Star pass rusher Arden Key to take leave from football for “personal reasons,” school announces

By JAMES MORAN | Tiger Rag Associate Editor

Star pass rusher Arden Key will take time away from the football program for “personal reasons,” LSU announced Wednesday afternoon.

“In consultation with our staff and his family, Arden Key has decided to take some time away from football for personal reasons,” LSU coach Ed Orgeron said via an official statement.

“We fully support Arden in his decision and look forward to welcoming him back home to the Tiger family at the appropriate time.”

Key set the program’s single-season sack record this past season and is expected to be one of the nation’s elite pass rushers during his upcoming junior season. He recorded 12 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss and 11 quarterback hurries in 2016. He started 11 of LSU’s 12 games, but didn’t dress out for the regular season finale against Texas A&M. He started nine games during his true freshman season in 2015.

Neither Key nor LSU will make further comment on the matter, per the release.