Stanford’s star running back will not play in the team’s upcoming appearance in the Sun Bowl.
That was the announcement from Christian McCaffrey on Twitter on Monday.
— Christian McCaffrey (@CMccaffrey5) December 19, 2016
The 2015 Heisman runner-up already announced he would forgo his senior year with the Cardinal to play in the NFL.
He’ll finish his college career with 5,125 yards from scrimmage and 31 touchdowns. He was highly decorated, winning the Pac 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2015, when he was a consensus All American, Associated Press Player of the Year, Chic Harley, Jet and Paul Hornung Award winners. He was also First-Team All-Pac-12 the last two seasons and an Academic All-American of the Year this year.
The decision to sit out the last game of the season sparked a debate online between people demanding he put himself at risk for a decorated exhibition game and others who think it’s beneficial for him to protect his future earnings — the perfect circumstances to set off a storm of hot takes.
For their part, a couple of McCaffrey’s teammates supported him publicly:
The whole team supports @CMccaffrey5 in everything and anything. Hes been a leader to this team through the easy times and tough times.
— Trenton Irwin (@trenton_4) December 19, 2016
To the best teammate, roommate, and brother I could have asked for, thank you. I have never met… https://t.co/9pEJhMwCMm
— Solomon Thomas (@SollyThomas90) December 19, 2016