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LOOK: Veteran LSU linebacker pens heartfelt message to fans, staff

photos -jpgby:Ashton Pollard•12/22/21•

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LSU linebacker Damone Clark has begun saying his goodbyes in Baton Rouge. 

On Wednesday, Clark tweeted a grateful note to the Tiger faithful and thanked those that helped make it possible for him to be the first in his family to graduate from college. 

The letter does not formally announce Clark’s next steps, but Brian Edwards of VegasInsider subsequently reported Clark is declaring for the NFL Draft. Edwards added Clark will not play in the Jan. 4 Texas Bowl against Kansas State.

Clark is ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper’s No. 5 linebacker, and he has accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl in January where he will try to improve his draft position.

He had 136 tackles this season, which led the SEC and was second in the country behind Wyoming’s Chad Muna. Clark also had 15 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception. He was named a second-team All American by Sporting News, and he was a Butkus Award finalist, the award given to the nation’s top linebacker.

In four years on the team, he totaled 249 tackles and 10 sacks. Clark posted a 19-tackle effort against Ole Miss, and recorded double-digit tackles in eight games this year.

Clark is a native of Baton Rouge, and he was a four-star recruit out of Southern University Lab School. He was the No. 46 linebacker and No. 14 player from Louisiana in the 2018 class, according to On3.

Farrell headed to NFL as well

Clark isn’t the only LSU defenseman who has elected to forgo the Texas Bowl appearance in favor of the NFL Draft. Defensive tackle Neil Farrell opted out of the postseason game earlier this week.

“I Preciate all the love and support, I will not be playing in the bowl game, I’ve decided it’s best that I start my pre-draft process!!,” Farrell said via Twitter on Monday. “Much love to this University And Relationships I’ve built. Forever LSU”

Farrell has been with LSU for five seasons, originally being a member of the 2017 recruiting class. Thanks to the COVID-19 eligibility rules, the defensive tackle was able to return for a fifth season.

He played in all 12 games this season, recording 45 total tackles and 9.5 tackles for a loss. Farrell got to the quarterback twice, having one sack against each of Alabama and Ole Miss.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh contributed to this report.