Making a single appearance back in 2014 nearly cost John Battle an entire season of eligibility. Thankfully, reason has prevailed and the junior has been given an extra year to compete in Baton Rouge, if he so chooses to do so, by the end of the season.
Battle will now no longer face the possibility of entering next season as a senior after playing in the home opener against Sam Houston State as a redshirt freshman back in 2014. Battle has officially been reclassified as a redshirt junior, as confirmed by his LSU bio.
News of Battle’s reclassification was first reported by Ross Dellenger of The Advocate.
#LSU confirms safety John Battle has been given a fifth-year of eligibility and is now a redshirt junior. Got his 2014 year back.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) July 18, 2017
Battle made appearances in all 12 games for the Tigers last season and registered 39 total stops for the LSU defense. He started six games in the place of Rickey Jefferson once the former LSU defensive back was lost for the season due to a season-ending injury.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
