The NFL is beginning to see a list of players who choose not to participate in the upcoming season. According to the latest version of the CBA, players may choose not to participate in the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
While NFL players are financially covered in some capacity, college football players have a bigger decision to make. Now, college football will have a large contributor to opt for the next season.
According to ESPN NFL expert Adam Schefter, a Virginia Tech player with NFL aspirations is sitting out of season to focus on his football future.
Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley, a projected first-round team, is the first college player to choose not to participate in next season, a source tells ESPN, “Schefter tweeted. “Farley will spend the year training for the NFL draft. He has seen NFL players choose not to participate and is uncomfortable playing this year. “
Farley, in a video posted with the family by his side, explained his decision to stay out next year.
“After much consideration with my family, I have decided to opt out of the 2020 college football season and begin preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft,” said Farley. “I am choosing not to be safe due to uncertain health conditions and regulations and all the other exclusion options that are happening in soccer right now. Tragically I lost my mother Robin on January 2, 2018 to illness and I can’t afford to lose another parent or loved one Even though the competitor in me really wants to play this season, I can’t ignore what’s going on in my heart and I must make the decision that will give me more peace. So thanks Virginia Tech, my coaches, teammates and anyone else who has supported me in the past. I wish you well. Stay safe and God bless you. “
In two seasons (23 games), Farley had 56 total tackles, 43 solo, one tackle for loss, six interceptions, one catch, one touchdown and 19 pass deflections. Farley was a three-star prospect based on 247Sports composite rankings in the Class of 2017. He was the 10th overall prospect in North Carolina, the 27th overall athlete in the country, and the 428th overall prospect in the country.
Farley is the next player to announce he will be out of the college football season. On Monday, Illinois running back Ra’Von Bonner announced to the Chicago Tribune that he and offensive lineman Jake Cerny would not play, although Cerny’s reasons were unrelated to COVID-19.
Bonner had 137 carries for 620 yards and six touchdowns in the past two seasons for Illinois. Expect a fifth year with Illinois, but they would have to bring him back to the scholarship in 2021. The Big Ten said earlier this month that any player who decided to stay out of his fall sport would receive his scholarship in 2020.
