Which Texas A&M football players have opted out of Las Vegas Bowl against USC?
The landscape of college football has changed a lot over the past decade or so, and Texas A&M football fans have not been immune to some of the less welcome shifts. A lot could be said about the transfer portal and the advent of NIL compensation, but one of the things that was a forerunner of these more recent innovations was the bowl opt-out.
It used to be a novelty that a player, anticipating a high draft selection, would elect to sit out of his team's bowl game. As the playoff has become more important, though, and the bowls resultantly have held less cache in the minds of players and fans, it has become much more common.
Jaylon Smith's knee injury in the Fiesta Bowl several years ago was something of a test case. Whereas before that you have no-doubt top overall picks like Jadaveon Clowney playing in a bowl game, now you have players who may not even go in the first two days of the draft sitting out their postseason berth.
It's just the way the sport has gone now— for better or for worse. It's more of a novelty now to see players not opt out, and that decision usually comes with big insurance policies.
Many Aggie players had the chance to sit this game out, but only four have actually elected to sit this game out.
Which Texas A&M football players are opting out of Las Vegas Bowl?
Here is every Aggie player who has declared that they will be opting out of the bowl game.
Opt-outs:
DL Nic Scourton
DL Shemar Stewart
DL Shemar Turner
WR Moose Muhammad
The Ags will see an influx of new talent on the defensive line get their shot in this one, and their play will be key to shut down a potent rushing offense for USC.
All the best to Nic, the Shemars, and Moose in their pursuit of their NFL dreams. Hopefully, their draft stock continues to rise and they are high selections when the time comes!