CLEMSON – Last season, almost every offensive lineman who was selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft (who did not play in the College Football Playoff) opted out of a bowl game.
LSU’s offensive tackle Will Campbell, the No. 3 pick in the Draft, decided not to play in the Texas Bowl to prepare, according to his social media. Missouri’s Armand Membou, the No. 7 pick for the New York Jets, also decided to opt out of his team’s appearance in the Music City Bowl against Iowa.
While it has become common practice for NFL Draft hopefuls, including players like Campbell and Membou, to opt out of bowl games that lack championship implications, Clemson offensive lineman Tristan Leigh, currently projected as a later-round pick according to NFLDraftCountDown.