LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — Tyrann Mathieu visited McNeese State hours after he was kicked off the team at LSU and is considering transferring to the Southland Conference school situated about 200 miles from his hometown of New Orleans.

McNeese State coach Matt Viator said in a statement released by the school Saturday that he met with Mathieu on Friday.

"I received a call from Tyrann after practice on Friday that he wanted to come and meet with us," said Viator. "We contacted LSU to get permission to talk to him and he arrived on campus later that night. We visited for an hour-and-a-half and then he went back home to New Orleans."

LSU dismissed Mathieu and revoked the 20-year-old cornerback's scholarship for a violation of athletic department rules.

To McNeese State's knowledge, according to the statement, Mathieu has not made a decision on where he plans to resume his college career.

McNeese State competes in FCS, the second tier of major college football, and is a traditionally one of the stronger programs in the Southland Conference. The Cowboys have never had a losing season in six seasons under Viator, reaching the FCS playoffs three times.

Mathieu can play this season if he transfers down a level from FBS to FCS. If Mathieu was to transfer to another FBS school, he would have to sit out a year to comply with NCAA rules.

Mathieu was a Heisman Trophy finalist last season and the Bednarik Award winner as the top defensive player in the country. Nicknamed Honey Badger, Mathieu became one of college football's biggest stars last season by making a bevy of big plays in his sophomore season at LSU.

He returned two punts for touchdowns, had two fumble returns for scores, forced six fumbles and intercepted two passes.

Mathieu will be eligible to enter the NFL draft after this season.