LSU football: Tyler Shelvin joins list of Tigers opting out in favor of NFL Draft prep

The talent exodus out of Baton Rouge continues as Tyler Shelvin is the latest LSU football player to opt-out of the season to prep for the 2021 NFL Draft.

The chances of the LSU Tigers defending their National Championship took a hit on Sunday after star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase opted out of the 2020 season to focus on the NFL Draft, where he’s assumed to be a top-five selection. 24 hours later, the Tigers defense lost one of their starting defensive linemen.

According to Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated, defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin is choosing to sit out the 2020 college football season. Shelvin now joins Chase, defensive lineman Neil Farrell and safety Kary Vincent on the list of Tigers who won’t suit up this season.

Shelvin joins Ja’Marr Chase among players to opt-out in favor of prepping for the pros while several others have entered the transfer portal

Farrell chose not to play in 2020 due to health concerns with the coronavirus after his grandmother contracted the virus. Even though he won’t suit up this season, Farrell announced he will return to college in 2021. Meanwhile, Chase has confirmed that he’s decided to “concentrate on his professional career.”

Shelvin committed to LSU back in 2017 as a four-star recruit, where he ranked as the best prospect in Louisiana and the fourth-best defensive tackle in the nation, per 247Sports. Through his two seasons at Baton Rouge, Shelvin tallied 48 total tackles (4.5 for loss), two passes defended and 1.5 sacks. Those numbers are expected from a nose tackle primarily focused on stopping the run, but his athleticism truly stood out, especially considering he’s six-foot-three, 346-pounds.

Even though Shelvin’s a redshirt junior, he has been projected to go in the first round by some draft experts. Todd McShay of ESPN recently had Shelvin getting selected 19th overall in the NFL Draft to the Tennessee Titans in his latest mock draft, while his colleague Mel Kiper Jr. ranked him as the 23rd-best prospect on his 2021 draft board.

Now with Shelvin out for the 2020 season, the Tigers will only have five returning starters from the squad that defeated Clemson in this year’s CFP National Championship team. Considering LSU is a breeding ground for NFL talent, it’s never shocking to see their players opt-out. But considering this season will be played in the middle of a global pandemic, the news becomes even less surprising.

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