CLEMSON — While some of his teammates elected to opt out of playing in the Pinstripe Bowl to get ready for the NFL Draft, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik explained why he is choosing to play in the Dec. 27 bowl game.

Earlier this week, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said defensive tackle Peter Woods, defensive end T.J. Parker, cornerback Avieon Terrell and defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart would not play in the Pinstripe Bowl and will turn their attention to the NFL Draft instead. On Tuesday, wide receiver Antonio Williams also announced he was going to turn his attention to the draft process.

And though that is their own choice, Klubnik said his choice is to play in one more college game.

“I think I can help myself,” he said following Wednesday’s practice. “I think it is another game I get to go play and help myself for what’s next. But I love football and I just do not think that is something I will never do.”

If there is anyone who should skip a bowl game, it should be Klubnik. He played the last month of the season with an ankle sprain, and then in the South Carolina game he injured his thumb on his throwing hand.

“I just really want to play. I have been through a lot this year,” he said. “As y’all know, I have been fighting through a lot of injuries and straining to get to Saturday. That is just the mentality I have had this year. Maybe not being able to practice on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and limping through Thursday and giving everything I had, whether it was 60 percent or 70 percent of what my had to go play on Saturday.

“Now, I have almost a month to heal up and now I get to go play with some of my best friends one more time. I just want to play another game. There was not even a question I was going to play. I think I even said it before the South Carolina game.”

And he did.

Clemson and Penn State will kick off at noon on ABC from Yankee Stadium in New York.