Don't mark Brandon Harris down for LSU's starting quarterback job just yet.
Tigers quarterback Anthony Jennings and two other LSU players will not face charges stemming from their June arrest for unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, according to nola.com. That cleared the way for LSU coach Les Miles, who suspended the threesome on June 18, to reinstate them to the team on Friday.
Defensive lineman Maquedius Bain and defensive back Dwayne Thomas were cleared in the case, as well. Thomas was also initially charged with simple burglary. According to a police report, the three players broke a lock and a door frame at a campus apartment and Thomas allegedly took three pairs of shoes from the residence of Nicholas Anderson.
Miles said the players will practice Wednesday when fall camp begins at LSU, but that they will continue to be subject to internal disciplinary measures. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III said the alleged victim in the case requested that no charges be filed.
Jennings started all but one game at quarterback for LSU last season but was inaccurate (49 percent completion rate) and ineffective. Harris is Jennings' primary competition to take over the job, but Miles indicated at SEC Media Days two weeks ago that he expected Jennings to eventually rejoin the team and compete for the position. Miles has been known to reinstate suspended players with legal issues after their cases reach resolution; he reinstated running back Jeremy Hill, now of the Cincinnati Bengals, back in 2013 on the same day the star rusher was given extended probation rather than jail time on a battery charge.
Jennings and Harris are expected to compete for the starting job for the second consecutive season in fall practice. The younger Harris is the more talented of the two, although Jennings' experience and athleticism (he rushed for 119 yards in a win over Texas A&M last year) could help him maintain the starting role.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*
