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Ali Gaye Says He Will Skip Citrus Bowl To Prepare For The NFL Draft

by Staff Reporter

December 27, 202223 Comments

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

LSU starting defensive end Ali Gaye announced Tuesday morning that he would be opting out of the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 2 to prepare for the NFL Draft.

Coach Brian Kelly had previously said that Gaye was not playing in the bowl game, but this makes it official.

quote:
LSU, thank you for allowing the opportunity to earn my degree here and be able to call myself an LSU graduate. Tiger fans you have been amazing with your support and are the best fans in the world.

With that being said, I have decided to forgo our bowl game and declare for the 2023 NFL draft. I thank every person who has supported me to make this lifelong dream a reality.

With Gaye, BJ Ojulari, and Jaquelin Roy opting out, Mekhi Wingo will be the only starting defensive lineman participating in the Citrus Bowl.

Other Tigers opting out of the bowl game include wide receiver Jaray Jenkins and cornerback Mekhi Garner.

Filed Under: LSU Football

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Originally published on TigerDroppings.com

23 Comments

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JumpingJimFlash•16 months

The difference between LSU and Alabama? Young, Anderson and To'o To'o are playing in "meaningless" bowl game while Boutte, Ojulari and Gaye are preparing for draft. How much "preparing" can you do in 3 weeks? And who was last guy injured in bowl game who did not get drafted?

PAtiger21•16 months

Looks like Tarzan plays like Jane

BobABooey•16 months

The title of NFLSU comes at a price. We should be grateful that these guys picked LSU in the first place. Do his teammates care? It em really doesn’t impact me if LSU loses the bowl game by 50 or wins by 50. Isn’t Purdue’s starting QB sitting out? A totally meaningless game but people take any and all LSU defeats personally. Good luck, Ali!

northgate5•16 months

One of the blandest to eva do it. Thanks for quitting!

ImBatman•16 months

This is old news.

saturncube21•16 months

Good Luck young man

Spankum•16 months

He has not much to gain and everything to lose by playing. I would like to see him play one last game as a Tiger, but I can see the logic of his decision. Thanks for being a Tiger, Ali

Spankum•16 months

He has not much to gain and everything to lose by playing. I would like to see him play one last game as a Tiger, but I can see the logic of his decision. Thanks for being a Tiger, Ali

ATLTiger•16 months

I thought this was already known. At any rate, best of luck Ali.

cajunmud•16 months

How is not playing a FOOTBALL game not preparing for the National FOOTBALL League draft?

cajunmud•16 months

Did that come out right...haha.

lsudocts•16 months

Saban has 2 top 5 picks playing in a non-playoff game. The master of mindcontrol

Areddishfish•16 months

It's truly underrated. You almost never hear about Alabama players opting out of seasons or bowls.

deuce985•16 months

Got to get rid of all the taint of Orgeron's guys off the roster first. Even if BK did a good job with culture this year that culture isn't fully purged yet.

northgate5•16 months

I guess he doesn’t realize that playing an additional competitive game actually helps him to prepare for the NFL draft. Good luck I guess.

lsusteve1•16 months

Once again, start treating bowl games as preparing for next season. Work the young guys & have fun with it.

TigerB8•16 months

I understand the reasoning for these guys in this situation. They don't want to hurt draft status by playing like shite or getting hurt. However, for college football, it makes the bowls outside of the play off worthless to most fans and to the college football landscape. Maybe this will help convince the experts that we need to trim a few bowls off the schedule.

GusAU•16 months

Two things here:
1. If there were a few less bowl games, do you really think the opt-outs will then choose to play? If so, why?

2. Why do so many people seem to think that more games is bad for college football? How is the college football “landscape” hurt by basically meaningless games to most except the schools participating?

225Tyga•16 months

Bad decision young man.

HarveyTunnel•16 months

How many fans are opting out of bowls? I watch them. Do you? The ratings and attendance says fans are opting out too.

Dallasgrowl•16 months

I used to absolutely love "Bowl Week", but I just don't care anymore. The TV may have a game on it on occasion, but I am not focused on any of it. The product sucks as much at the NFL these days.

cajunmud•16 months

I was gonna try to watch more games this year, and I have. There have been some good games on. It sucks that there is hardly anyone in the stands, but folks have to be watching at home or advertisers wouldn't be paying ESPN to show the game.

I'm gonna try to watch all 4 games today, or at least have the game on one TV. Remember how bad you were jonesing last summer...now's the time to get your fill...haha.

cypresstiger•16 months

Whatcha gonna do? Oh well