blacksaint

By Glenn Guilbeau
sports@thenewsstar.com

BATON ROUGE - LSU outside linebacker Derrick Odom's suspension has been lifted by LSU coach Les Miles, who said more than a week ago that he was on the verge of doing so.

Odom practiced with the team on Tuesday for the first time since Miles suspended him indefinitely on Aug. 23 following his arrest on misdemeanor charges involving an altercation he had with an LSU student and that student's father.

"He was back out there," LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette said. "He's back with the team and could play Saturday if they need him."

Odom, a red-shirt freshman from Jackson, Miss., is a deep reserve at outside linebacker. The No. 2 Tigers (2-0) play Middle Tennessee (0-2) at 7 p.m. Saturday in Tiger Stadium.

Shortly after his arrest, Odom apologized to the LSU student, Austin Gaffney, and his father, Steve Gaffney, of Baton Rouge in a meeting with attorneys from both sides.

Odom was charged and jailed for threatening the Gaffney's and for damaging the younger Gaffney's apartment door and vehicle. The Gaffneys then asked the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney's office to drop the charges.

"The D.A.'s office has not done anything official yet," said Baton Rouge attorney Nathan Fisher, who is representing Odom. "They may recommend a pre-trial diversion program."

That would involve Odom likely doing some community service work to avoid trial as a first-time offender.

The News Star - www.thenewsstar.com - Monroe, LA

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