As college football world sees opt-outs, here's why Clemson's players are all-in for Cheez-It Bowl

ORLANDO, Fla. – As dozens of the best college football players in the country are opting out of bowl games, Clemson’s are still all in.

The No. 19-ranked Tigers (9-3) have a full roster, including NFL prospects, for Wednesday’s Cheez-It Bowl (5:45 p.m., ESPN) against Iowa State (7-5) at Camping World Stadium.

“They’re all here,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Tuesday.

Iowa State all-time leading rusher Breece Hall is here, too, but he won’t be in uniform. Hall is one of the high-profile players who has decided not to risk injury ahead of the NFL draft. He is expected to be the top running back selected.

Hall against Clemson’s defense was one of the most appealing things about this bowl game. The junior ranks sixth nationally in rushing yards per game (122.0) and has scored 20 touchdowns. He owns Iowa State records for most career TDs (56), most rushing TDs (50) and most points (336).

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And while it’s disappointing for fans on both sides not to see him play in the bowl game, Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said he fully supported Hall’s decision.

“He’s a young man that has done everything for the betterment of Iowa State football,” Campbell said. “We certainly understand the situation and opportunity that he has in front of him. I would say Breece has been the ultimate leader in the running back room even since he decided that the best thing for him was to not play in this game. I think that’s what I love about Breece. He’s one of those young men who has been an integral part of the growth of our football program in every way, shape and form.”

Clemson has a top prospect as well. Junior cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. is projected to go in the top half of the draft’s first round and some experts have him as a top-10 pick as the best player at his position. Booth has as much at stake as Hall, if not more, but has been practicing with his teammates at a local high school with every intention of finishing the season with team.

“That’s a testament to our program Coach Swinney built,” Clemson co-defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin said. “We use ‘all in’ all the time, but, honestly, these guys are complete program guys completely committed.”

“We’ve always tried to really value the bowl experience,” Swinney said, “always really tried to make it a memorable experience for our families and our players. … We have a lot of guys who are going to be wearing that paw for one last time and it’s important to them. It’s a big deal.”

There were plenty of players who left these teams during season for the transfer portal, however, 12 for Iowa State and nine for Clemson.

Other Clemson players, at least the healthy ones, with immediate NFL aspirations are defensive end Xavier Thomas, cornerback Mario Goodrich, defensive tackle Tyler Davis and linebacker James Skalski. They’ll probably have to be pulled off the field at some point Wednesday night.

"We get to play football,” Skalski said. “Yeah, we’ve been to the playoffs and on bigger stages. But to us, we get to go play a game again. We get a chance to go represent Clemson and show everyone what we can do, including ourselves. I think we all just love playing ball, and we love being together.”

“It means so much,” Clemson freshman running back Will Shipley said. “I just think it’s carrying on the culture that we’ve created. You’ve got guys who could go first round, easily, and they’re sticking around and fighting it out even though we’re not playing in a playoff game. We’re down here in Orlando playing in the Cheez-It Bowl and nobody’s opted out.

“... I think everyone was kind of speculating, waiting to see if anything was going to happen, if anyone was going to opt out. To see that no one did was kind of a breath of fresh air. It fills your blood with oxygen.”

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Hall, meanwhile, is in good company. Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett, who led his team to the ACC championship, will not play in the Peach Bowl. ACC leading tackler Payton Wilson and two N.C. State teammates have opted out of their bowl game as well. So have projected No. 1 pick Kayvon Thibodeaux, a defensive end at Oregon; Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III; West Virginia running ack Leddie Brown; Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams and safety Kyle Hamilton; Missouri running back Tyler Badie; and Ole Miss leading receiver Elijah Moore.

Ohio State players who opted out of the Rose Bowl include wide receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, offensive lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere and defensive lineman Haskell Garrett. Kentucky cornerback Kelvin Joseph quit before the regular season was done.

“What’s going on in the overall landscape of college football, Coach Swinney and I have had those conversations,” Campbell said. “It’s certainly an interesting time in where we’re going and what’s going to occur. But I do think these bowl experiences are really special.”

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football has no players opt out for Cheez-It Bowl