Alabama LB Terrell Lewis opted to skip the Crimson Tide’s Citrus Bowl game against Michigan, but his college football career wasn’t over. Lewis is participating in this weekend’s Senior Bowl. At the all-star game’s media day, he explained his decision-making process on the postseason games.

“It was a collective decision between me and my family and just kind of a business decision to kind of get a head start on the NFL Draft process, get my body prepared to transition to that NFL stage where you know you’re going to be playing against grown men,” Lewis said, per Charlie Potter of Bama OnLine.

Prioritizing an all-star game over a New Year’s Day bowl might seem unconventional to fans, but Lewis stayed consistent stating that his priority is getting ready for the upcoming NFL Draft. He figured he could play in one game or the other.

“Also just knowing, in the back of your head, that it would be a quick turnaround to prepare yourself for a bowl game throughout the whole month of December and then play in a game on the first, then have a quick turnaround and play in the Senior Bowl, in an event like this where you get to be up close and with the scouts,” Lewis explained to reporters.

“I wanted to get a head start and be prepared to be at my best when I came to an event like this.”

Scouts will get to see Lewis at his best in practice this week and in the Senior Bowl on Saturday at Ladd–Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.