Five potential NFL first-round draft picks have opted out of 2020. More could come.
So who’s out next?
We’re a month away from the start of the college football season. If there is a college football season, of course. Practices don’t start in earnest for a week or two. The SEC won’t start physical workouts until Aug. 17. But already some big names have said thanks, but no thanks to playing college football in a coronavirus pandemic.
Miami Coach Manny Diaz indicated Thursday that star defensive end/edge rusher Greg Rousseau had told him he would not be playing for the Hurricanes this season. Rousseau is one of four possible first-round NFL draft picks who are opting out of the 2020 season.
Then Thursday night, Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore announced he will be sitting out his junior season to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft. That makes five potential first-round picks who will not play college football this season.
Here are the foive:
Greg Rousseau, Miami: The defensive end/edge rusher is ranked No. 1 on Phil Steele’s list of top NFL prospects at the position. He’s a 6-foot-7, 265-pound redshirt sophomore who collected an ACC-high 15.5 sacks last season. NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has compared Rousseau to Danielle Hunter, the Pro Bowl pass rusher for the Miami Dolphins. Rousseau’s decision means he won’t be with the ‘Canes when they play at Louisville on Sept. 19.
Micah Parsons, Penn State: The consensus All-America linebacker is also skipping out on 2020. Parsons said, “I decided I need to make a choice — not for myself, but my son and those dearest to me.” Parsons is 6-3, 244 pounds and was considered potentially the best linebacker in college football for 2020. He made 14 tackles for loss last season. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Parsons projected as a top-five pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
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Rashod Bateman, Minnesota: The Golden Gophers wide receiver cited “health and safety” as the reasons he won’t play in 2020. Kiper had Bateman ranked as the No. 8 prospect in the 2021 draft class. Named the Big Ten’s Receiver of the Year in 2019, Bateman caught 60 passes for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns. Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan, the former Ryle High School star, will have to find another go-to target.
Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech: The Hokies’ cornerback was the first big college name to announce he’d be sitting out 2020. He sparked a controversy by saying that Tech’s alleged lax adherence to coronavirus protocols figured into his decision. Farley is 6-2, 207 with good speed. Pro Football Focus writes, “After missing the 2017 season due to a knee injury and logging 731 snaps in 2018, Farley turned in one of the best performances we’ve seen in some time in 2019. He allowed a completion on only 18 of the 50 passes directed his way, breaking up nine passes and intercepting another four while generating eight defensive stops and two pressures.”
Rondale Moore, Purdue: The Louisville native caught 114 passes for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2018. Injuries curtailed his 2019 campaign. Moore ended up with just 29 grabs for 387 yards and two scores. Still, the 5-9, 180-pounder is an all-purpose threat who can take kicks to the house. Writes PFF, “Moore’s 2018 true freshman campaign was clearly special. He finished the season with an 89.7 receiving grade — which tied for sixth among FBS wide receivers — and was the second-most-valuable wide receiver in college football in regard to PFF’s Wins Above Average (WAA).”
Other notables who have announced they are opting out of 2020:
- Illinois running back Ra’Von Bonner
- Michigan State defensive end Jacub Panasiuk
- South Carolina offensive guard Jordan Rhodes
- UAB running back Daquon Godfrey
- Washington State safety Pat Nunn
- Washington State wide receiver Kassidy Woods
- West Virginia safety Kerry Martin Jr.
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This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 5:31 PM.
