On Tuesday, LSU coach Ed Orgeron said he’s not sure what star defender Arden Key’s status is for the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Key had surgery on a pinky finger and missed the last two games of the regular season, but with a chance to enter the NFL Draft after the bowl season, it’s possible that is playing a role in his absence from practice so far, too.

However, NFL.com interviewed five anonymous NFL executives, two of whom said Key still has a lot to prove before he can begin to rise up draft boards. One called Key’s 2017 campaign “uninspiring,” and would like to see him match up against Notre Dame’s talented offensive line:

“Tough one. I’ll go with Arden Key. He’s had an uninspiring year. You see flashes, but he hasn’t put it all together. If he can put a full game together against one of the better tackles in the draft (Notre Dame OT Mike McGlinchey), he’ll help himself in draft rooms in the coming months.”

In eight games this season, Key has recorded 33 tackles (5.5 for a loss) and four sacks — a far cry from his 2016 totals of 55 tackles (12.5 for a loss) and 11 sacks.

Whether or not he can climb into the first round of the upcoming draft remains to be seen, but some buzz around the NFL should make him more determined to suit up on New Year’s Day if he can.