Johnson shapes up for big season

BATON ROUGE -- If you think the recent heat wave is bad, consider LSU left guard Herman Johnson.

The Tigers' heaviest player at 355 pounds, Johnson has to battle his way though long practices in near 100-degree heat with the added weight of equipment. As much, or more, than anyone, he's looking forward to having today off.

"I'm trying to get off my feet as much as I can and get as much rest as possible," said Johnson, 6 feet 7. "This year was pretty hot. A couple of practices, a week or two ago, a lot of people were getting dizzy. We lost four linemen because of heat and had to come back the next day."

Fortunately for Johnson, he has had his weight under control since arriving at LSU in 2004 at 411 pounds. He commiserated with another LSU heavyweight, basketball player Glen "Big Baby" Davis, who came in about 360 pounds.

Johnson said he lost about 60 pounds his first year and hasn't had a problem keeping it off, though he said he'd like to lose another 10 pounds before the season.

"When I first got here (Glen "Big Baby" Davis, who was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the NBA draft) was asking how I lost all my weight," Johnson said. "He started doing some of the things I was doing, and he dropped a few pounds. He learned a little from me."

Johnson said he went through the same workouts as his teammates, but he changed his eating habits and has been able to maintain his weight with the help of strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffett and assistant trainer Shelley Mullenix.

"It was tougher for me because I was heavier," he said. "I ate different from everyone else, steamed vegetables and baked chicken, fish."

Johnson said the food he misses most is hot wings and pizza.

"I mess with them every now and then, but I try to stay away from them during the season," he said. "Liver is about the only food I can't stand. I've never liked it."

BOUNCING BACK: Senior guard Will Arnold, who has been in and out of practice throughout fall camp because of sore legs, has come on strong as of late.

Arnold played the entire Saturday scrimmage and has practiced each of the past three days coming off reconstructive ankle surgery. He also has was chosen to several preseason All-SEC or All-America teams, but he likely won't be a starter, at least early in the season.

"I feel like my legs are getting back under me," Arnold said. "I'm getting strong and can go more. I practiced every snap today, and I'm feeling good. It was pretty frustrating at first, but I'm feeling much more confident now.

"(Last Tuesday) I had a good scrimmage and some good snaps. The final scrimmage I played a good bit more. It's possible I'll miss some more practices if my legs break down some. I'm kind of on a roll."

GOOD START: LSU right tackle Carnell Stewart said remembering all of the offensive checks is the most difficult part of his transition from defensive to offensive line.

Often players will cite pass blocking as the toughest adjustment, but Stewart said he picked that up quickly, as in the first time. He went against one of LSU's defensive standout, end Tyson Jackson, and the results were surprising.

"First time I pass blocked I went against Tyson and blocked him," Stewart said. "I was shocked my own self. (Then) Coach (Stacy) Searels looked at me like 'That's your first time, and you blocked him.' I caught on to that real quick, just by watching and seeing what they were doing. Tyson looked at me and started laughing."

PRACTICE REPORT: Defensive linemen Tremaine Johnson and Al Woods were absent from practice, and defensive back Stefoin Francois wore a green (no contact) jersey.

LSU will take today off, one week before the season opener at Mississippi State. The Tigers will resume practice Friday, and players will report for classes Monday.

ON THE LIST: Two LSU defenders -- senior Glenn Dorsey and Jackson, a junior -- were chosen to the Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year watch list, the organization said.

The watch list consists of 35 players across the nation, including just nine players on the defensive side of the football.

Dorsey and Jackson are h key members of an LSU defense that ranked among the top five nationally in five categories last year, including a No. 3 ranking in total defense (242.8 yards) and No. 4 in scoring (12.6 points).

The watch list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in early November.

The Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 119 NCAA Bowl subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced on the ESPN College Football Awards Show in December. The winner will then receive his trophy at the Foundation's annual national awards banquet Jan. 12 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven .