Cooley Cleared — Now Come the Lights

Cooley Cleared — Now Come the Lights

Thursday’s availability report clears Tamarcus Cooley for Saturday’s ABC night against Texas A&M as both sides chase a first SEC win.

By Rhett Landry

No. 10 LSU (2–1, 0–1 SEC) hosts No. 23 Texas A&M (2–1, 0–1 SEC) Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC in Death Valley. It is the first meeting between Lane Kiffin and Mike Elko as opposing head coaches, and both sides already own an SEC loss they would rather forget.

Thursday’s SEC availability report handed the Tigers a real lift. Starting safety Tamarcus Cooley, listed questionable Wednesday, came off the report entirely — the usual sign he will be available Saturday, per The Times-Picayune / NOLA.com and And The Valley Shook. With Dashawn Spears done for the year after a torn ACL at Ole Miss, Cooley is the body you need upright if you are stacking another piece into that STAR role. Corner Ja’Keem Jackson remains questionable. Tight end Trey’Dez Green, Spears, and receiver Phillip Wright III are out. Spears and Wright are season-enders; Green’s mother said on social media the tight end avoided ligament tears after the Ole Miss hit, and Kiffin has not put a return date on him (NOLA.com).

Across the ball, Elko has already confirmed do-it-all receiver Terry Bussey is out for the season. Running back Jamarion Morrow and receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman stay questionable on the Aggies’ side of the Thursday report (Sports Illustrated).

Both teams are hunting a first league win before October. LSU fell 32–24 at Ole Miss after crawling out of a 24–7 hole. Texas A&M dropped a home game to Kentucky, 31–21. ESPN has Sam Leavitt at 732 yards, three touchdowns, and five interceptions through three games, with Dilin Jones leading the rush at 285 yards and three scores. Marcel Reed sits at 632 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions for A&M after a rough night against Kentucky.

The Aggies have won the last two meetings, including a 49–25 trip through Baton Rouge last season  A&M’s first win in Death Valley since 1994 (KBTX). That history walks into Tiger Stadium with them. The crowd walks in louder.

Saturday night. ABC. Two boards at 0–1. Cooley cleared. The rest of the holes are still holes. Death Valley does not care about your depth chart once the lights hit.