IN BRIEF Prosecutor: LSU players appeared justified in shooting

A prosecutor said two LSU players appear to have responded with justifiable force when they fatally shot an 18-year-old man who was allegedly trying to rob them at gunpoint. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore told The Asso- ciated Press the investiga- tion is still in preliminary stages and authorities are not prepared to say whether it was sophomore RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire or freshman LB Jared Small who fired the shots that killed Kobe Johnson. Baton Rouge police have said the Dec. 22 shooting occurred off campus, where the players were trying to sell an electronic item.

The players traveled with LSU to the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., and were in uniform for Tuesday’s win over Central Florida. Edwards-Helaire took the game’s opening kickoff 77 yards to set up a field goal.

Draft decisions: Stanford TE Kaden Smith will skip his final season to enter the NFL draft. N.C. State redshirt junior WR Jakobi Meyers is skipping his final season to enter the draft. Miami LB Shaquille Quarterman said he is returning for his final season of eligibility.

Late Monday bowl games: Junior Trayveon Williams ran for 236 yards and three TDs, smashing a school record with 1,760 yards for the season and carrying Texas A&M (9-4) to a 52-13 win over North Carolina State in the Gator Bowl at Jacksonville, Fla. The Aggies ended 2018 with a four-game winning streak and broke a three- game postseason skid. Williams, the game’s MVP, is expected to leave the Aggies early for the NFL draft. N.C. State finished 9-4.

■ A cold, hard rain in normally warm, dry San Diego made Northwestern feel at home as it enjoyed a downpour of Utah turnovers in the Holiday Bowl. In a nine-minute stretch of the third quarter, the Wildcats (9-5) turned three TOs into 21 points to stun the Utes 31-20. Senior Clayton Thorson became the all-time leading passer for Northwestern, going 21 of 30 for 241 yards and 10,731 career yards. Utah (9-5) cruised to a 20-3 halftime lead before it all fell apart.