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Two LSU Defenders Are Opting Out Of The Citrus Bowl, Brian Kelly Confirms

by Staff Reporter

December 17, 202260 Comments

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

LSU defensive lineman BJ Ojulari and cornerback Mekhi Garner are both opting out of the Citrus Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft, head coach Brian Kelly confirmed on Saturday.

Ojulari, a junior from Marietta, Ga, previously declared for the draft last week but didn't announce his plan for the bowl game. Many scouts have Ojulari being selected in the first couple of rounds of the draft.

Garner, a junior from Mesquite, Texas and a UL-Lafayette transfer, accepted an invitation to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl on Dec. 8, indicating his plans to leave LSU for the NFL Draft.

Kelly said that senior defensive back Jay Ward, who is also headed to the NFL Draft, will replace Garner at cornerback for the Citrus Bowl.

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60 Comments

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TigerFan55555•25 months

playoffs will fix alot of this..

BassMan63•25 months

Transfer portal, NIL, Opting out of bowl games and seasons after you have been given a full scholarship is complete bullshite. These selfish spoiled entitled kids are ruining the game of college football. They are soft.

BassMan63•25 months

No room for quitters in my eyes. Thanks for your time here now GTFODCB

Deplorable Duke•25 months

No, they QUIT!

GruntbyAssociation•25 months

I would think more practice in an extra game would be good preparation for the draft. Especially since the combine doesn’t start till the end of February early March.

Tripp67•25 months

those who quit get put on the Toilet Bowl roster

KAGTASTIC•25 months

Any player that sits out a bowl game, should be be penalized in some way. Pay back portion of their scholarship, etc. I wonder how NIL deals handle these situations.

91TIGER•25 months

I remember all of the dumbasses on the Rant banging on Chase for sitting out his last year. He was guaranteed MILLIONS of dollars for doing so. Stay and play another season he wasn't guaranteed shite if he was hurt. These guys see the big picture and are doing what is right for them. Big talkers here, if you guys were in their position you'd do the same damn thing.

CDawson•25 months

If that’s your position why do anything that has risk? Chad Jones shouldn’t have driven his car, right? Being scared to perform your job or live your life Is not something that should be celebrated.

Tigers4Lyfe•25 months

Wow, comparing "risk" between driving to work each day and playing in a game of football.

What a dumbass

wallowinit•25 months

Chase was a whole different case. Still doesn’t sit well with me.

Damathe•25 months

What BS from a #18. Just say "I'm afraid I'll get hurt". Plenty of time to prepare for the Combine.
Citrus Bowl - Jan 2 2023
The 2023 NFL Combine – Tuesday, FEBRUARY 28 – Monday, March 6.
Nice Leadership one-eight.

Easye921•25 months

It really is. Bryce and Will are sure fire top 5 picks and they're playing in the bowl game.

HangmanPage1•25 months

Wouldn’t practicing with the team and playing in a D1 game prepare you??

ThatTahoeOverThere•25 months

If you're a first round pick, why play in any bowl game, including playoffs.

LSU FSU Grad•25 months

Then why not opt out even earlier? Why play the last half of the season? Why not a whole season? Maybe two? Oh! Wait. We've already seen that too. If you have a great freshman season, just sit out until your draft eligible. Sounds great.

Mike da Tigah•25 months

What a sad selfish generation. How about for your team and teammates, or because you’re never going to pass this way again, or because you love football? Many reasons other than pure self motivated screw everyone else but me.

BurrowToChase•25 months

Pussies

chicageaux_tiger•25 months

If you accept #18 then you should finish what you start. Disappointed in BJ.

Datbayoubengal•25 months

I'm not. We're playing a depleted Purdue in a knockoff orange bowl while he's trying to improve his times physically enough to crush the combine and maybe sneak into the first round. The difference is millions. You people need to stop being clowns.

Lsutigerturner•25 months

Jay was fixing to eat I love him at safety though. Will have a Mills type career I think

LawLessTyGer•25 months

Jay Ward, love this guy !

porge7106•25 months

All about the Benjamin’s. I get it. Geaux tigers!!!

Hamma1122•25 months

I have zero issue with this. Next man up

CanebreakCajun•25 months

Just end bowls games, except for playoffs.

Sevensblue•25 months

I saw some HS junior football recruit opted out of his senior season to prepare for college...wtf is going on? Chits getting crazier and crazier

KAGTASTIC•25 months

Texas QB Quinn Ewers did it a few yrs back to enroll early to OHST, for a "rumored" $1mil. Then he left and now at TX, for another "rumored" few mil. Ain't the new CFB grand?

CAS7659•25 months

This bothers me more than the portal. Might be silly of me but this just really poo’s on your team.

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