NCAA reinstates LSU CB Fulton

LSU defensive back Kristian Fulton, who was suspended by the NCAA for last season after failing a drug test, has been reinstated, head coach Ed Orgeron confirmed to several media outlets. Fulton also was supposed to miss this season because he was caught tampering with his drug test, but his lawyers had been negotiating with the NCAA to reduce the penalty. "Elated, and I know the team's elated," Orgeron said. "Was not expecting this at all. ... He will now be a factor." Fulton will be eligible play for the Tigers in their season opener against Miami (Fla.) on Sept. 2 if he passes a new NCAA-administered drug test. It was thought that the two-year suspension would be upheld when the NCAA denied Fulton's initial appeal two weeks ago. However, Fulton's legal team did not deny their client should be suspended, but said the action should have fallen under a different NCAA by-law than the one that was being employed. The other by-law calls for only a one-year suspension, and apparently the NCAA eventually agreed. Fulton is expected to line up in the LSU secondary alongside All-American Greedy Williams. The 6-1, 195-pound Fulton will be a junior who played in two games as a freshman, making one tackle and one assist. Fulton was considered the No. 2 cornerback prospect in the high school class of 2016 and hoped to attend Alabama. However, the five-star prospect from Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie, La., chose LSU over Alabama, Florida and Arkansas.