Learning experience for Kristian Fulton

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A little more than two weeks ago, Kristian Fulton began to realize that his mistake was going to cost him a second season of football at LSU.

Fulton drew a two-year suspension from the NCAA in 2017 for being observed replacing his own urine specimen with that of another person. After sitting out last season, Fulton was given an appeal hearing by the NCAA. The appeal to have his suspension reduced was not granted.

“I myself believed it was over,” Fulton said.

Last Thursday, Fulton received some unexpected news. LSU athletic department officials continued to pursue their work in support of Fulton. The NCAA agreed that Fulton violated the ‘urine replacement’ and not the ‘specimen tampering’ guideline. The penalty for that violation is just a one-year suspension.

So, a very happy Fulton was now going to be able to immediately return to the playing field for the Tigers.  According to LSU Director of Athletics Joe Alleva, Fulton has passed 25 drug tests since the suspension began.

Fulton was riding in linebacker Devin White’s car back to the Tiger Stadium locker room when he heard the positive news about his reinstatement.

“(Fulton) told me to turn the music down in my car,” White said. “I said, ‘it better be something important.’ He started crying and then he was smiling from ear to ear. I figured he had to be eligible.”

That was the exact scenario which played out. There was a huge celebration by Fulton’s teammates back in the locker room when they heard the news.

“The moment my teammates found out about (reinstatement), I think they were more excited than me,” Fulton said.

So, Fulton finds himself in the mix at cornerback as LSU prepares for its season-opener Sunday against Miami. Fulton has been practicing ever since he went on suspension. On Tuesday, he took some reps with the No. 1 defense. Either Fulton or Kelvin Joseph will start at cornerback against the Hurricanes.

“Kristian is a big piece to our puzzle on defense,” White said. “He adds another lockdown corner. Kelvin is kind of young, so he may be a little shaky at first. We have so many good players (in the secondary). They can all rotate back there. I just don’t how they will rotate.”

While Fulton is definitely excited about being eligible again, he admitted that the whole situation has taught him something.

“It has been a tough process,” Fulton said. “I learned that the decisions I make will have consequences.”

Fulton lost a season of playing football. He switched urine samples because he had used marijuana a couple of days before the test. Fulton was not going to be tested for street drugs – just performance-enhancing drugs.

“There were some tough days,” Fulton said. “I knew I had to keep fighting. My parents, really everybody, reached out to me. My parents made it a priority for me that I stay up. I needed to prepare like I was going to play. I went through a lot of range of emotions. My mindset was to just get better every day.

“When I lost my appeal, I had a lot of thoughts. I didn’t know how I would be in another year from now. From the first day of camp this year, I had been preparing like I was going to play. I lost the appeal and then I got my eligibility back. I paid the price. It was a blessing for (NCAA) to give me an opportunity.”

Fulton was rated the No. 1 player in Louisiana following his senior season at Metairie Rummel High School in 2015. His best season in high school was his junior year when he intercepted 11 passes and broke up eight other passes.

Fulton played very little in his true freshman season – participating in only three games. Fulton, who broke his index finger that year, was credited with two tackles. So, Fulton has yet to be a factor for the Tigers. That situation should now change in 2018.

Greedy Williams is a returning starter at one cornerback. Williams, who entered LSU at the same time as Fulton, enjoyed a spectacular redshirt freshman campaign in 2017 with six interceptions and 11 pass breakups. Now, Williams could have Fulton as his cornerback partner.

“Early in camp, I was backing up Greedy,” Fulton said. “He had a great year last season. I had to stay positive. My intention on the field is to be a lockdown corner on my side of the field. I don’t think I will be rusty when I get out there. I have gone up against some good players in practice at LSU.”