If the SEC preseason favorite LSU Tigers are looking for a role model, they should consider the 2005 Georgia Bulldogs.

Those Bulldogs won the SEC championship behind the quarterback play of DJ Shockley, a fifth-year senior who spent most of his college career as a backup to David Greene.

LSU’s new starting quarterback can relate. Matt Flynn, another fifth-year senior, already has established himself as one of the most patient quarterbacks in SEC history.

He spent most of his first four years as a backup to JaMarcus Russell, the first player taken in this year’s NFL draft.

Flynn wasn’t good enough to beat out Russell. But he was good enough to make a great impression every time he got the chance.

As a redshirt freshman in 2004, Flynn connected with Xavier Carter for a 67-yard touchdown on his first college pass completion. In his first college start, for an injured Russell, he was named MVP of the Peach Bowl after leading the Tigers to a 40-3 rout of Miami.

He was so good, his teammates were surprised he didn’t transfer.

“Most guys would have transferred,” senior wide receiver Early Doucet said. “I really respect him for staying.”

Flynn deserves their thanks as well as their respect. He’s the only experienced quarterback on the roster of a team expected to contend for the national championship.

“Anytime you have a quarterback that starts in really his first season as a starter, there will be some period of adjustment,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “I think it will be minimal with Matt Flynn.

“He has done a great job in leadership. We’re all looking forward to see him play.”

Doucet, a likely first-round draft pick next spring, expects big things from the former Texas high school star.

“He can pass, and he can run,” Doucet said. “He can do it all.”

Flynn should have plenty of help, beginning with new offensive coordinator Gary Crowton, who has fielded high-flying offenses in both college and the NFL.

“I was in the Big 12 Conference when his (Crowton’s) Louisiana Tech team had some ridiculous amount of yardage against Nebraska,” Miles said. “I watched him do miraculous things with the Chicago Bears when he coordinated there for two years. Their offense ranked third in the NFL with not necessarily a very talented offensive team.”

Crowton should have sufficient talent at LSU.

Doucet is one of the best receivers in the country. The Tigers also have depth at running back, where sophomore Keiland Williams leads the way. He rushed for 436 yards despite playing in only nine games as a freshman.

The offensive line returns three starters, including freshman All-American tackle Ciron Black and 6-foot-7, 350-pound guard/tackle Herman Johnson. Also, Will Arnold, who missed most of last season with knee and ankle injuries, returns for his senior season. The Sporting News rated him as the No. 1 guard in the country in its preseason football publication.

“He has worked really hard to rehabilitate,” Miles said. “I’m not ready to say he can take on a full-fledged, two-a-day practice schedule. I think his playing time will be limited. We’ll kind of wait and see how it goes.”

There’s little uncertainty about LSU’s defense, which has ranked third nationally the last two years under coordinator Bo Pelini.

The Tigers will return eight starters, most of whom are All-SEC-caliber players.

Senior tackle Glenn Dorsey was a first-team All-American last year. End Tyson Jackson and linebacker Ali Highsmith were second-team All-SEC picks. Linebacker Darry Beckwith, and cornerbacks Jonathan Zenon and Chevis Jackson all have made preseason first- or second-team all-conference.

But Dorsey is clearly the one who will get the most attention.

“He was one of the better players in the country last year,” Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. “You can imagine what he’s going to be like this year.

“We did everything possible to block him with one, two offensive linemen, tight end at times, running backs. He’s just a great player in a long line of good defensive tackles I’ve seen come out over the years.”

Fortunately for LSU, he didn’t come out last year.

And just as fortunately for LSU, Flynn didn’t transfer.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.