Kayshon Boutte, a receiver for LSU, has changed his mind about staying with the Tigers in 2023 and will instead declare for the NFL draught.
Boutte made the announcement on a verified social media account Wednesday night, just hours after coach Brian Kelly said Boutte wouldn’t be able to play against Purdue in the Citrus Bowl on Monday, but was still enrolled for the spring semester.
LSU confirmed that Boutte informed the Tigers that he is leaving the team to pursue a professional career.
Boutte stated on social media in early December that he planned to return to LSU for the 2023 season.
Boutte, a 6-foot-190-pound receiver, caught 48 passes for 538 yards and two touchdowns this season, a down year for him as he recovered from an ankle injury that kept him out for nearly half of the previous season.
But he stood out in the SEC Championship game, catching six passes for 107 yards and a touchdown in a 50-30 loss to No. 1 Georgia.
Before his injury, Boutte was on pace for a big 2021 season, catching 38 passes for 509 yards and nine touchdowns in just six games.
Boutte caught 45 passes for 735 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games as a freshman in 2020.