All those curious to see if San Jose State wideout Nick Nash is the real deal will have to wait.
Nash, a consensus All-American, has opted out of the Hawaii Bowl and won’t be suited up when the Spartans battle South Florida on Tuesday night at Honolulu.
Nash won the college receiver triple crown by leading the nation with 104 catches, 1,382 receiving yards and 16 touchdown receptions. He is San Jose State’s first consensus first-team All-American and was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award won by Colorado’s Travis Hunter.
On Wednesday, he ended the suspense by announcing he would skip the game.
“It has been an amazing ride,” Nash said on social media. “After much consideration, I have decided that it is best that I do not participate in the upcoming bowl game.”
Spartans coach Ken Niumatalolo said Nash will begin preparing for the NFL draft. He said he kept the door open for Nash to play as long as he could.
“He’s been our best player and he was thinking about things, but finally made a decision with his family after all the pros and cons that he was going to get ready for the next level,” Niumatalolo said.
“… Nick needs to do what’s best for him. I understand it. I definitely would love for him to play but he’s earned it.”
The Spartans (7-5) still figure to be able to move the ball through the air as quarterback Walker Eget topped 300 passing yards in four of his six starts.
Eget has passed for 2,224 yards and 11 touchdowns against nine interceptions. He replaced Emmett Brown as the starter for the game against Wyoming on Oct. 19.
Defensively, San Jose State leads the nation with 20 interceptions with safety Robert Rahimi (five) and cornerback DJ Harvey (four) leading the way. Harvey won’t be playing after entering the transfer portal and choosing Southern California.
Also, linebacker Jordan Pollard has a team-best 110 tackles.
South Florida (6-6) averaged 49.7 points in its victories and scored 51 total points in five of its six setbacks.
The Bulls traveled roughly 4,700 miles from Tampa to Honolulu and coach Alex Golesh and is focused on making sure his players get to enjoy the locale without compromising football preparations.
“When it’s time for ball, it’s time for ball. When we’re locked in, you make it about the football,” Golesh said. “When it’s time to get away, then you can make it about your teammates. I mean, I realize we’re going to one of the most beautiful places in the world. It’ll be the first time for just about everybody. I want them to enjoy and reap the rewards of earning the right to do this, while keeping the primary reason we’re out there at the forefront.”
South Florida kept its focus last season when it steamrolled Syracuse 45-0 in the Boca Raton Bowl.
Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown is close to a return after missing the past seven games due to a lower-leg injury sustained against Tulane on Sept. 28. Bryce Archie is expected to start and has thrown for 1,679 yards, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions.
“I don’t know if it (Brown’s potential return) will be truly an emotional lift,” Golesh said. “Obviously, the operation going back to what they’re used to would certainly be nice. But I think Bryce has really settled in nicely in terms of being able to function.”