LSU coach Ed Orgeron announced on Wednesday that junior outside linebacker Arden Key will not play in the Citrus Bowl due to injury.
Key has struggled with injuries all season but still managed 33 tackles and four sacks in eight games.
“Arden has been battling some injuries,” Orgeron said. “He has not been able to practice, and he won’t be able practice, he won’t be able to play.”
Orgeron added that the decision came down on Wednesday, and that Key had been trying to practice. 
By missing the Citrus Bowl, Key may have played his final down in an LSU uniform and is projected as a first round pick in the 2018 NFL draft, but he has not made an official decision on his senior year.
Key has started 28 out of 31 games and has 130 tackles, 26.5 tackles for a loss, 21 sacks and four forced fumbles in his career. The 21 sacks is tied for third most in school history, and his 12 sacks in 2016 is a school record.
Orgeron also announced that senior linebackers Donnie Alexander and Corey Thompson will also be out due to injury, and senior kicker Cameron Gamble is ineligible for the bowl game.
LSU will be missing three starting linebackers against Notre Dame without Alexander, Key and Thompson. 
Alexander is the team’s fifth leading tackler with 51 stops, and Thompson is tied for the team lead in sacks with six.
Expect young players like freshmen linebackers K’Lavon Chaisson, Jacob Phillips and Tyler Taylor and sophomore Michael Divinity to step up in place of the three injured starters.