Stanford Cardinals RB Christian McCaffrey to skip bowl, focus on draft

Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey announced Monday he will sit out the Sun Bowl to begin preparing for the 2017 NFL Draft.

"Very tough decision, but I have decided not to play in the Sun Bowl so I can begin my draft prep immediately," McCaffrey wrote on Twitter. "Thx to all my teammates for their 100% support -- It means a lot to me. Go Cardinal!"

Stanford faces North Carolina in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 30. McCaffrey announced Dec. 7 he would skip his senior season and enter the draft.

McCaffrey finished his three years at Stanford with 3,922 rushing yards, 1,206 receiving yards, 1,859 return yards and 33 touchdowns.

McCaffrey broke Barry Sanders' NCAA record for all-purpose yards in 2015 when put up 3,864 yards -- 2,019 rushing yards, 645 receiving yards and 1,200 return yards.

In 2016 as a junior, McCaffrey again led the nation with 2,327 all-purpose yards, including 1,603 rushing yards, despite a midseason injury

The 6-foot, 202-pound McCaffrey is ranked 22nd overall and third at his position, and projected as a first-round pick by NFLDraftScout.com. LSU's Leonard Fournette and Florida State's Dalvin Cook are ranked ahead of McCaffrey at his position.

Fournette also will sit out the bowl season, announcing Friday that he would not play in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31 against Louisville.