Oregon's Royce Freeman will not play in Las Vegas Bowl

Oregon will be without its all-time leading rusher Saturday when the Ducks face No. 25 Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Senior running back Royce Freeman has decided not to play in the bowl game to focus on preparations for next spring's NFL Draft.

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Oregon coach Mario Cristobal said he would love to have Freeman against the Broncos, but supports the 21-year-old's decision. 

"Am I disappointed in him? No. Do I want to see him play? Absolutely. But I stand by him," Cristobal told reporters Thursday. "This is hard for him. This is not an easy decision, for a guy who’s invested his heart and soul in this program."

Freeman ran for 1,475 yards and 16 touchdowns this season and caps his Oregon career with a school-record 5,621 yards and 60 scores. He trails only former USC running back Charles White (6,245 yards) in Pac-12 history and ranks sixth all-time the NCAA. Freeman's 60 career rushing touchdowns are the most in Pac-12 annals. 

The 5-11, 231-pound California native is projected as a second-round pick in the 2018 draft. Senior offensive tackle Tyrell Crosby, a 6-5, 320-pound Nevada native and projected third-round pick, will announce his bowl game decision Friday. Freeman and Crosby, along with long snapper Tanner Carew, will play in next month's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Despite not having Freeman, Cristobal said the Ducks (7-5) "have a pretty impressive stable of running backs" who "have a tremendous opportunity" Saturday in Vegas against the 10-3 Broncos.