LSU defensive lineman officially accepts Senior Bowl invite

LSU defensive lineman Neil Farrell Jr has accepted an invite to the Reese’s Senior Bowl, which will take place in the graduate student’s hometown of Mobile, Alabama on Jan. 30, 2021. The 6-foot-4, 325-pound interior threat is a former three-star recruit who spent five seasons with the Tigers.

Over the course of his career, Farrell played in 52 games and recorded 144 tackles. He played a key role on LSU’s national championship team, recording a career-high 46 tackles with three sacks and a forced fumble on the year. The veteran lineman played in 12 games this season with 45 tackles, two sacks and two pass deflections.

Neil Farrell Jr announced last week that he would opt out of the Texas Bowl appearance against Kansas State as he prepares for the Senior Bowl and NFL Draft this spring.

“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”

Another LSU veteran says goodbye

LSU linebacker Damone Clark has also 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.