Les Miles spoke with Tyrann Mathieu

Updated: August 17, 2012, 1:25 AM ET

By Gary Laney | GeauxTigerNation

LSU coach Les Miles spoke with former Tigers cornerback Tyrann Mathieu on Tuesday night about Mathieu's future, but Miles stopped short of saying what, if any, advice he gave to the Heisman Trophy finalist.

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Miles said he spoke Tuesday with Mathieu and told him "just to make a great decision. Do the right things. He'll do that."

Mathieu was kicked off LSU's team on Friday for what a source told ESPN was a violation of the school's substance-abuse policy just months after he won the Bednarik Award as the nation's best defensive player as a sophomore while becoming the first defensive back to be a Heisman finalist since 1997.

LSU has received requests from about 20 schools to speak with Mathieu, LSU spokesman Herb Vincent said Wednesday. So far, only McNeese State and Nicholls State, both FCS schools in Louisiana, have acknowledged receiving permission from LSU to speak with Mathieu. Mathieu visited McNeese over the weekend.

Miles did not say if he advised Mathieu to pursue a transfer to an FCS school or stay at LSU, where he may remain as a student. Mathieu may go that route in hopes of seeking reinstatement to the Tigers next year, though LSU would not confirm if that is a possibility.

"I just wanted him to know that we'll support him in whatever he wants to do and help him where we can," Miles said. "At this point in time, he needs to do the things that make him happy and that makes sense for his future. If he does that, we'll all be happy."