The list of players who skip bowl games ahead of the NFL Draft seems to get longer each year.
Players know the risks of participating in the extra game. It continues to present injury risks that could jeopardize their futures in the sport.
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But the decisions do have benefits for the teams that lose such players. When the NFL-bound starters decide to sit and look to the future, teams get the chance to see what the next players up at each position might offer in the upcoming season.
MORE: With 12-team field, CFP bracket would be loaded with must-see matchups
Which players will be sitting out their bowl games in 2022-23? The Sporting News is tracking the stars who will not be playing in their team's final games this season.
MORE: 2022 college football bowl schedule
College football players skipping bowl games
- Arkansas LB Bumper Pool
- Clemson DE Myles Murphy
- Florida QB Anthony Richardson
- Kentucky QB Will Levis
- Kentucky RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.
- Michigan RB Blake Corum (injury)
- North Carolina WR Josh Downs
- Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer
- Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (injury)
- Oklahoma DL Jalen Redmond
- Oklahoma OT Anton Harrison
- Oklahoma OT Wanya Morris
- Oklahoma RB Eric Gray
- Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez
- Oregon LB Noah Sewell
- Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr.
- Pitt DT Calijah Kancey
- South Carolina CB Cam Smith
- Syracuse RB Sean Tucker
- Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt
- Tennessee WR Cedric Tillman
- Texas RB Bijan Robinson
- Texas Tech OLB Tyree Wilson
- USC WR Jordan Addison (injury)
- Utah RB Tavion Thomas
- Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen (injury)
One of the top wide receivers in the country decided he will skip out on his team's bowl game. Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt will miss the Orange Bowl as he prepares for the NFL draft. He caught 67 passes for 1,267 yards with 15 touchdowns.
Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt announces that he’s declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft. He will attend, but won’t play in the Orange Bowl.
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) December 14, 2022
Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer became the latest player to announce his intention to skip the bowl game, with ESPN reporting he will sit out the Gator Bowl against South Carolina to turn his attention to the NFL draft. Mayer caught 67 passes for 809 yards and a career-best nine touchdowns in 2022.
Kentucky quarterback Will Levis announced Dec. 7 he will skip the Wildcats' Music City Bowl matchup with Iowa as he prepares for the NFL Draft. In his senior year with Kentucky, Levis completed 65.4 percent of his passes for 19 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and 2,406 passing yards.
Thank you #BBN 💙 pic.twitter.com/VYkrC4j2yM
— Will Levis (@will_levis) December 7, 2022
Anthony Richardson announced Monday on Twitter that he was skipping Florida's Las Vegas Bowl game against Oregon State to begin draft prep.
Marathon continues… 🏁 pic.twitter.com/3UqmJIWE1d
— Anthony Richardson † (@GVOaant) December 5, 2022
The redshirt sophom*ore was responsible for 26 touchdowns (17 passing, nine rushing) as he led the Gators to a 6-6 record in 2022. He threw for a career-high 453 yards in a loss at Tennessee.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba told ESPN on Monday that he is opting out of the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff semifinal vs. top-ranked Georgia. The receiver is instead preparing for the 2023 NFL Draft. He has dealt with a lingering hamstring injury all season, one that limited him to just five catches for 43 yards.
"I want to be out there competing with my brothers more than anything," Smith-Njigba told ESPN. "The decision to turn pro was made after I was unable to come back on multiple occasions during the season and the doctors determined I would be unable to participate in the playoffs."
According to the OU Daily, four Oklahoma players have opted out of the Cheez-It Bowl against Florida State. Running back Eric Gray, who rushed 213 times for 1,366 yards and 11 touchdowns; defensive lineman Jalen Redmond, who had four sacks and 10 tackles for loss in his redshirt junior year; and offensive tackles Anton Harrison and Wanya Morris will each sit out.
One of the top players to opt out, Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr., announced he would miss the Rose Bowl against Utah to prepare for the NFL Draft. Porter had 27 tackles and 11 pass breakups and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection.
Thank You Penn State 💙 pic.twitter.com/0Yxx8hE7s2
— Joey Porter Jr. (@jjporter_1) November 30, 2022
Penn State's opponent will also be without one of its top players. Utes running back Tavion Thomas announced before Utah's Pac-12 championship victory over USC his intention to sit out the remainder of the season, citing a toe injury. Thomas had 142 carries for 687 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022.
Gods plan 🙏🏾 thank youuu Utah nation pic.twitter.com/1K00bJdkUg
— Tavion.Thomas (@thiagoothomas9) November 25, 2022
Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez, a possible first-round selection, announced he would be opting out of the Holiday Bowl against North Carolina. The redshirt sophom*ore corner registered 50 tackles, including one for a loss, four interceptions and seven pass breakups.
Thank you lord 💚🦆#ProDucks pic.twitter.com/DFXKxqZlVv
— Gonzo (@chrisgonzo28) December 4, 2022
Pitt junior defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, said he would not be participating in the Panthers' Sun Bowl game against UCLA due to his health. He will continue to help prepare his teammates for the game. He has not yet announced his intentions to declare for the NFL Draft. He finished the season with 7.5 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss and 31 total tackles.
Clemson edge rusher Myles Murphy, a projected top-16 pick, will skip Clemson's appearance the Orange Bowl.
Myles Murphy (@BigMurphy_25) tells ESPN he's skipping the Orange Bowl and will declare for the NFL Draft. He's Mel Kiper's No. 1 DE and No. 10 overall prospect. @nfldraftscout has him No. 5 overall. https://t.co/nIHxwtdQk5
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 13, 2022
Bijan Robinson announced he is sitting out Texas' Alamo Bowl matchup with Washington, after he put together one of the best seasons by any running back in the nation.
— Dennis de la Pena (@dennisonfox7) December 20, 2022Bijan Robinson on his decision to opt out of the Alamo Bowl and enter the NFL Draft early:
"The reason why it was hard (is) because I just love it here - and I just love everything about this place. I love this fan base, the coaching staff, the people here."#HookEm @fox7austin pic.twitter.com/SGKNfss2b2
Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell, brother of Lions tackle Penei Sewell, was a late opt-out just six days before the Ducks' Holiday Bowl matchup with North Carolina. Oregon already lost cornerback Christian Gonzalez to an opt-out, but the Tar Heels are even more depleted by opt-outs and transfer portal entries.
— Noah Sewell™️ (@B1essah) December 22, 2022
