As bowl season approaches, more and more announcements are coming out about player decisions on whether or not to participate.

In recent years, the trend among NFL draft prospects has been to sit out of bowl games. While Auburn received some good news from one of its most dominant defensive players this week — as Derrick Brown decided he will play during the postseason, the Tigers’ Outback Bowl opponent learned the opposite from one of its starting linebackers.

Minnesota senior linebacker Kamal Martin announced on his Instagram page that he will not be playing in Tampa when the Outback Bowl comes around on New Year’s Day.

 

Martin collected 36 tackles, one sack, and two interceptions as the Golden Gophers finished 10-2.

The defense was a strength for each of these teams throughout the regular season, but at the moment it seems Auburn will be the only one at full-strength with its personnel after Martin’s announcement.