LSU fans hoping to get one last look at Leonard Fournette in a Tigers uniform won't get the opportunity.
Fournette announced on Friday that he won't play in LSU's bowl game (Citrus Bowl vs. Louisville, Dec. 31). He said he made the decision along with LSU coach Ed Orgeron, and cited the health of his injured left ankle as the reasoning.
The junior RB, who announced earlier this month that he inteds to enter the 2017 NFL Draft, said he won't need a procedure for his ankle, but will need rest and rehab.
"I want to rehab and get ready for the NFL and chase my dreams," Fournette said, per the football program's Twitter account.
Fournette missed four games during the season due to the nagging ankle injury that he suffered during fall camp. He estimated his ankle is currently at about 85-90 percent.
A rare talent who has been compared to Bo Jackson, Fournette is considered one of the top prospects in college football.
Underclassmen like Fournette have until a Jan. 16 deadline to apply for early draft eligiblity.
While the decision might not please every LSU fan, it's not surprising that Fournette determined that protecting himself was the best option at this time, given his draft intentions. He never delivered a Heisman-caliber season during his time with the Tigers, but he provided plenty of jaw-dropping moments where his freakish ability was on display. One former NFL RBs coach said earlier this season that Fournette is as close as you'll find to Adrian Peterson, and any Fournette highlight reel makes it easy to see why such a comp was made.
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