These Clemson football players could opt out of 2020 season
There is a ton of speculation surrounding the 2020 College Football season and that won’t leave the Clemson football program unscathed.
As the Tigers prepare for the start of their season, we are seeing more and more players come forward and elect to opt-out.
The Pac-12 had a group of players list several demands to play the season and it shouldn’t be expected that they’ll be the only conference to have issues arise as we progress closer to the fall.
As we look at the 2020 calendar, here are some Clemson football players who could ultimately elect to opt out before it’s all said and done.
Trevor Lawrence
We’ll start the post talking about the one player who everyone from around the nation has already pegged as the No. 1 overall target in next year’s NFL Draft.
There has been plenty of talk about Trevor Lawrence opting out of the season and that was even before the pandemic began.
Lawrence expressed at least some support for the Pac-12 players’ movement and he very well could choose to opt out over health concerns and the fact that he’s already basically locked up a top-5 draft spot no matter what he does this season.
It’s obviously not what Clemson football fans would want to see, but you couldn’t blame Lawrence if he decided he just wanted to finish out his degree and focus on the NFL Draft beginning this fall.
Travis Etienne
The next player on our list is pretty obvious, as well.
Travis Etienne is listed as one of the top-three running backs in the nation coming into this season and it’s pretty easy to see why he might choose to opt out.
Etienne would certainly benefit from another year of being able to play and prove his worth to NFL scouts, but there’s also the argument that he’s done so much already in his Clemson football career.
You’ve also got to take into account that running backs have a short shelf life.
If all of this, combined with potential concerns about the pandemic, are weighing on Etienne, it wouldn’t be surprising if he elected to opt out.
Amari Rodgers
Amari Rodgers is one that I have pegged on this list simply because of his thoughts on Twitter.
Rodgers has been the most outspoken Clemson football player in relation to the pandemic and he has mentioned certain things, like CFB exploiting athletes for money and saying that the NCAA needs to have a Players’ Union.
It’s not to say that Rodgers would opt out of the season when it came time to make a decision, but it definitely seems like he may have some concerns and is wisely weighing all of his options.
Jackson Carman
Jackson Carman is the final player to make our list and it’s simply because of what he has already accomplished.
Carman is listed as a top-7 offensive tackle should he choose to forego his senior season and I’d expect him to do just that following this season.
What if he- like Lawrence and Etienne- decided to prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft with the idea that he has already likely locked up at least a second-round selection when it’s all said and done?
It will be interesting to see what Clemson football players ultimately decide if we do have a 2020 season. Make sure you check back here on Rubbing the Rock as we continue to provide updates, analysis and complete coverage.