Tyrann Mathieu Video: Did Honey Badger Actually Score on Stellar Punt Return?

LSU star cornerback Tyrann Mathieu scored his second punt return for a touchdown in the past two weeks on Saturday against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.

The only question was, did he really score?

Mathieu, who fielded a deep punt with the score 10-0 UGA, juked a couple defenders on the left side of the field, then bolted across the field with good blocking before making some quick cuts that left defenders on their faces.

It was deemed a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown.

But...

Before Mathieu crossed the goal line, he flipped the ball to the referee, seemingly letting go of the ball before he scored the touchdown.

The play was huge early on, giving LSU some momentum and allowing them to stay within range of Georgia.

We've seen this before—players celebrating before making sure they've crossed the goal line. If it was overturned, it would have been a rough half for the Tigers, whose only seven points came on the punt return.

Mathieu is widely projected to be a top cornerback selected in the NFL draft when he declares, but it's plays like this that could sour him in scouts' minds. You only have to look at Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson to see how showboating can overwhelm talent.

LSU got off to a quick start in the third quarter of Saturday's game, so Mathieu's apparent gaffe avoided some controversy in the final score, but the sophomore better learn to stay focused all the way into the end zone if he expects to meet his maximum potential.