarterback's dismissal.

Despite his problems, Perrilloux was named MVP of the Southeastern Conference game after coming off the bench to lead LSU to a win over Tennessee and was expected to start this season.

``He's got a national championship ring and a love for LSU. He's not a tainted person with a tainted feeling. He just made mistakes, admitted them and moved on,'' Crowe said.