LSU defensive tackle Drake Nevis has pulled out of the 2011 Senior Bowl.
Nevis was set to join LSU linebacker Kelvin Sheppard and kicker Josh Jasper in the game scheduled for Jan. 29.
The Senior Bowl features the nation’s top senior college football players in a North-against-South format. The Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff will lead the North team while the Buffalo Bills staff will coach the South.
Nevis’ name no longer appears on the South roster on the official Senior Bowl website.
Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn, Florida offensive lineman Marcus Pouncey and North Carolina linebacker Quan Sturdivant have also decided not to play.
While Nevis’ mother, Vivian Nevis, said she was “not sure the exact reason” why the 2010 first-team All-Southeastern Conference lineman decided not to play, local draft expert Mike Detillier said it might be because of a foot injury.
Detillier said he’s not sure when the injury may have popped up, but it could have happened in the Cotton Bowl or the practices leading up to it.
Nevis recorded a tackle in every regular season game but was held without a stop against Texas A&M.
“It’s not unusual for players to pull out if they have an injury, even if it’s a slight injury,” Detillier said. “It really doesn’t affect a draft status. More than anything, teams want to see how you work out at your individual day and the combine.”
Detillier said the last thing a player wants to do is hurt his draft status by practicing poorly leading up to the Senior Bowl. He said the practices may be more highly scrutinized by scouts than the game itself.
“While you would love to see him play in that game – and they’ve got some really good defensive linemen in that ball game – if you’re nursing an injury, what you don’t want to do is go over there and not practice well,” he said.
Nevis started every game for the Tigers this season. He finished third in the SEC with three forced fumbles, eighth in the SEC with six sacks and sixth in the SEC with 13 tackles for loss. He also recorded the first interception of his career.
    Blog: Nevis making a wise choice to skip Senior Bowl
 
The defensive tackle’s stellar senior year could make him an early second-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft, according to Detillier.
 
 
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