Former LSU Tigers defensive end Jack Pyburn was going to attempt a return to college if he went unclaimed in NFL free agency, but he was snagged up by the Kansas City Chiefs.
The LSU Tigers just had one of their recent professional commits back out as Jack Pyburn was claimed off waiver by the Kansas City Chiefs, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, and he is obviously choosing the NFL opportunity over maybe being able to return to college.
Pyburn was seriously looking into going back to the Tigers, because not many projected him to make an NFL roster, likely destined for a practice squad. Then, out of nowhere, he exploded for four sacks in three preseason games. That level of pass rush production was not there last season.
The former Florida Gators standout has always been known as more of a run defender than someone who went after the quarterback, but you can't always be a specialist at the next level. He needed to show that he can disrupt the pass to make it to a team.
After his preseason performance, it felt like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might end up keeping him after signing him as a UDFA. They waived him, though, which really made it seem like he was making it to campus.
Good news for LSU, though: they didn't need Pyburn's help in the first place. They did a great job of addressing the defensive line's deficiencies this offseason, and he probably wouldn't have been starting.
The Tigers will still have three players fighting for eligibility on Thursday: Junior Tuihalamaka, Dae'Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris. Though Tuihalamaka never signed a professional contract, he did go through the draft process before getting hurt and has already appeared in 54 games over four seasons.
