Christian McCaffrey has ended his college football career prematurely in order to build a brighter future for himself in the sport.
The Stanford University running back announced Monday on Twitter that he’ll sit out the Sun Bowl in order to prepare for the 2017 NFL Draft. Stanford (9-3) will face the University of North Carolina (8-4) on Dec. 30 without its biggest offensive weapon.
Earlier this month, McCaffrey declared for the draft, but most expected him to play in the Sun Bowl.
Some have criticized McCaffrey’s decision.
Others are defending the Stanford star.
Despite leading the nation in all-purpose yards in the last two years, McCaffrey apparently hopes to improve his draft stock through training rather than showcasing his considerable talent one last time.
MacCaffrey joins Lousiana State’s Leonard Fournette among college football stars who have chosen to sit out postseason bowl games for the sake of their (NFL) futures. Fournette will skip the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31 between LSU and Louisville.
We won’t know how their decisions will affect their respective draft stocks until next year, but other college standouts undoubtedly will follow their stories closely.
Meanwhile, college football’s postseason risks losing luster, with the biggest names sitting out the biggest games.
Thumbnail photo via Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports Images
