There have been and will be myriad non-surprises when it comes to players leaving eligibility on the table for a shot at the NFL. This one doesn’t exactly fit neatly into that category.
In an announcement made by his new agent, Peter Shaffer, LSU’s Tharold Simon has confirmed that he’s leaving the Tigers early for the NFL draft. The move is somewhat surprising, at least in the vein that the cornerback was not one of a handful of draft-eligible Tiger underclassmen who had been mentioned as realistic possibilities for an early departure.
Nonetheless, Simon has officially taken his leave of Baton Rouge.
“I have loved every minute of being a LSU Tiger, and my heart will always remain at this incredible institution that taught me so much about being an athlete, student and person,” Simon said a statement. “I truly hope that I will be lucky enough to make an NFL roster and do LSU proud.”
Simon led the Tigers in interceptions with four this season.
Safety Eric Reid and linebacker Kevin Minter are Tigers who had previously announced their decisions to leave LSU a year early. LSU is expected to lose at least two additional juniors before the Jan. 15 deadline.