LSU DT Neil Farrell opts back in for 2020 season

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - LSU defensive lineman Neil Farrell, who became the first Tiger football player to opt out, has returned to the team, head coach Ed Orgeron confirmed Tuesday, September 15.

Reports about Farrell’s returned first surfaced Monday and the 6-foot-4, 298-pound senior from Mobile, Ala., posted a message on Twitter later in the day that appeared to go along with those reports.

Farrell opted out in early August while his grandmother was battling COVID-19 and in the hospital but he recently tweeted she is improving and doing better. He also admitted he has missed football.

Orgeron said he is excited about Farrell’s return. He added the team met and decided it wanted him back, so he was welcomed back. Orgeron pointed out Farrell had a legitimate reason for leaving but now has to earn his way back and it is not yet known if he’ll start first game.

led all LSU defensive lineman with 46 tackles, seven for loss, and three sacks.

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CBS Sports reported he will likely be a key contributor up front, even if it takes some time for him to enter the starting lineup after missing more than a month of work because fellow lineman Tyler Shelvin opted out of the season, which left a gaping hole in the middle of the defensive line.

LSU will kick off the season hosting Mississippi State on Saturday, Sept. 26.

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