Baylor RB Shock Linwood to Sit Out of Cactus Bowl vs. Boise State

If you’ve paid attention lately to the goings-on concerning future NFL players and bowl games, you’d know that we crossed a Rubicon of sorts a few days ago when LSU RB Leonard Fournette and Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey announced that they would not be playing in the Citrus and Sun Bowls, respectively.

Now, according to the Waco Trib’s John Werner, they will be joined by Baylor’s own Shock Linwood:

For the record, I have something between zero and no problem with any college player who has the chance to go pro deciding not to play in a basically meaningless exhibition game where they could sustain life-changing injury. It happened to Jaylon Smith at Notre Dame almost exactly a year ago. I’m also not a member of the team itself, so it’s not like Shock is somehow turning his back on me. He’s just making the choice that seems best for him under the circumstances, and I can’t blame him at all for that, particularly since he’s done everything he’s done for us more or less for free*.

*I know he’s received a “free” education, but I mean that he hasn’t been paid. It’s not complicated.

Looks like it’ll be the Terence Williams-J’Mycal Hasty show in the bowl game, with maybe some Ishmael Zamora sprinkled in at #WildBear QB. If ever there was a time when I wish Blake Lynch hadn’t gotten hurt, this is it.

Shock finishes his Baylor career with a school-record 4,166 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns. Not bad for a guy that most pegged during his recruiting as an inside receiver, at best.

Best of luck to you, Shock!