Tyrann Mathieu will reportedly declare for the NFL Draft. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Former LSU defensive back and Heisman Trophy finalist Tyrann Mathieu will reportedly declare for the NFL Draft on Thursday, according to Joe Schad of ESPN.com.

Mathieu, 20, was dismissed from the Tigers in August after failing a drug test. He entered a rehab program which was run by former NBA player and coach John Lucas, but was arrested in October because of marijuana possession. At the time of his dismissal, it was unclear whether he would transfer to another school to continue playing football or remain at LSU.

Mathieu, the recipient of the Bednarik Award last season, which goes to the nation’s No. 1 defensive player, opted to remain at LSU to concentrate on his academics and moving past drugs, and initially said he planned on returning to the team the following season. LSU Athletic Director Bo Bahnsen later said that Mathieu is “permanently ineligible” to play football at LSU again.

He is widely believed to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft, though his repeated failed drug tests will likely factor into the decision-making for a team looking to select him.

Tyrann Mathieu was reported to be among four ex-LSU players arrested for drug possession. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Four former LSU football players — including 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu and ex-quarterback Jordan Jefferson — were arrested Thursday and charged with possession of marijuana, law enforcement sources told WAFB’s Jim Shannona Kiran Chawla.

Mathieu and Jefferson were charged with Simple Possession of Marijuana, Karnell Hatcher was charged with 2^nd Offense Simple Possession of Marijuana and Derrick Bryant is charged with Possession With Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Baton Rouge police confirmed.  All four men will be booked into to the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

Police said a search of the apartment found a marijuana grinder, digital scale and 10 bags of high grade marijuana. 7 of the bags were found inside Bryant’s book sack, police said.

Mathieu was dismissed from the LSU football team earlier this year after what sources said was multiple failed drug tests. He has remained enrolled at LSU and said he hoped to return to the team next season.

Jefferson started at quarterback in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game. Hatcher and Bryant both played defensive back.

Dismissed LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu will reportedly enroll at the university on Tuesday. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Dismissed LSU All-American cornerback Tyrann Mathieu is set to re-enroll at the school on Tuesday his father says, reports ESPN.com.

Mathieu was kicked off the team Aug. 10 for a violation of the school’s substance abuse policy. His father, Tyrone, said that Mathieu would not play football this season and that is family needed “time to heal”. Mathieu is not on scholarship and will pay his own tuition. About 20 schools made inquiries about Mathieu after he was dismissed.

Mathieu was reportedly in a drug rehabilitation program in Houston.

“Tyrann is focused on addressing his issues,” Mathieu’s father told ESPN.com last month.

Mathieu, a first-team AP All-America selection, won the Bednarik Award as national defensive player of the year last season. He scored four touchdowns, two on punt returns and two on fumble returns. He also intercepted two passes, caused six fumbles and recovered four.

Tyrann Mathieu enrolling at LSU tomorrow per father Tyrone—
Joe Schad (@schadjoe) September 03, 2012

Obviously, Tyrann Mathieu will be paying own way at LSU—
Joe Schad (@schadjoe) September 03, 2012

Tyrann Mathieu has entered drug rehab and will not play football this fall. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, a Heisman finalist last season, has entered a drug rehabilitation center and will not play football this fall, his father, Tyrone Mathieu, told WVUE-TV of New Orleans.

Tyrann Mathieu, known as the Honey Badger, was dismissed from the LSU program last week for violating team rules. It was widely reported that failed drug tests were the cause. He had been suspended for one game last season after reportedly testing positive for synthetic marijuana.

Mathieu had been rumored to be looking at FCS-level schools. He was expected by many to play this season and then enter the NFL Draft, where he had been projected to be a first-round pick.

Instead, on Monday, he entered Right Step center in Houston. CBS Sports’ Bruce Feldman reports the treatment is for problems with marijuana.

Mathieu will be mentored by former NBA player John Lucas, his father said. He will not take classes this fall.

Former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu will transfer after being kicked off the Tigers. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu will announce his new school on Wednesday, reports The Times Picayune‘s Jim Kleinpeter.

