FSU Football: Josh Sweat making huge mistake skipping bowl game

FSU football will be without a second defensive starter for the Independence Bowl – and this one is a head scratcher as to why Josh Sweat would skip it.

In the days after it was announced that FSU football would be heading to Shreveport, LA for the annual Independence Bowl, news broke that the team’s star safety and maybe best players – Derwin James – would be leaving the team and head out to California to prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft, where he would likely be a top 10 pick at least.

This weekend, the news broke that another Seminoles defensive starter will be doing the same thing – only this player might not even be picked in the first two days of the draft when it takes place in April of 2018.

In news first reported by Warchant.com, defensive end Josh Sweat is forgoing his final season of college football and will be declaring for the NFL, leaving the team just a week and a half before the Noles are set to take on the Southern Miss Golden Eagles in a game that will decide whether FSU football continues a winning season streak dating back over four decades.

Now, when James made the move there was a support from Florida State fans who knew that he was going to go pro and couldn’t blame him for the decision he made. Personally, I don’t agree with the move because I think skipping bowl games is not living up to your commitment, but I also understand it and just wish Derwin James the best.

Josh Sweat, on the other hand, is making a major mistake by not playing in the Independence Bowl. I don’t mind him making the decision to turn pro since I think you will see plenty of the recruits from the Fisher era jumping ship at this point – but anyone who told him he’s one of the top 32 players at this point sold the Virginia native a bill of goods.

If Sweat – who was a five star recruit for FSU football and finished his three year career with 138 total tackles, 14 sacks, one interception and a forced fumble – was a bonafide first round pick, this move might make more sense. But with several services saying he is a mid round pick at best right now, he needs as much help as possible.

Putting more plays on tape against a Golden Eagles team that the Seminoles are predicted to easily beat would do nothing but benefit the former top recruit. Instead, Josh Sweat is hoping a resume with numbers that average 46 tackles and less than five sacks a season will get him to be one of those first picks come April.

Next: Experts love FSU Football to win Independence Bowl

As a FSU graduate and fan of the program, I wish Josh Sweat nothing but the best and hope he does surprise everyone and have a long pro career – but the move to skip a chance to improve those chances has disaster written all over it.