Michigan State had trouble running the football all season, and one of he big reasons why was that star running back LJ Scott was never healthy. They really missed him. Really, really missed him.

Scott hurt his ankle in the Week 2 game at Arizona State and it was never the same all season. Every time he’d try to come back, it would flare up again and he’d head back to rehab. It frustrated the daylights out of him.

He talked about coming back for a fifth season at Michigan State to raise his draft stock, but instead he decided on Wednesday to just go ahead and turn pro.

“Having dealt with various humbling injuries during the 2018 regular season, I initially believed the best plan for me was to return to the Spartans as a Redshirt Senior next season,” Scott wrote in a statement that he posted on social media. “As the season has drawn closer to an end, I’ve had time to properly reflect and discuss all of my options with my coaches and family to decide the absolute best course of action for me going forward. After a ton of thought, prayer, and careful consideration, I have decided to enter the 2019 NFL Draft as a senior.”

“Especially considering the position I play, I truly feel in my heart that after four seasons at MSU, the time is right for me to turn pro. I will continue to get healthy, finish the season playing in the Redbox Bowl with my teammates, then pursue my dream of playing in the NFL. ”

He has accomplished a lot during his four years in East Lansing, despite some injuries that stole game-time from him. His most memorable moment came as a freshman in 2015, where he dragged a handful of Iowa defenders on his way to the end zone in the Big Ten Championship Game, scoring the game-winning touchdown in the final minute to earn the Spartans their first-ever trip to the College Football Playoff. It was a memorable moment.

Scott has 2,771 career rushing yards, which rank 10th all-time in program history. He would need 77 yards in the bowl game to get to No. 9 past Duane Goulbourne (1992-95). Had he come back and had a 1,000-yard season, he could have gotten as high as No. 4 on that list, but that’s not really the point, is it?

Despite the ankle injury this year, Scott is still viewed as a mid-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. It makes more sense to get the clock started on his NFL career, because running backs have a short window in the league. Teams aren’t really interested in older running backs, so you’ve got to make your cash while you can. That’s what Scott intends to do.

He’s seen some good moments at Michigan State, and he leaves the running back room in good shape for 2019 anyway, with plenty of young talent ready to emerge. He should feel pretty good by the time the bowl game with Oregon rolls around, so hopefully he can put on one final show.