Leonard Fournette is sitting out of LSU's bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft

Louisiana State running back Leonard Fournette's college career appears finished.

According to Ross Dellenger of The Advocate - Baton Rouge, Fournette is going to sit out of LSU's bowl game, the Citrus Bowl vs. Louisville, to rest his ankle in preparation for the NFL Draft. Fournette announced in December that he was declaring for he 2017 NFL Draft.

Fournette has been nursing an injured ankle during his junior year. He told reporters on Friday that the ankle won't need surgery, only rest and rehab. He claimed it's 85-90%, according to Dellenger.

Fournette also said that his teammates got emotional when he told them he wouldn't be playing.

While it's somewhat jarring to see Fournette's college career end so suddenly, it's not much of a surprise. Players have ended their college careers mid-season before to protect their status in the draft. Currently, Fournette comes in at No. 1 on our list of the top 32 NFL draft prospects.