The NFL won’t be taking as big of a bite out of LSU’s junior class this year.

Three Tiger juniors had announced that they would follow the recent trend, but that will be it for this year after the deadline to declare passed with six other candidates saying they will stick around for their senior seasons.

LSU will lose outside linebacker Kwon Alexander, defensive end Danielle Hunter and cornerback Jalen Collins. But it’s a far cry from the last two years, when 18 juniors made the plunge early — 11 in 2013 and seven last year.

The Tigers reportedly had three others seriously thinking about the draft and another trio who were at least considering it.

But offensive linemen Vadal Alexander and Jerald Hawkins, along with cornerback Jalen Mills said Friday they are staying.

“What they did was postpone wealth and said that there is more to accomplish,” Miles said. “They want to get a degree, play for a championship and raise their draft status.

“In other words, rather than give the NFL a bargain (they are saying) we are going to go to the Senior Bowl, get our degree, play for championships for one more year. We are going to command top dollar when we go to the NFL. They are going to make their draft entry the most profitable position that they can be in.”

Three others players were also on hand at a news conference to re-up as Tigers — tight end Dillon Gordon, wide receiver Travin Dural (a redshirt sophomore) and linebacker Lamar Louis.

“This is the core leadership of our team,” Miles said. “Losing leadership annually is not how you build a team. They wanted more.

“This team (will be) as talented and capable as any that we’ve fielded. I think about how far we came last year. I think we’re really close.”

It means that LSU’s offensive line will lose only senior La’el Collins, who may be Exhibit A for the benefits of staying in school for a final year. A projected third-round pick a year ago when it was assumed he’d leave early, many now see him as a likely first-round pick after the extra year in college.

But it was also apparent that Miles’ more proactive approach may have played a factor.

Call it re-recruiting.

Since the end of the season Miles made in-home visits to most of the juniors who were seriously considering taking the plunge.

“It’s a tough decision,” Miles said. “Was pretty simple to me, but it was a very tough decision for them. At some point in time, I have to honor their decision.”

Mills, for instance, admitted that watching so many teammates leave early in recent years exerted some peer pressure.

“You want to put yourself in the position they did,” he said.

But Mills, who said he was leaning toward leaving, changed his mind after Miles visited his home in DeSoto, Texas.

“Coach Miles came to my house, taking the time to sit down with me an my mom, lay it out for me and my family and the better situation of me staying for my last year,” Mills said. “Also hammering to my mom the importance of getting my degree.

“He made my final decision. I called him (back) and I told him, ‘Coach, I’m going to come back for you.’ That’s really what made my final decision, just coming back and trying to get my degree and being one of the leaders on the team.”

Miles also visited Alexander.

“I sat down with coach Miles and talked to him with my parents,” said Alexander, who will likely move from right guard to right tackle in the NFL. “We had a really in depth conversation about the pros and cons of leaving and staying. I realized how important this program is for me.

“We have the opportunity to go to the NFL and leave school early, but we would be leaving a lot behind. When you think about it, it’s really worth coming back to better yourself, better the team, and better the LSU program.”

Miles downplayed his role.

“The decision is not ours, it’s theirs,” he said. “We give them as much information as we can … they want to be a Tiger for another year, and it’s damn special.”

(Rick Hickman/American Press)