Arizona State senior receiver/returner Brandon Aiyuk announced Sunday that he will skip the Sun Bowl against Florida State on Dec. 31 to protect his draft stock.
Aiyuk is considered a possible first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He played two seasons for the Sun Devils after first playing at Sierra College, a community college in Rocklin, Calif.
“My gratitude for ASU has no end,” Aiyuk wrote on Twitter. “As a kid with no scholarship offers who took the JUCO route, ASU has enabled me to pursue a lifelong dream of playing in the NFL. After conferring with my family and coaches, I have decided to sit out of the bowl game and begin training in preparation for the 2020 NFL Draft.”
Aiyuk was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection as a receiver this season when he caught 65 passes for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns. He also was the first-team choice as a return specialist as he averaged 31.9 yards on 14 kickoff returns and 16.1 yards and a touchdown on 14 punt returns.
Sun Devils junior running back Eno Benjamin recently declared for the draft but hasn’t yet announced if he will play in the bowl game.