The “Honey Badger,” a Heisman Trophy finalist last season, will transfer after being kicked off the Tigers last Friday, reportedly for repeatedly violating the team’s substance abuse policy. He had been suspended one game last year for reportedly testing positive for synthetic marijuana.

One of Mathieu’s former teammates tweeted that the cornerback was heading to McNeese State, but that has yet to be confirmed. Mathieu is said to be considering other FCS-level schools as well.

He can enter the NFL Draft after this season.

Tyrann Mathieu is not eligible to return to LSU after being kicked off the football team, despite earlier reports suggesting he might try to come back in 2013. (Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

Tyrann Mathieu is ineligible to return to play for LSU at any point in the future, despite earlier reports saying he could sit out this season and play for the Tigers in 2013.

LSU senior associate athletic director for NCAA compliance Bo Bahnsen told Gannett Louisiana late Monday that Mathieu did not have the option to play for the Tigers again, disputing an earlier ESPN.com report that said he hoped for a 2013 comeback with the program.

“He’s permanently ineligible to play football at LSU,”  Bahnsen said. “That’s definite. That’s what was said Friday.”

Mathieu was dismissed from the team last Friday due to failed substance-abuse tests, but he was not kicked out of the university. ESPN’s Joe Schad reported that the “heartbroken” Mathieu was interested in continuing his education at LSU and possibly coming back on the football field in 2013.

Bahnsen confirmed that Mathieu can register for classes, because he was not removed from school. From the Gannett Louisiana report:

“He would have to pay his own way, but he can go to class here and graduate,” Bahnsen said.

As far as Mathieu thinking he can possibly return to the football team in 2013 Bahnsen said, “He’s not accurate if he thinks that.”

The cornerback Mathieu, affectionately known by fans as “Honey Badger,” was the winner of the Bednarik Award last season, which goes to the nation’s No. 1 defensive player.

Tyrann Mathieu would reportedly prefer to return to the LSU Tigers than transfer. (Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

Despite rumors of his transfer to McNeese State, former Louisiana State cornerback Tyrann Mathieu reportedly wants to return to the Tigers team that released him in early August for failed substance abuse tests, and he is willing to sit out this season to concentrate on his academics in order to shed his tarnished image, according to a report Monday morning from Joe Schad of ESPN.com.

Former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu has expressed interest in sitting out this season, staying in class and hoping for a return to the program in 2013, if it can be worked out with the school, according to sources.

Mathieu was dismissed from the team in August but not from the University. Schad reported that while he has also received interest from Jackson State and Prairie View A&M, neither are considered real options. He said it’s not his priority right now to think about declaring for the NFL Draft. Instead, he wants to work out his issues right now and focus on continuing his education at LSU.

Following last season, Mathieu was named a consensus All-American and was as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy Award.

Tyrann Mathieu’s former LSU teammate, Josh Jasper, appeared to break the news on the Honey Badger’s new team on Twitter early Friday evening.

@TM7_Era already transferred to McNeese! Staying in the boot #LA—
Josh Jasper (@JoshJasper30) August 10, 2012

Jasper is a kicker who graduated in 2011 and spent a week last summer in camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Bruce Feldman of CBSSports.com tweeted that a source told him that Mathieu is looking at McNeese State, implying that the transfer is not yet a done deal.

McNeese State, based in Lake Charles, La., makes a lot of sense for Mathieu, a New Orleans native, given the school’s proximity to home, the Cowboys’ FCS membership (which would make Mathieu eligible to play this season), and the program’s relative strength (the Cowboys have won six conference titles and made the I-AA playoffs seven times since 2000).

Former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu was dismissed because of the team’s drug policy. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Former LSU All-American cornerback Tyrann Mathieu was kicked off the team because of failure of drug tests and repeated violations of LSU’s substance abuse policy for athletes, reports ESPN.com.

Mathieu, no matter where he goes, has two years left of eligibility. He was suspended for a game last year for failing a drug test, and was undergoing counseling throughout the spring and summer.

“I can’t imagine he would be here and not want to transfer and go play football,” LSU head coach Les Miles said. “We will help him in every way we can.”

Mathieu had 77 tackles, two sacks, and two interceptions last season.