Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt opted out of Military Bowl vs. Virginia Tech, per report

The Tulane Green Wave got some rough news ahead of their Military Bowl matchup with the Virginia Tech Hokies. Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt has opted out of the bowl game and will not play, according to Garland Gillen of Fox 8. The expectations are that Kai Horton and Justin Ibieta will be the options for the Green Wave at quarterback in the bowl game.

Pratt is turning pro and will begin his preparation for the upcoming Reese’s Senior Bowl and the 2024 NFL Draft.

He’s been one of the better quarterbacks in college football the past few years, throwing for over 2,300 yards for three straight seasons for the Green Wave. This season, Pratt completed 65.4% of his passes for 2,406 yards, while tossing in 22 touchdowns with five interceptions.

He was one of the school’s all-time greats

Pratt wrapped up his career with the Green Wave as the school’s all-time leading passer. From 2020-2023, he completed 60.6% of his passes, while throwing 90 touchdowns with just 26 interceptions. A dynamic runner as well, Pratt finished with 1,147 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns.

He exploded onto the scene his sophomore year (2021), racking up 2,544 all-purpose yards and 26 touchdowns. In 2022, Pratt completed 63.6% of his passes and threw for 3,009 yards, while tossing 27 touchdowns. That season he also ran for 10 rushing touchdowns–the second most ever recorded by a Tulane quarterback in a single-season in school history.

The Green Wave upset the USC Trojans 46-45 in the 2023 Cotton Bowl, a game that will undoubtedly go down as the one of the biggest wins in school history.

Michael Pratt turns pro, more on the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.

Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.

The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.

Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.

The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.