Funviralpark wide receiver Announced after regular season He intended to return for another season of college football.
“LSU has been great for me,” Boutte wrote in his first statement. “My growth under the new staff has helped me reach new levels. It’s always been about winning a national championship with LSU and that will never change.We made progress this year but ultimately fell short, so I believe we can achieve a lot more in the future.”
However, LSU announced Wednesday that Boutte will not face Purdue in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 2 and said he will be at LSU for the spring semester. The reason for Boutte’s sudden absence from the game was not given until later in the day when he said he was heading to the NFL and declaring a draft.
Bothe’s initial decision to stay in college came as a bit of a surprise, as it was reversed just days before the bowl game. He didn’t put up eye-popping stats in 2022, but he could be a pick in the first three rounds of the draft.
Boutte was particularly good as a 2021 sophomore. Although he played in just his six games, he caught 38 catches and 9 TDs for 509 yards. That performance came after he had 45 catches and 735 yards in 10 games as a freshman.
His stats plummeted in 2022 with 48 catches for 538 yards and just 2 TDs in 11 games.
Boutte joins WR Jaray Jenkins, edge rusher BJ Ojulari and CF Mekhi Garner as LSU players, not facing Purdue and readying the draft. Meanwhile, Purdue is without starting quarterback Aidan O’Connell, top TE Payne Durham and top receiver Charlie Jones.
