TALLAHASSEE – Florida State wide receiver DJ Matthews says he tested positive for COVID-19.
The senior broad receiver tweeted, then deleted, that he was testing positive for the Coronavirus.
Matthews wrote “damn I tested positive for COVID, you will be safe on Wednesday and where your mask is” before the Tweet was deleted several minutes later.
A source with knowledge told Noles247 that several players among Matthews’ position group are currently quarantining.
FSU executives recently outlined some of their protocol for dealing with COVID-19 during a round-table discussion between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, FSU President John Thrasher and athletic director David Coburn, as coach Mike Norvell and players Keyshawn Helton en Joshua Kaindoh. Coburn explained the protocols during the round table, and shared the daily checks that players undergo to enter the facility, the fact that they are for the most part isolated from the rest of the University and Athletics outside of football, they are socially distanced in their meetings and wearing masks throughout the day running football and the amenities. Testing is now weekly and will likely go up in-season, according to Coburn.
FSU has earlier refused to share specifications about the number of players who tested positive for COVID-19 since its return, stating only that “at least one positive test” was confirmed, while the HIPAA stated as the reason for not disclosing specific figures .
Two well-known FSU players – DL Jamarcus Chatman and DL Dennis Briggs – have chosen this season due to concerns about COVID-19.
Matthews has 809 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns on 84 catches in his first three seasons at FSU.
The ACC, SEC and Big12 are the three Power Five programs currently continuing to play the 2020 season amid the pandemic. FSU is scheduled to open the season on September 12 vs. Georgia Tech.
