LSU senior running back Charles Scott will not play in the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1, coach Les Miles said Tuesday after practice.
Scott suffered a collarbone fracture against Alabama on Nov. 7 and did not play the rest of the regular season.
Miles had said about two weeks ago that Scott might be available for the bowl game but recanted that earlier statement on Tuesday. He said Scott will now focus on getting prepared for the 2010 NFL Draft.
“It appears to me Charles Scott cannot play in this game with good conscience,” Miles said. “I understand it completely. If there was ever a guy who would give it great consideration and fought like heck to do it is Charles Scott.”
Miles said Scott has a positive attitude about the situation because the injury will likely heal “100 percent.”
“I think he realizes that it’s a very positive situation for him based on the fact that the injury is going to heal 100 percent,” Miles said. “And if he had just a couple more weeks, he’d probably play in this game. But we miss him. We enjoy him. We’re rooting for him. We hope he gets drafted significantly.”
Miles said Scott will join the team in Orlando, Fla., for the game but will arrive late along with other injured players.
Tuesday’s practice was LSU’s final session before the team reconvenes in Orlando for the Capital One Bowl against Penn State. The Tigers will get the next three days off for the Christmas holidays before heading to the Sunshine State.
“We really did some things that we needed to do to get better,” Miles said of the Tigers’ recent practices. “I’ve enjoyed the nine days.”
Miles said some players will meet in Baton Rouge to travel to Orlando, while others who will be far away from Baton Rouge for the holidays will be able to head to Orlando on their own.
He said he trusts his players who won’t meet in Baton Rouge to be able to make it to Orlando on their own.
“The good news is we haven’t really had those issues,” Miles said. “I think our guys go home and act responsibly, enjoy the holidays and look forward to reporting.”
 
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