2020 college football player opt outs: Duke's Mark Gilbert, Oregon's Jevon Holland to prep for draft

Many of the top stars in college football will not play in 2020 amid coronavirus concerns

Major college football is giving the 2020 season an honest try, but that doesn't mean every player will be participating. A number of them have already announced they are opting out for various reasons.

Some are concerned about what the COVID-19 pandemic means for their health due to pre-existing conditions. Others are simply concerned about potential illness or well-being. Meanwhile, other high-profile names are looking to get a head start on preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft. The coronavirus has thrown college athletics for a loop and players are looking out for their best interest. That means some won't play. 

As we enter preseason camp and draw closer to kickoff, expect more players to join the growing list of those choosing not to suit up this fall. We'll be updating those names below as they become available while also linking to stories, tweets and other announcements below in the live blog. So be sure to check back often to stay up to date on the latest opt-out situations across the landscape. 

Power Five players who have opted out (86)

  • Mark Gilbert, CB, Duke
  • Jevon Holland, DB, Oregon
  • Aubrey Miller Jr., LB, Missouri
  • Levi Onwuzurike, DL, Washington
  • Chris Daniels, DL, Missouri
  • Maurice Massey, WR, Missouri
  • Jhamon Ausbon, WR, Texas A&M
  • Walker Little, OL, Stanford (story)
  • Chibueze Nwanna, OL, Arkansas
  • Shamar Nash, WR, Arkansas
  • John Marsh, LB, Auburn
  • Abdul Adams, RB, Syracuse
  • Taury Dixon, CB, Mississippi State
  • Tyler Williams, CB, Mississippi State
  • Jarveon Howard, RB, Syracuse
  • Aaron Faumui, DT, Virginia
  • Tenyeh Dixon, CB, Virginia
  • Dorien Goddard, WR, Virginia
  • Dequan Watts, CB, Texas Tech
  • Thomas Graham Jr., CB, Oregon
  • Deommodore Lenoir, CB, Oregon
  • Penei Sewell, OL, Oregon (story)
  • Camryn Bynum, DB, Cal
  • OrTre Smith, WR, South Carolina
  • Randrecous Davis, WR, South Carolina
  • Jamie Newman, QB, Georgia (story)
  • Derrick Tucker, DB, Texas A&M
  • Brandon Hill, LB, Duke
  • Myles Hudzick, RB, Duke
  • Triston Miller, OL, North Carolina
  • Billy Ross, OL, North Carolina
  • Mike Hollins, RB, Virginia
  • Daniel Young, RB, Texas
  • Marquez Bimage, DL, Texas
  • Kerry Martin, DB, West Virginia  
  • Stephen Spanellis, OL, Vanderbilt
  • Elijah Blades, DB, Texas A&M
  • Tyler Shelvin, DL, LSU (story)
  • Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU (story)
  • Joe Tryon, LB, Washington
  • Eli Johnson, OL, Ole Miss
  • Everett Wormley, WR, Rutgers
  • Jonathan Alexander, DB, Kansas State
  • Ambry Thomas, DB, Michigan
  • Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
  • James Foster, QB, Texas A&M
  • Willie Tyler III, OL, Texas
  • Jay Tufele, DL, USC (story)
  • Sage Surratt, WR, Wake Forest (story)
  • Jalen Mayfield, OL, Michigan
  • Kary Vincent, Jr., DB, LSU
  • Kennedy Brooks, RB, Oklahoma (story)
  • Dimitri Moore, LB, Vanderbilt
  • Cole Clemens, OL, Vanderbilt
  • Jonathan Stewart, OL, Vanderbilt
  • Bryce Baile, OL, Vanderbilt
  • Dennis Briggs Jr., DL, Florida State
  • Christian Turner, RB, Michigan
  • Jaylen Twyman, DL, Pitt
  • Traivon Leonard, DB, Auburn
  • Jamarcus Chatman, DL, Florida State
  • DJ Ford, DB, North Carolina
  • Bryce Watts, DB, North Carolina
  • Javon Terry, DB, North Carolina
  • Ben Wyatt, LS, Duke
  • Jacob Rimmer, OL, Duke
  • Jalen Alexander, DL, Marland
  • Austin Fontaine, OL, Maryland
  • Johnny Jordan, OL, Maryland
  • Josh Jackson, QB, Maryland
  • Vincent Flythe, DB, Maryland
  • TJ Kautai, LB, Maryland
  • Jordan Reid, OL, Michigan State
  • Marcel Lewis, LB, Michigan State
  • Justin Stevens, OL, Michigan State
  • Jacub Panasiuk, DE, Michigan State
  • Cooper Dawson, DL, Syracuse
  • Chandler Wooten, LB, Auburn
  • Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue (story)
  • Gregory Rousseau, DL, Miami (story)
  • Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State (story)
  • Mark Fox, OL, South Carolina
  • Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota (story)
  • Kassidy Woods, WR, Washington State (story)
  • Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech (story)
  • Ra'Von Bonner, RB, Illinois
  • Oren Milstein, K, Vanderbilt
  • Kevin Doyle, QB, Arizona
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Insult to injury for the Ducks after they've already lost Penei Sewell

David Cobb
September 9, 2020, 6:48 PM
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Northwestern OT Rashawn Slater is opting out, he tells Yahoo. He's a Lindy's preseason 2nd team All-Big Ten guy with plenty of NFL Draft buzz.
https://twitter.com/PeteThamel...

David Cobb
August 20, 2020, 7:06 PM
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Sage Surratt, one of the top wideouts for the upcoming season, is opting out of the season and will focus on the upcoming NFL draft. He led Wake Forest with 1,001 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns a season ago.

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Ole Miss C Eli Johnson has opted out of the 2020 season to focus on his Master's degree.

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Massive news on the opt out front as Oklahoma RB Kennedy Brooks is skipping the season, per The Athletic. Brooks had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and had all-conference potential again this year.

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Warren Jackson, Colorado State's leading wideout and arguably the best offensive player in the Mountain West, will concentrate on the NFL draft. The Mountain West is not playing football in 2020.

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Four more Vanderbilt players have opted out, per coach Derek Mason: senior linebacker Dimitri Moore, along with offensive linemen Cole Clemens, Jonathan Stewart and Bryce Baile. Moore was the team's leading tackler in 2019.

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Texas DE Marqez Bimage has opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, according 247Sports. Bimage had 12 tackles last season, including a sack, along with a forced fumble and one fumble recovery, and was expected to compete for starting snaps at one of the DE spots in Chris Ash's new 4-3 defense.

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Add Michigan running back Christian Turner to the opt-out list. He had 171 yards and a touchdown last season.

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LSU DL is the first Tigers player to opt out. He was expected to contend for a starting job at defensive end this season as a senior. The father of LSU star WR Ja'Marr Chase said this week that his son fully intends to play the season.

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Star Pitt defensive lineman is the latest to opt out of the 2020 season. He was an All-American candidate entering the 2020 season but will instead prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.

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Auburn reserve DB Traivon Leonard announced on Instagram that he will opt out after suffering from COVID-19 earlier this summer.

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North Carolina DBs DJ Ford, Bryce Watts and Javon Terry have opted out of the season. Of note here: they're all playing a similar position. Depth will likely end up being a real issue in situations like this.

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