MOBILE, Alabama — Players with high NFL aspirations have shown they're not afraid to skip a bowl game to protect their draft stock and avoid potential injury

Auburn cornerback Carlton Davis, who coaches said battled an illness the week of the Peach Bowl, missed the postseason game because it was "his decision," former Tigers safety Tray Matthews revealed Tuesday at the Reese's Senior Bowl media day.

"I talked to him," Matthews said. "First off, I got onto him. 'Hey, man, I need you. You’ve been my dog the past three years and you’re going to leave me hanging like that?' Then he explained a few things. That’s his decision. I’ve got to respect it. He’s a first-round talent, so that’s on him."

Davis is projected as a first-round draft pick in the upcoming NFL Draft by ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.

Davis, a junior, did not play in the second half of Auburn’s 28-7 loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship on Dec. 2. He said on Twitter he was suffering from concussion symptoms stemming from an injury against Alabama in the Iron Bowl. Coaches did not confirm Davis’ situation or why exactly he was pulled from the SEC title game.

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said the day before the Peach Bowl he was sent home from the bowl site in Atlanta with an "illness."

Matthews said he had a "clue" Davis would not play in the bowl game when he did not show up for "a few practices."

"We’re a bit different," Matthews said. "If that was me, I still would have played because that’s my last game with my boys. Maybe. You never know how somebody is feeling. You don’t know how his body was feeling."

Davis was an All-SEC selection and a second-team selection on several All-America teams. He had 36 tackles (27 solo) with a team-leading 11 pass breakups during his junior season. He declared early for the NFL Draft shortly after the Peach Bowl, which Auburn lost 34-27 to UCF.

"It’s all his decision. He’s an adult now," former Auburn linebacker Tre' Williams said at the Reese's Senior Bowl. "I wish he played just to have that extra body. Once again that’s his decision and I’m still going to root for him either way it goes."

Davis started "talking about" skipping the Peach Bowl as the game approached, Williams said.

"He was firm on his decision and I told him good luck on it and I’ll see him on the other side," Williams said.

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