Will Clapp Headed to the NFL Draft

A sixth LSU underclassmen will take his talents to the NFL and skip his senior season, as today center Will Clapp informed the coaching staff of his intentions:

Clapp has started the last three seasons for LSU, 36 games total, and named All-SEC twice. He joins Derrius Guice, Donte Jackson, Kevin Toliver II, Arden Key and fellow offensive lineman Toby Weathersby in putting their names in for the 2018 NFL Draft.

The coaching staff had hoped to hold on to Clapp to bring some leadership to the 2018 offensive line, so this is a blow. Clapp, who graduated last month, has played through a number of injuries in his career, and missed most of the 2017 offseason recovering from shoulder surgery. It appears that he did not wish to risk more issues before a chance to cash in.

These six underclassmen are the most the program has had leave since the 2014 offseason. A seventh player, guard Garrett Brumfield, also requested an evaluation from the NFL’s advisory board, although there has been no word on his decision as of yet.