Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey isn’t the only star running back that will miss the Sun Bowl.North Carolina announced Thursday that its leading rusher, Elijah Hood, will also sit out the Dec. 29 game in El Paso, Tex., because of unspecified medical reasons. The junior from Charlotte also dispelled speculation that, like McCaffrey, he would forego his final season of eligibility to enter the draft by saying in a statement that he plans to return to the Tar Heels in 2017. “I’m disappointed I cannot be with my football brothers for the bowl game in Texas, but it’s best for me to stay home and fully recover,” Hood said “I look forward to returning to the field in 2017 for my senior year and having the opportunity to represent UNC along with my teammates. I appreciate Coach Fedora and the staff for helping me make the best decision for my future.” Hood, a first-team All-ACC selection a year ago, has been slowed all season by a series of nagging injuries, including a concussion that forced him to miss UNC’s game against Virginia Tech on Oct. 8. He still led the team with 858 rushing yards with touchdowns. In his absence, senior T.J. Logan will become the Tar Heels’ primary ballcarrier with fellow veteran Khris Francis and freshman Jordon Brown backing him up.McCaffrey, a projected first-round draft pick, announced last week that he would bypass the Sun Bowl game against UNC to concentrate on preparations for his professional career.
