Starting tackle Juwann Bushell-Beatty has become the fourth Michigan starter who has decided to skip the Wolverines’ game against Florida in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Saturday, a school official confirmed to the Detroit Free Press on Wednesday.
Bushell-Beatty, a fifth-year senior, didn’t even make the trip with his teammates to Atlanta for the bowl game after missing the regular-season finale against Ohio State after being limited the week before because of injury. He was on the sidelines for that game.
“It was their decision and we respect it,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said when asked about the players who are sitting out the bowl game. “I have respect for them and that’s the decision for them to make.”
Redshirt freshman Andrew Stueber, who replaced Bushell-Beatty in the starting lineup against Ohio State, also will start at right tackle against Florida.
Bushell-Beatty, a New Jersey native who was a four-star member of the Wolverines’ 2014 recruiting class, started 19 games during his Michigan career, including 11 this season and seven last year.
Bushell-Beatty, who apparently wants to be healthy for the NFL Combine and hopes to be a high draft choice, was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection this season on teams selected by conference coaches and the media.
The other Michigan players who have decided to skip the Chick-fil-A Bowl are linebacker Devin Bush, defensive lineman Rashan Gary and running back Karan Higdon.
