Alabama’s AJ McCarron (10) with D.J. Fluker (76) and Eddie Lacy (42) after Lacy’s touchdown against Missouri. (AP photo by L.G. Patterson)
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — Alabama offensive tackle D.J. Fluker has accepted a Senior Bowl invitation even though he’s not a senior.
Fluker has declared for the NFL draft in April and will bypass his senior season. Typically, only seniors play in the Senior Bowl, which will be Saturday in Mobile.
According to a release from the Senior Bowl, game organizers successfully petitioned the NFL to include Fluker and Syracuse’s Justin Pugh this year because both are fourth-year players who redshirted as freshmen and have completed their undergraduate degrees.
The release said they will be the first non-seniors in the game’s 64-year history.
Fluker is a three-year starter and made first-team All-Southeastern Conference and second-team Associated Press All-American.
Five former Alabama teammates will join him in Mobile: center Barrett Jones, safety Robert Lester, linebacker Nico Johnson, tight end Michael Williams and long snapper Carson Tinker. Jones will not play because he is recovering from surgery on his foot.
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