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

LSU senior associate athletic director for NCAA compliance Bo Bahnsen told Gannett Newspapers on Monday that Mathieu is "permanently ineligible" to play for LSU again.

But sources said early and later Monday that it would not be accurate to state there was no chance Mathieu could ever play for LSU again and that the possibility had been discussed.

Asked about Bahnsen's comments, LSU senior associate athletic director Herb Vincent said: "LSU has not changed its position. We're not speculating on (Mathieu's) football future."

Mathieu is considering staying at LSU and paying his own way for classes this year even if the chance to play football there again does not exist, a source close to Mathieu said. The source cited the "support system" available at LSU as well as the belief that this is a time to focus on his maturity and character, not just playing football this year.