Why Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence isn’t sitting out 2020 as other top NFL prospects do
Several top NFL prospects have opted out of the 2020 college football season, but not the player many pundits project as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 professional draft.
Clemson junior quarterback Trevor Lawrence said Friday evening that he weighed his options as far as whether or not to sit out during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but ultimately he decided to move forward and play for the Tigers this fall.
“I think everyone’s thought about it just with everything going on, but since I’ve made the decision to play I haven’t thought about it again. That’s my decision. I’m committed,” Lawrence said. “I want to play my last year here. That’s what I’m excited to do. It’s my third year and I even have another one. So I think people are forgetting I’ve got four years.”
The Georgia native added that he had conversations with another potential first-round pick in Clemson running back Travis Etienne about whether or not they should play this year.
Lawrence and Etienne both came to the same conclusion.
“Me and Travis are definitely here. We’re committed to playing. Once I decided I’m playing my mind is off of that,” Lawrence said. “After this past year everyone was saying all of this stuff I’ve got to work on, so at some point you’ve got to make decisions for yourself. I’m just excited to play football. That’s what I do. That’s what I love to do.”
Lawrence “totally gets” other players in college football opting to sit out, but he feels good about the protocols Clemson has in place to keep players in the program safe.
Some of the top college football players who have announced they are sitting out this fall include Miami defensive end Greg Rousseau and Purdue receiver Rondale Moore.
“I totally get it. There’s a lot on the line for them. If they feel the risk is too much, I understand. It’s something they’ve worked their whole life to get a chance to play in the NFL. They don’t want to risk it,” Lawrence said. “I think everyone has different reasons, but it makes sense in this situation so I respect it. Even though my decision is different I definitely understand it.”
If college football season gets moved to the spring, Lawrence said he could reconsider his options at that time.
“I’m sure that would take some more decisions that would have to be made, but right now this is what they’ve told us we’re doing. We’re playing this fall in about a month. We have to get ready,” Lawrence said. “But like I said we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
As it stands now, Clemson is set to open the season at Wake Forest on Sept. 12.
This story was originally published August 7, 2020 at 7:27 PM.
