Six underclassmen for the LSU football team announced their decision to remain with the team instead of declaring for the NFL Draft during a press conference Friday.
Juniors offensive lineman Vadal Alexander, offensive lineman Jerald Hawkins, safety Jalen Mills, linebacker Lamar Louis, tight end Dillon Gordon and sophomore wide receiver Travin Dural all decided to return to the team.
LSU coach Les Miles said he’s excited to have a high number of underclassmen return to buck a trend in which the Tigers have lost 16 underclassmen over the past two seasons.
“I’m very pleased to have a very strong junior class returning,” Miles said. “Guys that showed maturity and really handled their decision. There was a variety of draft positions represented with this group of men, but what they did is they postponed.”

Miles went on to praise his players for turning down the opportunity at an NFL paycheck to earn a degree and the possibility of playing for a national championship.
Miles said the decision was their own, but his players showed maturity in making their decisions.
“What they said was there’s more to accomplish,” Miles said. “Get a degree, win a championship and raise your draft status. In other words, rather than give the NFL a part we’re going to go to the senior bowl. We’re going to get our degree and compete for championships.”
Alexander, who returns as a vital part of a Tigers experienced offensive line, said his decision was easy.
Alexander thought back upon his early childhood days, reminiscing on his dad and growing up around LSU around his whole life.
“I’ve loved LSU my whole life,” Alexander said. “My dad always wore LSU stuff. I didn’t know anything else.”

Mills, who finished his junior season with 62 tackles and an interception, returns to the LSU secondary among the best in the nation in 2014.
The 6-foot, 194 pound safety said Miles was the reason he decided to come back for his senior season. Mills talked about Miles paying him and his mother a visit at his house and expressing to his mother the importance of getting a degree and the importance he has to the Tigers.
“[Miles] really not much talking to me, but talking to my mom,” Mills said. “Hammering to her, like she always hammered to me, getting my degree because that’s one thing… once you get that degree, once you get that paper nobody can take that from you so that’s really what made my final decision.”
Miles said he’s confident the 2015 season will be a successful one for the Tigers.
Alexander said once he made his decision to return, he already started thinking about next year.
“[Thinking about next year] has already started,” Alexander said. “As soon as I made my decision it started. We’re working everyday. Me, Hawkins, Lamar [Louis] all the senior guys we’ve already started working out things like that. It starts now. If you want to be a great team, want to win a national championship, and be one of the four in the playoffs, it starts now.”