College football notes: Mettenberger expects to play, not as starter

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Transfer quarterback Zach Mettenberger expects to play for LSU this season.

That doesn't mean he expects to take starter Jordan Jefferson's job, or even backup Jarrett Lee's.

"When I was getting recruited, I didn't look at it as I'm going to come in and start right away," said Mettenberger, whose college career has taken him from Georgia to junior college in Kansas and now to Baton Rouge.

"Obviously, Jordan is in position to be the winningest quarterback in LSU history," Mettenberger continued. "It's not like I was just going to walk in and take his job. Worst-case scenario, I still have two years to play and for me that's fine. I do look to get some game experience this year, but right now it's definitely Jordan's job -- and Jarrett's the backup."

Mettenberger arrived at LSU last January with a lot of hype, but was not permitted by coach Les Miles to speak with reporters until LSU hosted its 2011 media day on Tuesday.

The sophomore from Oconee County began his career as a redshirt freshman at Georgia, but then was dismissed by the Bulldogs because of legal trouble stemming from his treatment of a woman at a bar. He then went to Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas, where he passed for 2,678 yards and 32 touchdowns for an 11-1 squad that did not lose until the junior college national championship game.

His arrival at LSU caused a stir because the Tigers have struggled to pass the ball consistently for most of the past three seasons, when Jefferson and Lee have played quarterback.

However, Miles reiterated on Tuesday that Jefferson -- who is 20-7 as a starter and 11 wins from Tommy Hodson's career LSU mark of 31 -- is the projected No. 1 quarterback as well as an emotional leader of the offense.

"He's enjoying the position that he has on this football team," Miles said. "He is now enjoying being who he is in that role. I think he is confident in where he is at and more rela

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