Arden Key Will Return to LSU Following Surgery to Repair Shoulder Injury

Arden Key is returning to LSU. The school announced the All-SEC pass-rusher intends to return for his junior season after he took a leave of absence from the sport in February.

"Arden had shoulder surgery and everything went as planned," Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron said in a statement on the team's official website. "We are looking forward to having Arden rejoin the team [Monday]."

Key, a 6'6" physical specimen of a pass-rusher, recorded 55 tackles and 11 sacks in 2016. Orgeron announced in February that Key was taking time away from the team for personal reasons.

While there was never any official word on his status going into 2017, things were trending toward him playing. Key tweeted in April that he would not be sitting out his junior year and has remained close to the program despite not being a full participant in the offseason program.

LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda also recently said he was "hopeful" Key would be with the team in 2017.

"Arden's been around, so I've seen Arden," Aranda said, per Mark Inabinett of AL.com. "Arden's looking good. We get back together next week with a full staff. ... I anticipate at that time that we'll hear about Arden's direction and where he's going and whether he'll be with us or not.

"I'm very hopeful that he will be. I think we have a defense with Arden and a defense without Arden. There's two very separate entities there. I'm pulling for the one with."

Key is one of the best defensive players returning in the SEC and a potential first-round draft pick if he winds up performing at his 2016 levels. LSU getting him back in the fold is a major coup for Orgeron, who will be attempting to build on the 6-2 record he put up as an interim coach last season.